How can some people get so lucky in life?
I think I've figured it out.
A framework for getting luckier:
I think I've figured it out.
A framework for getting luckier:
We often think that luck is about being in the right place at the right time.
But the surest way in life to find luck is much easier.
What follows is the story of how the most powerful woman in startups creates 'luck' out of thin air.
Read on:
But the surest way in life to find luck is much easier.
What follows is the story of how the most powerful woman in startups creates 'luck' out of thin air.
Read on:
Ann Miura-Ko (@annimaniac) has been labelled the most powerful woman in start-ups by Forbes.
She is:
âą A co-founding partner of Floodgate Venture Capital
âą An early investor and board member in Lyft
âą A lecturer in entrepreneurship at Stanford
âą And a world-class debater
She is:
âą A co-founding partner of Floodgate Venture Capital
âą An early investor and board member in Lyft
âą A lecturer in entrepreneurship at Stanford
âą And a world-class debater
Annâs parents came to America seeking opportunity having grown up in post-WW2 Japan.
They had almost no money, spoke very little English, and had no support system when they arrived.
What they did have was a steely grit and determination to make a life in America.
They had almost no money, spoke very little English, and had no support system when they arrived.
What they did have was a steely grit and determination to make a life in America.
Her father worked intensely to receive a PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Eventually, he would become a Rocket Scientist at NASA.
A field of work where there's little room for error.
Eventually, he would become a Rocket Scientist at NASA.
A field of work where there's little room for error.
He would wake up at 5am in the morning, go to work, and then bring home stacks of paper and continue working long into the night.
He was truly dedicated and loved the work he did.
His diligence and relentless focus was something he aimed to instill in Ann from a young age...
He was truly dedicated and loved the work he did.
His diligence and relentless focus was something he aimed to instill in Ann from a young age...
...So much so that whenever Ann did anything, he would ask a simple question to ensure she was giving her best effort:
âHey, is this world-class?â
When a young Ann was writing something and the handwriting wasnât neat enough, he would ask this question.
âHey, is this world-class?â
When a young Ann was writing something and the handwriting wasnât neat enough, he would ask this question.
Ann would think to herself, âYou know, for a five-year-old, yes. This is world-class.â
But the fact remained, he would always push:
âIs this really the best that a five-year old could ever do?â
A constant messageâto give her best effortâthat she could never quite escape.
But the fact remained, he would always push:
âIs this really the best that a five-year old could ever do?â
A constant messageâto give her best effortâthat she could never quite escape.
After receiving a financial aid package to Yale, Miura-Ko was required to complete 10 hours of work study per week.
She found herself in the office of the Dean of Engineering.
The day before she goes to her first day of work, she calls her parents.
She found herself in the office of the Dean of Engineering.
The day before she goes to her first day of work, she calls her parents.
Her Dad gets on the phone and says, âMake sure you do a world-class job.â
Ann responds, âIâm photocopying and filing. Thereâs no such thing as world-class there.â
And He says, âWell, Iâd still think about it.â
Ann responds, âIâm photocopying and filing. Thereâs no such thing as world-class there.â
And He says, âWell, Iâd still think about it.â
So, on her first day, Ann finds herself standing in front of the photocopying machine with a stack of papers thinking:
âWhat is world-class in this situation?â
She decided it was photocopies where you couldnât tell it was a photocopyâthey would look like the originals.
âWhat is world-class in this situation?â
She decided it was photocopies where you couldnât tell it was a photocopyâthey would look like the originals.
Ann had many more menial tasksâlike getting donuts for the office and labelling filesâand every step of the way she would ask herself:
âWhat does world-class look like?â
No matter how small or boring, she completed each task to the best of her ability without hesitation.
âWhat does world-class look like?â
No matter how small or boring, she completed each task to the best of her ability without hesitation.
Ann continued this for two years, unnoticed, until one day...
The Dean of Engineering, Allan Bromleyâa legendary physicist whoâd worked under George Bush, Sr.âpoked his head out of his office to see that his executive assistant was out.
He saw Ann and he said, âWho are you?â
The Dean of Engineering, Allan Bromleyâa legendary physicist whoâd worked under George Bush, Sr.âpoked his head out of his office to see that his executive assistant was out.
He saw Ann and he said, âWho are you?â
She responded, âIâm Ann Miura. Iâm your student assistant in this office.â
And he said, âOh, Iâve heard of you. I need you to go and give my friend a tour of the engineering facilities.â
âI know youâll do a good job. Sarah (the EA) has told me youâre great.â
And he said, âOh, Iâve heard of you. I need you to go and give my friend a tour of the engineering facilities.â
âI know youâll do a good job. Sarah (the EA) has told me youâre great.â
So, Ann proceeds to take the friend on a tour of the engineering facilities.
They get along very well and discover that they both come from Palo Alto near San Francisco.
The friend stops in the middle of the conversation and asks, âHey, what are you doing for spring break?â
They get along very well and discover that they both come from Palo Alto near San Francisco.
The friend stops in the middle of the conversation and asks, âHey, what are you doing for spring break?â
Ann was planning on going back to Palo Alto.
