Still, these intangibles do play a part in our day-to-day lives, so they cannot be ignored. Certainly \u2018Luck\u2019 is there and without doubt flows in one direction. Somedays we can do no wrong, we arrive at a customer\u2019s, they welcome us with open arms, sign the deal and at the next customer, the same, plus the following five. We are invincible! No idea what went on, but \u2018Luck\u2019 was certainly with us that day\u2026 A month later, no meetings, customers will not even pick up the phone, our office is looking like a ghost town with only tumbleweed for company\u2026 What happened? What was the differing factor or factors that on one day gave sunshine and roses, all the planets aligning and the customers singing our praises, whilst the next – constant rain with our umbrella left at home?<\/p>\n

Who knows! It\u2019s a mystery and certainly no surprise to find that the Roman goddess of luck, Fortuna, was blind – \u2018Fortuna caeca est\u2019 – \u2018Luck is blind\u2019. Yet because Luck was so important for the Romans (as with so many cultures), her day was none other than midsummer\u2019s day, June 24th, when so many in Rome would float down the river Tiber to her Temple where they would spend the day celebrating before having to swim or row against the river back to their homes in the City. Clearly Fortuna wished to remind her followers that swimming against Luck was not that easy! Indeed for centuries, even after the worship of the Roman gods and goddesses had long gone, the wheel of fortune stayed, showing the fickle nature of Luck. One day flowing with us, the next against.<\/p>\n

We are certainly getting the hint here, \u2018Luck\u2019 cannot be controlled, so what are we to do? Simply believe that our fate is already written? If so, this would not be one of our finest suggestions on how to run a\u00a0 business! Instead we would propose that rather than work out all of the factors that made the planets align for that particular day, week or month, we should simply smile, enjoy, and learn how to ride the wave when it is with us, and when not, how to turn it back in our favour.<\/p>\n

It will come as no surprise for many of our readers who are golfing fans that we should take this moment to quote the great Arnold Palmer who said: \u201cIt\u2019s a funny thing – the harder I practice the luckier I get!<\/em><\/strong>\u201d, and indeed there is so much truth in this. Mr. Palmer never went out determined to hit the ball 250 yards, but would instead practice his backswing for hours until it was as good as possible, then practice his impact position for hours, then his follow through, then\u2026then\u2026 The final distance would look after itself.<\/span> Tiger woods hit a 498 yard shot in 2002, (ok, technology improved), but he too was a master of many small improvements making a huge and in his and Palmer\u2019s cases, consistent<\/span> impact.<\/p>\n

For these greats, these small sized improvements for a greater result over time become a consistent muscle memory. As for running our business the same is true. The harder we work on our structures, processes and platforms, and the better we get at showing the world through our actions, our purpose, so the \u2018luckier\u2019 we get, or rather \u2018better\u2019. Better at answering customers queries and complaints, better at finding solutions to customers issues, better at filling our warehouse with the right items and the most efficient amount, better at lowering our DSO (Days Sales Outstanding), and reducing our debtors\u2019 book.<\/p>\n