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Published May 31, 2018

49: Alex Banayan | Why Mentors Are Important and How to Get One

Alex Banayan delves into the crucial role of luck and mentorship in personal success, sharing captivating stories and practical strategies including unique approaches to career hacking, effective mentor outreach, and crafting impactful cold emails.
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  • Role of Luck

    Luck plays a pivotal role in success, but it's often misunderstood. and discuss how figures like Bill Gates benefited from unique opportunities and hard work. Alex shares the story of Qi Lu, who overcame extreme poverty through intelligence and perseverance, illustrating that luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity 1.

    Luck is like a bus. If you're not prepared, the next one's going to show up if you're standing at the right bus stop, but your preparation is your fee to get onto that bus.

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    Jordan emphasizes that luck is not just about being in the right place at the right time, but also about being ready to seize opportunities 2.

       

    Timing

    Timing is another crucial aspect of luck. Alex explains that getting high-profile guests like Bill Gates or Lady Gaga often depends on catching them at the right moment. He recounts his own journey, which took years of persistence and perfect timing to secure interviews with these icons 3.

    Maybe there's a one week period per year where he wants to be on every podcast, and you're like packed that one week. So it's such a tricky timing thing.

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    This highlights that while luck involves timing, it also requires relentless effort and patience.

       

    Preparation

    Preparation is key to making the most of lucky opportunities. Alex shares the story of Qi Lu, who was exceptionally prepared when a rare opportunity arose, leading to a full scholarship at Carnegie Mellon. This story underscores that luck favors those who are prepared 4.

    What happens is this guy was so damn prepared. Then when his opportunity did arrive, he went, “Oh yeah, I just happened to have a stack of qualifications.”

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    Jordan and Alex agree that being ready for opportunities is essential for turning luck into success.

       

    Mindset

    Mindset also plays a significant role in experiencing luck. Alex discusses a study showing that people who consider themselves lucky are more likely to notice opportunities. This mindset keeps them open to possibilities that others might miss 5.

    People who tell themselves and have a narrative in their head that they're lucky, see the world in a different way.

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    Jordan adds that this positive outlook can lead to real-world outcomes, making a strong case for the power of belief in shaping one's luck.

       

    Rewiring

    Rewiring one's mindset can enhance their luck. Alex suggests journaling about past lucky experiences to create a positive internal narrative. This practice can subtly shift one's perception and increase their likelihood of recognizing and seizing opportunities 6.

    If someone here listening wants to actually make a difference to make themselves feel luckier, what I would tell them is for the next 30 days, every night, spend 10 minutes with a journal, journaling a new story every night, have a moment in their life where they were incredibly lucky and what the circumstances were surrounding that situation.

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    Jordan concurs, noting that this method can effectively change how individuals perceive and attract luck.

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