How to engineer a "lucky" career
"The Luck Framework" and why building snowballs is key
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I was very lucky to ride Amazon's growth, going from a Senior Manager of 6 people to a Vice President with 800 people.
How do we maximize our chances of being "lucky?"
In this article, we break down my 5 parts of “luck” (each with specific executive coaching advice), followed by a helpful “Luck Framework” for you to use, and extra audience insights on how they engineered “luck” to drive their careers.
1. Part of "luck" is preparation.
I had already held executive roles at smaller companies and managed larger teams, of about 30. So I had relevant skills to grow as Amazon grew.
As a result, I moved up faster than most of my peers.
Ray Kroc (former Owner & CEO of McDonald’s) said: "Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get."
Executive Coaching Action: Wherever you are, relentlessly grow your skills. Otherwise, when opportunity comes you may not be ready to seize it.
2. Part of "luck" is humility.
I had VP titles at three startups over a five year period before Amazon offered me a Senior Manager role. It hurt my pride to step back so far in title, but I got over it and committed to the job.
I could have "held out" for a role more similar to previous roles but this would have been a mistake.
Executive Coaching Action: Be willing to take any seat you can get on the right bus.