It’s Tuesday morning, and the unpaid summer intern is performing some menial tasks for his boss ahead of a big presentation.

“This is a disaster,” the boss abruptly says. “I just realized my shirt is stained, and the presentation isn’t compatible with my laptop.”

Much to his surprise, the intern has a stain-removing pen in his backpack and actually downloaded the presentation to his own laptop the night before.

The boss’ morning is saved. The next day, he gives the intern a couple more responsibilities that he adeptly handles, and the following week, he bumps him up to paid.

“Man, you’re so lucky you had that stain remover,” a friend tells him. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be getting paid.”

But while the intern may have caught a minor break with the need for the stain pen and backup download, his good fortune isn’t pure happenstance. It’s the result of supreme preparation, devotion to a role, and genuine humility.

Last week, Salesforce Chief Digital Evangelist Vala Afshar shared on X the 10 different ways luck finds us, and regardless of our leadership position, they’re relevant as we try to catch our own breaks and elevate our own respective careers:

1. Work harder than expected
2. Stay teachable
3. Give without expecting a get
4. Read and write more
5. Show up on time
6. Focus on your customers
7. Develop good manners
8. Be humble
9. Be kind and generous
10. Surround yourself with smarter people

The point is that luck frequently isn’t purely random.

While there will always be some elements outside of our control, there are basic initiatives we can take to increase our chances of catching a break and putting ourselves in positions to succeed.

Commitment, kindness, sacrifice and preparation aren’t just scattered buzzwords of success.

They can be deciding factors between those who advance a career — and those who struggle to get off the ground.

As coaches, leaders, decision-makers, and high performers, one of the best ways to grow is through reading. At The Daily Coach, we cherish reading and are constantly seeking new tools to enhance our learning journey.

Shortform is raising the bar for book summary apps with its extensive library covering dozens of categories, including Sports and Leadership, complete with expert analysis and commentary. It's like having a concise library in your pocket or on your desktop, making it easier than ever to access the world's best ideas.

Join Shortform today and get a FREE TRIAL along with 20% OFF your subscription!

Let us know what you think...

Want to Advertise with us? Click here.