âWell, thatâs great, because Iâm wondering if you want to come and shadow me and see what I do for a living?â
Ann realises sheâs spent the whole conversation speaking about herself and hasnât asked this guy what he did for a living.
âWell, thatâs great, because Iâm wondering if you want to come and shadow me and see what I do for a living?â
Ann realises sheâs spent the whole conversation speaking about herself and hasnât asked this guy what he did for a living.
So, she asks, âWell, what do you do for a living?â
The man responds, âIâm (Lew Platt) the CEO of Hewlett-Packard.â
Ann realises her mistakeâdoing what any junior would do in talking about themselvesâbut quickly responds:
âI think that would be amazing to shadow you.â
The man responds, âIâm (Lew Platt) the CEO of Hewlett-Packard.â
Ann realises her mistakeâdoing what any junior would do in talking about themselvesâbut quickly responds:
âI think that would be amazing to shadow you.â
So, that spring break, Ann joins Lew in his daily life as the CEO of HP.
They would drive around together, attend meetings together, and do all of the things that Lew had to do.
One day, Bill Gates came to make an announcement about .net with Hewlett-Packard.
They would drive around together, attend meetings together, and do all of the things that Lew had to do.
One day, Bill Gates came to make an announcement about .net with Hewlett-Packard.
Lew invited Ann to attend the meeting and see everything âbackstage.â
He also invited the photographer inâwhich Ann didnât think much of at the timeâand he asked for a photo of Him and Ann talking to each other.
A few months later, after the fact, Ann receives some mail...
He also invited the photographer inâwhich Ann didnât think much of at the timeâand he asked for a photo of Him and Ann talking to each other.
A few months later, after the fact, Ann receives some mail...
Itâs a thank you letter that reads, âThanks for coming to visit. I thought you would enjoy these photographs.â
The first photograph shows Ann and Lew sitting next to each other talking.
The second photograph shows Billâsitting in the exact same seat as Ann wasâtalking to Lew.
The first photograph shows Ann and Lew sitting next to each other talking.
The second photograph shows Billâsitting in the exact same seat as Ann wasâtalking to Lew.
Lew had tried to open Annâs mind to the possibility that she could one day be sitting where Bill Gates wasâshe just had to see herself there first.
He saw something in Ann and said, âYou know what? You have something and I see it. Iâm going to show you something even greater.â
He saw something in Ann and said, âYou know what? You have something and I see it. Iâm going to show you something even greater.â
Ann recalls, âIt was such a gift. It was so incredible because I hadnât ever thought about my own personal potential ever.â
From that moment, a raft of new opportunities opened up for Ann including a mentorship with Lew PlattâCEO of HP.
Her career was officially launched.
From that moment, a raft of new opportunities opened up for Ann including a mentorship with Lew PlattâCEO of HP.
Her career was officially launched.
But, it all comes back to one moment.
The moment that Allan Bromleyâthe Dean of Engineeringâsticks his head out of his office needing an important job done.
He didnât recognise Ann, but he knew her name.
More importantly, he knew that Ann was known for doing a great job.
The moment that Allan Bromleyâthe Dean of Engineeringâsticks his head out of his office needing an important job done.
He didnât recognise Ann, but he knew her name.
More importantly, he knew that Ann was known for doing a great job.
Itâs hard to find meaning in menial or boring tasks.
Thereâs often no immediate payoff that comes with themâlike any good habit, thereâs no immediate gratification.
We just want to get them done as quickly as possible so we can get on with the real, more interesting work.
Thereâs often no immediate payoff that comes with themâlike any good habit, thereâs no immediate gratification.
We just want to get them done as quickly as possible so we can get on with the real, more interesting work.
But, this is a mistake.
Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
Your personal brand is the summation of the thousands of micro-acts you put in over the course of your career or life.
Itâs what you do when no one is looking or expecting you to do a great job.
Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
Your personal brand is the summation of the thousands of micro-acts you put in over the course of your career or life.
Itâs what you do when no one is looking or expecting you to do a great job.
And the surest way in life to find luck is to make sure you give your very best in each and every one of those moments.
Because you never know what might be around the corner.
And you never know when doing your best will lead to a life-changing opportunity.
Because you never know what might be around the corner.
And you never know when doing your best will lead to a life-changing opportunity.
Remember:
Every day, youâre not just working for someone else.
Youâre working for your future self.
Youâre your own bossâthe boss of the âluckâ that will eventually come your way.
Make the choice to increase your luck by being âworld-classâ in everything you do.
Every day, youâre not just working for someone else.
Youâre working for your future self.
Youâre your own bossâthe boss of the âluckâ that will eventually come your way.
Make the choice to increase your luck by being âworld-classâ in everything you do.
If you want to dive deeper on Annâs story, you can find the original conversation that @annimaniac discusses this life changing moment on the @tferriss show:
tim.blog
tim.blog
@annimaniac @tferriss That's how you can create your own 'luck' by being 'world-class'.
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Follow me @_alexbrogan for more thought-provoking content to help you get better at the game of life.
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