#031 – Select the Lucky and Avoid the Unlucky
Select the Lucky and avoid the Unlucky. Illluck is generally the penalty of folly, and there is no disease so contagious to those who share in it. Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it. The greatest skill at cards is to know when to discard; the smallest of current trumps is worth more than the ace of trumps of the last game. When in doubt, follow the suit of the wise and prudent; sooner or later they will win the odd trick.
We make our own luck. We can talk about everything that happens to us as coaches (and team) such as matchups, officials, calls, shots, etc. The truth of the matter is that our skill (or lack of) will put us in those situations where we feel we need “luck”. There have been a lot of quotes around the concept of “the harder I practice, the luckier I get”. There is truth in that. Usually, bad luck is a result of not paying attention to the warning signs. As coaches, sometimes that bad luck is a result of ego. We can not admit that we may be bested or in the wrong, so we soldier on and have bad consequences. We then blame bad luck for all the signs we missed to warn us. It is up to us as coaches (and learners) to make sure we reflect as much as possible to catch any warning signs.
This blog series is based on the book “The Art of Worldly Wisdom” by Balthasar Gracián. This book was written for advice on how to achieve personal and professional success. This blog series aims to visit the points of wisdom and put them in the spotlight of the coaching and education lens.
