I take that back. I did win a case of Totino's make-your-own pizza products from the State Fair one year. Other than that, I'm not a person to be considered lucky.

So it bothered me when I would hear others say how *lucky* I was - that I was always in the right place at the right time, how things landed in my lap. They were referring to job promotions, getting projects I wanted, a few recognition awards along the way, and for the most part, doing work I loved.

Yes, I appreciated doing work I loved (or I changed it!) but something was wrong with the whole picture of being called lucky…and I finally figured it out.

I realized any of those *lucky* things that *happened to me* were actually the hard-earned result of BOLD! choices I made in work and life: building real and lasting relationships, caring about helping others along the way, stepping up to create my own opportunities, stepping out to take a risk, showing up when it mattered, and being willing to make tough decisions or support others in theirs.

When I figured this out, I quit feeling bad when others commented about my supposed luckiness.

I stopped apologizing and started recognizing the results I earned came through conscientious effort, or in response to problems where I cared enough to create a better solution.

We all need to find ways to recognize others for how great they are, for their willingness to take charge, to present winning solutions, and to create their own opportunities to get where they're headed. It's wimpy to blame others' hard-earned success on luck.

The BOLD! Factor in action...don't wait for work or life opportunities to fall in your lap…get inspired, get BOLD!, get going and have fun creating your own!

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