Making Your Own "Who Luck"

It is cliché to say it now, but, wow, 2020 was a crazy year. For me, it became a year of focusing on what's most important, being creative despite and because of constraints, and growing in ways that I would have never imagined.

In a strange way, I found that 2020 made me much more aware of the incredible people in my life. I feel blessed in many ways, but there is no doubt in my mind that the best blessing in my life has been the people. Jim Collins refers to it as "who luck." I am indebted by the kindness of others.

I had no control in meeting some of the people that have impacted my life, most notably my family. I have realized, however, that my decisions led to meeting a few of the most important people in my life.

Here are a few strategies that have helped me create my own "who luck:"

• Say yes to the first meeting and follow-up

  • If someone is offering to grab lunch or coffee with you, take the opportunity.

  • You never know when you might meet someone who can mentor you, partner with you, or provide you with new opportunities. You might even find a new friend.

  • Not everyone you meet will be someone you want to continue spending time around, but the best way to gauge your interest is by taking that first meeting.

  • Be sure to follow-up, particularly if you are interested in continuing the relationship. Even if you thought you had a great conversation, the other person might not realize it without your follow-up. Do not leave any doubt in their mind about whether you value the relationship.

• Be gracious

  • This should be self-explanatory, but if someone is taking time out of their day to meet with you, make sure you treat them with respect and gratitude.

  • Expressing gratitude for their time and expertise reflects well on you and shows your maturity. It proves that you are not entirely self-obsessed.

• Be helpful

  • To take the last point even further, if you find a way to be helpful to them, you provide more proof that you value the relationship and are not solely focused on yourself.

  • This can be little things. You do not need to make grand gestures or find ways to place yourself in the middle of their life. You can, however, offer small favors.

  • These small deeds mean a lot more than it might first seem. They also build the relationship and lay the groundwork for future opportunities.

• Determine the right frequency

  • Many of the people who you will most want to be a part of your life will be busy.

  • If you value their time, it is highly likely that others are interested in their time as well.

  • Every relationship is different, but you must learn to determine how often to communicate. In the case of your significant other, for instance, you should be communicating every day, likely more frequently than that. For a career or life mentor, though, it will likely be weeks or even months between conversations.

  • This is one of the hardest parts of building and maintaining important relationships. You must learn to communicate enough that you continue to grow the relationship but not reach out so often that you become a burden. Like I said, each relationship is different so early on one of your chief aims should be to find the right frequency.

I hope these ideas are helpful for you in this new year. Building relationships and community with amazing people is the best way to improve your life. Take control of your life by spending more of it with people that inspire you. It has had a tremendous impact on my life, and I am confident that it will on yours as well.