A 3-Second Fix to Create More Luck in Your Life and Career

A 3-Second Fix to Create More Luck in Your Life and Career You know those bogus headlines that scream, All you need to succeed in life is 5 minutes a day!! or Lose 10 pounds in just 3 weeks GUARANTEED!! Well I promise you this isnt one of those. Because what I am about to suggest really does take three seconds and it really could create more luck in your life.  So I hope youll stick with me to the end. Ill share the fix in a few, but first a story (and a bit of a rant) about why Im writing this. Last week my husband and I took a walk down at the beach. As we strolled around soaking in the beautiful vistas, we couldnt help but notice all the other people walking while staring down at their cell phones  and missing their chance to fully savor incredible views like this. Theres no doubt that our growing addiction to technology is affecting all of us, all the time.  For example, my husband, who travels a lot for business, used to routinely engage in conversations with people on planes (with both interesting and entertaining results).  But these days, not so much.  Instead of talking, most people prefer to pop in their earbuds or stare at their phones, preemptively shutting down any chance for conversation. I know people want to be left alone to zone out, or get work done, or play Words with Friends.  But really, are we all  so  busy that we cant take five minutes to chat with the person sitting next to us on a five-hour flight? I recently attended a conference and was astounded by the number of people who checked their phones ALL -THE -TIME. During lunch. During coffee breaks. While waiting for the speakers to start.  Call me hopelessly old school, but it seems to me that if youre going to make the effort to travel to a conference, its smart to take advantage of the venue to meet some interesting people. Poor manners aside, here is why this trend really worries me:  Over time Ive learned that you never ever know when youll have a life changing conversation. Or who will provide it. Or where it will occur. The vast majority of the people I interviewed for my book found their next act simply by talking with other people and then something lucky happened. But when we have our eyes on our phones and our ears blocked by headsets, we dramatically reduce the odds of luck entering our space. I could share many examples of random conversations leading to lucky things. For instance, heres an e-mail I received (in a seeming wink from the universe) just a few hours after my husband and I took our walk: Hi Nancy, my daughter xxxx recently chatted with you on a flight. She sent me your website information.I am looking to retool my career (I have 15 years before I can retire). Do you ever work with individuals in this situation? If yes, would love to connect via phone. These days I am only coaching people around semi-retirement, so I turned this one down. But thats neither here nor there. The point is that if I hadnt bothered to chat with that young woman, I never would have gotten the chance to connect to her mom.   Granted, being a book author makes for an easy conversation starter with strangers. But you know what? Every one of you has something unique that others want to hear about.  Every one of you.  And that brings me back to the 3-second trick. Its remarkably simple, as long as youre willing to give it a try.  Ready? The next time youre at a conference or waiting for a plane or sitting next to someone on a long train trip: Second 1. Remove your ear buds. Put away your phone. Glance up from your Kindle. Second 2. Smile at the person next to you. Second 3. Initiate a conversation. Thats it. Its painless and you never know what might happen.  Of course, if the other person doesnt want to talk, take the hint and move on.  You can always use the down time to meditate, savor your surroundings or quietly mull over a problem there is tremendous restorative power in that as well. But if theyre game, who knows? The most random conversation with the least outwardly impressive person in the room  may provide just the spark thats needed to ignites your next opportunity. All it takes to get started is 3-seconds. Guaranteed. Related articles that you might also enjoy: 3 Ways a Conference Can Help Your Career 5 Ways to Structure a Lifestyle-Friendly Business (so it doesnt take over your life!)