Have you heard of Lucky Girl Syndrome? Essentially you spend the day declaring how lucky you are. It’s an entertaining game, but I discovered it can also have a disempowering downside. I recently talked with a colleague, and she sighed, “Somehow, I didn’t get the lucky breaks. I guess I’m stuck in this role.”
Are you like my friend, wondering if your career is in the hands of the Gods? Let’s dispose of that notion! In its place, let’s look at the true story of someone who took charge of their career and changed their luck. You’re probably only six degrees of separation away from our case study.
After the success of “Footloose,” it seemed like Kevin Bacon had figured out a secret formula for an actor’s success: Nothing but features and leads. But after six years of scripts that were okay at best, he began to worry about spending the rest of his life replaying the same role.
His proposal to his new agent, Entertainment industry veteran Paula Wagner, was simple and workable: The role doesn’t have to be big, but it must be good.
Wagner went to work while Bacon packed his patience and held his ground. Bit by bit offers for character roles surfaced: “A Few Good Men,” “JFK,” and a supporting part in the legal thriller, “Murder in the First.”
The years Bacon invested in changing other people’s minds paid off, and he broke the spell of typecasting for good. Reflecting on his career, he said, “I’m grateful that the parts that come to me are sort of all over the map. All I ever wanted was to not be pigeonholed.”
In the September series, Beat Three Lazy Girl Career Killers, we’re talking about how to avoid potential missteps of the Lazy Girl trend. The Lucky Girl aspect of the Lazy Girl phenomenon is a trap because it relies on the old-school assumption that opportunities depend on knowing a mover and shaker. But here’s an inside scoop: Connecting with influential people is only the jumping off point. The difference maker is taking consistent actions on your own behalf, and that’s where bossing up with work skills comes in.
Think of your career like a new smartphone. If you won a new phone, you wouldn’t feel grateful to be lucky but stick with the defaults. Instead, you would instantly personalize the phone to your optimal settings. Likewise, spark the determination to make some noise by showcasing your character and expertise. As Kevin Bacon discovered, changing people’s perceptions by writing a new story is the fun part!
Do you know who flipped the bit on relying on luck? Award-winning producer Shonda Rhimes. She bluntly said, “I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart. I am talented. I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. And I work really, really hard.”
Here are three ways to swap Lucky Girl syndrome for opportunities:
Knowing how to step in and step up is a quantifiable, marketable skill. But don’t think it’s a skill only meant for others. Use that competency to benefit yourself. Don’t compromise your future by waiting to be lucky. Start investing in yourself day by day.