A while back I blogged about a book called The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman who claims that you can learn to be lucky.  In fact, Dr. Wiseman even lists five steps for learning to be lucky.

First, don’t assume there is nothing you can do about any situation.  Make the decision to take control.

Second, do something now.

Third, make a list of various options.  Be creative.  Brainstorm.  Come up with as many ideas as you can.

Fourth, decide how you will move forward.  Consider every possible alternative.

Fifth, take action.  Be prepared to adapt your action as the future unfolds.

Richard Wiseman calls this a prescription for learning to be lucky.  I call it committing to taking personal responsibility for creating a successful life and career.  Every one of the five steps above is a manifestation of your willingness to commit to taking personal responsibility for your life and career.

Let’s look at them again. 

First, deciding that you can control a situation is the first step to controlling it.  It’s like throwing a mental switch that puts you in charge and demonstrates your commitment to taking personal responsibility for your life and success.

Second, the mere act of doing something moves you forward.  You may not be successful the first – or even second or third time – but the fact that you try and keep trying is another manifestation of your commitment to taking responsibility for your life and career.

Third, thinking through your options puts you in control.  Often, it may seem that your options are limited.  However, if you take the time to review everything you can do in a given situation, you’ll be able to come up with some good ideas for getting on top of any situation you face.

Fourth, choose an option, put it into play, and see what happens.  If it doesn’t work, choose another one.  If that doesn’t work, choose another one.  In this way, you are not only being systematic about creating your own success, you are demonstrating the resilience common to people who commit to taking personal responsibility for their success.

Fifth, be adaptable.  What works at first may no longer work as you move forward.  If you’re committed to taking personal responsibility for yourself and your success, you’ll change with the times.  You won’t sit back and bemoan the fact that things have changed.  You’ll be in charge, changing with the times – and even causing the times to change.

The common sense point here is simple.  Successful people commit to taking personal responsibility for their lives and careers.  You can demonstrate your commitment to taking personal responsibility for you success by doing five things:

1) Decide you are in control. 

2) Do something to show yourself you are in control. 

3) Think through all of your options in a given situation. 

4) Choose an option and act.  If it doesn’t work, choose another option. 

5) Be adaptable.  Change with the times. 

In The Luck Factor, Richard Wiseman calls these five steps a method for learning to be lucky.  I say they are a recipe for demonstrating your commitment to taking personal responsibility for your life and career.

Bud is the author of seven books, including Straight Talk for Success and 42 Rules to Jumpstart Your Professional Success. 

P.S. If something bad happens here's what you do to keep the luck going:

Here are some tips from Richard Wiseman on distracting your thoughts away from ill fortune.

• Go to the gym – exercise is a great way to take your mind off your problems and it also lifts your mood.
• Watch a funny film – choose a film that makes you laugh, and try your best to become involved in the story.
• Spend about twenty minutes thinking about a positive event that happened in the past – relive the event in your mind and think about how you felt at the time.
• Listen to music – again, choose something that makes you feel happy, and try to become involved in the music.
• Arrange to see your friends – talk about what's happening in their lives.

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