How to Create Your Own Luck: The "You Never Know" Approach to Networking, Taking Chances, and Opening Yourself to Opportunity - Hardcover

RoAne, Susan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471612804 ISBN 13: 9780471612803

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2004

Synopsis

Networking guru Susan RoAne shows readers how to exploit chance to create a bigger network of contacts, friends, and acquaintances the key to new life opportunities. In How to Create Your Own Luck, she reveals the eight traits of successful people who make their own luck, rather than wait for it. Filled with engaging and instructive stories of real people who′ve turned serendipity into success, her book focuses on the eight counterintuitive traits that they all have in common, including talking to strangers, making small talk, dropping names, and even eavesdropping. This handy, real–world guide reveals the practical ways that anyone can create their own luck opening up new opportunities in every aspect of life.

About this title

Review

Networking guru RoAne ( How to Work a Room) shares common–sense suggestions about how to network in this run–of–the–mill advice book. Using cute catch phrases (those who are open to opportunity are called "You Never Know It Alls"), she makes the point that folks create their own luck by having eight "unusual suspect" traits. (Of course, they also work hard, are persistent and have a positive attitude––the usual suspects indicating success.) These counterintuitive traits include making small talk; dropping names; eavesdropping and listening; straying from their chosen paths; and saying yes when they want to say no. Each chapter shares numerous stories of people turning serendipity (such as chance encounters) into success by utilizing at least one of these traits. "When we are open and pay attention to signs, signals, situations, and people, we are building our own internal serendipity generators," RoAne writes. However, aside from the inspiring examples, there s not enough specific "how–to" to help readers apply RoAne s advice to their own situations. While she puts a nice spin on basic networking principles, this somewhat repetitive book doesn t add much to the Chinese tenet "luck is when preparation meets opportunity." (For another take on this subject, see Networking Magic by Rick Frishman and Jill Lublin) (Oct.) ( Publishers Weekly, August 23, 2004)

From the Back Cover

Turn Random Chance Into Runaway Success!

"Luck is only ‘automatic’ when you know how to create it. Susan RoAne provides you a proven road map to make your own luck. I feel lucky to have read this book because one little paragraph saved me from ruining a major business relationship and friendship. You deserve the luck this book will bring you read it."
David Bach, New York Times bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire

"The harder you work, the luckier you get but what kind of work encourages this ‘luck’? Susan RoAne’s story–filled guide to making good things happen in your career and your life will be a great kick–start to anyone determined to succeed."
Jeff Taylor, founder and Chief Monster of Monster.com

"I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to achieve success! It offers both great anecdotes and valuable lessons compulsively readable, with all the tools you’ll need to take your luck to the next level."
Ivan R. Misner, PhD, founder of BNI and coauthor of Masters of Success

The eight traits of people who create their own luck:

• They talk to strangers
• They make small talk
• They "drop" names
• They eavesdrop and listen
• They ask for and offer help
• They stray from their chosen paths
• They exit graciously, without burning bridges
• They say YES when they want to say NO!

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0471612804
• ISBN 13: 9780471612803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256