How much of success is luck?
Monday, March 30th, 2009
It’s amazing how often “luck” comes up when people find out I started Smart Bear.
“You’re lucky to have your own business. I hate my boss.”“You’re lucky your business is still doing okay in this recession.”“You’re lucky that you sold your business.”
You’d think they’d be impressed with the hours I put in, with the ideas I had, with the way I handled customers, and with the stress of bootstrapping.
But no, success is “lucky.”
It feels dismissive, perhaps even insulting: It wasn’t you, it was luck.?Your decisions weren’t important, your ideas weren’t special; you’re lucky. Anyone could have done the same; time and chance happeneth to them all.
It’s easy to be indignant and dismissive right back:
So when I quit my job ..read more