Some people, myself included, often say "I was lucky" when describing their achievements because they don't want to seem big-headed.
Instead, what they should be saying is:
- I was the best for the job
- I get on well with people
- I was determined to make the grade
- I did my background research very thoroughly
This person who appears lucky actually developed the right attitude then took the right steps to get themselves in the right place at the right time. There was an opportunity which they had the courage to grab. They don't wait for opportunities, they go looking for them.
They actually
- Set themselves goals or took small steps in a direction
- Plucked up courage
- Picked brains
- Kept going despite many difficulties
- Made contacts
- Volunteered
- Told people what they wanted
- Had a positive attitude to change
- Re-trained
It feels more comfortable to say "I was lucky" but after a while you might start believing in lucky breaks and waiting for them to happen. Your luck was your own effort, determination, skills and experience.
Examples of me falling into this trap
I signed up to the event. I spent three days working with strangers working in an area I knew nothing about. I had the courage to strike up a conversation with a stranger. I had the communication skills to express my research to a non-expert in the field.
I was not lucky!
I filled out an abstract and applied to present my research at a conference. My presentation prompted a researcher to talk to me, who invited me to see their research in a similar area. I applied for a grant, my first time submitting a grant application form, so I could do the research. I planned and then travelled alone to the Czech Republic to spend days with strangers, helping with their research. I then wrote a summary report, as thanks for my grant.
I was not lucky!
I did a lot of public engagement work with school all over East Anglia over the course of a year. I then filled out an application form for the award.
I was not lucky!
I submitted a paper to the conference, which got approved. I then delivered my presentation, my first conference presentation to over 100 people. My prize for coming first in the presentation was to attend the conference in Glasgow.
I was not lucky!
I applied to attend the event. I spent many hours learning how a WHO event works and researching Indonesian health concerns. I spent three days working in a model WHO environment, something new to me.
I was not lucky!
I applied to attend the event. I then produced a poster for the event. I then attended the event.
I was not lucky!
I applied to attend the event. I had to produce a presentation condensing my research into just 3 minutes. I spent many hours practising this presentation.
I was not lucky!
I applied for the competition, which was highly selective. I produced a poster, which took a long time as it was my first poster. I contacted my local MP to invite them to the event. I then travelled to London. I spent a lot of the day speaking to MPs about my research in a way that they could understand it as non-experts and so it meant something to them.
I was not lucky!
