Title Luck is No Accident

Author John D. Krumboltz & Al S. Levin

Year Published 2010

Kind of Book Self-help/career

How strongly I recommend it 1/10 

My Impressions I really did not like this book. I heard it mentioned on a podcast by a guest and bought in read it without any knowledge about it. I wish I hadn't. Very unorganized message.

Date Read August 2019

What question is the author trying to answer?

Practical Takeaways

  • Make the best of the way things turn out

  • Don't stick with a plan if its not working for you anymore

  • Tell the company you're applying to 'I want to help make your company become more successful. What problems are you having? Lets see how I can help solve them

  • Keep learning wherever you go

  • Simplify your diet

  • Be willing to move for a job you want

  • Make the most of your present situation

  • Don't be bashful about sharing your desires with others

  • When you come to a fork in the road, take it-Yogi Berra

  • Don't try to predict the future. Create it-Peter Drucker

  • Always keep your options open

  • Don't feel trapped into doing what you're doing because of an earlier choice in life

  • When you make future plans, write in pencil and have an eraser ready

  • Don't feel like you have to do what you said you would do

  • Feel free to change directions at any time in your life

  • Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment-Buddha

  • Dream Big- You need a big dream and little steps-Diane Von Furstenberg

  • Take little steps (to achieve your big dream-Diane Von Furstenberg

  • When dreams fail, move on to something else

  • Don't believe that there is just one dream job out there that you need to find and everything will be perfect

  • Don't brag to your friends what you've decided to do. (you haven't done anything yet)

  • Test your dream- one step at a time

  • Don't stick with a bad choice

  • Stop trying to plan your whole life in advance

  • Listen to advice, but make up you own mind

  • Don't automatically reject opportunities because they do not fit your predetermined goal

  • Don't view changing your plans as 'failure'

  • Instead of saying 'I want to become X' say 'I want to explore a career in X

  • Take risks, but not foolish risks

  • Don’t accept a job you already know how to do- Successful business woman

  • Go for the job-then learn the skills

  • Offer encouraging words to others

  • Stay in touch with friends

  • Stay in touch with colleagues

  • Assume your interests will change

  • Don't worry about failure. Worry instead about the chances you miss when you don't even try

  • Make use of other people's mistakes

  • Flip a coin to decide. If you have been blocked by a choice that is close for a long time A: the coin toss does not actually make the decision you do

  • Just make a decision instead of struggling with alternatives forever

  • Don't be afraid to fail

  • Ask yourself 'how can I create a satisfying life for myself starting now?'

  • Never complete your education

Big Ideas

  • A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle-Erin Majors

  • You don't have to see the whole staircase, Just take the first step-Martin Luther King Jr.