The author of the great novel, Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, once wrote:

"Diligence is the mother of good fortune."

Some people just look lucky. Whatever they touch turns to gold. They meet all the right people, they have tremendous success, they appear always to be in the right place at the right time.

But Cervantes has a hint for all of us. Luck doesn’t just randomly find the same people over and over and lavish them with good things. The individuals who seem most consistently lucky tend to be people who are most consistently diligent in developing their talents and pursuing their dreams. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “diligence” as “persistent effort or work” and then as “industrious character.” In a secondary usage, from French, it can mean a public stage-coach or conveyance. That's interesting, since only diligence can reliably carry us down the road to frequent meetings with good fortune.

Cultivate diligence in all your endeavors, and get ready to enjoy the benefits of good fortune. Luck can be yours if you prepare yourself for it.

Today.

PostedSeptember 9, 2014

AuthorTom Morris

CategoriesAdvice, Business, Leadership, Life, Performance, Philosophy, Wisdom

TagsDon Quixote, Cervantes, Tom Morris, TomVMorris, Luck, Diligence, Work, Success, Persistence

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I thought I could fly.
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Luck and Diligence