Bet #4 of 7 Essential Bets To Make In A World Where Almost Everything Is A Gamble.

In his 1984 book, Getting Rich Your Own Way, author Srully Blotnick ‘proved’ what seems like an outrageously attractive ideal.

Based on a study of 1,500 people over a 20 year period, he found 1,245 people had chosen a path of ‘make money first, do what I love later’, while only 255 people chose to follow their true dreams and passions first rather than seek wealth.

Yet the small group of 255 people produced 100 millionaires, while the group of 1,245 people produced only one.

Tumbling the numbers a slightly different way, this study might suggest that your chances of becoming a millionaire are 39% if you follow your dreams and passions, but less than 1% if your intention is only to make money.

Sounds pretty convincing; do what you love and the money will follow, right?

The only problem is this little entry I read in Wikipedia: the press found out that his social research books were not supported by the claims he made.

Oh well, it was a nice thought.

But wait a minute; viewed in the context of randomness, luck and probability, there’s plenty of well-reasoned, logical support for why it’s the right bet to make. Here’s why.

In the words of Donald Trump, 'everything in life is luck.' He also said, "the most important thing in life is to love what you’re doing, because that’s the only way you’ll ever be really good at it." Then again, Donald Trump has said a lot of things...

As we saw in Bet #2, improving your ability improves your chances of success — and it takes years of dedication to get ‘good enough’ at pretty much anything.

Then in Bet #3, we saw why you have to stay in the game long enough until you get a lucky break. Yes, if at first you don’t succeed, you try, try again. That’s one reason why so many successful people are both persistent and prolific.

Now ask yourself, how can you be motivated to stay in the game even when Lady Luck is looking the other way? How can you be prolific unless you actually want to explore every facet of your speciality or niche?

If you love what you do, and you are successful at it, you’ll be doing it a long time. If you love what you do, and you are not successful, at least you’re doing what you love. Either way, it’s more enjoyable than the alternative.

And so we’re back to betting on doing what you love. That’s why I started out writing that Bet #4 is exactly that — bet on what you love. But love has become almost trivial and superficial; you may love many things like fishing, the theatre, gardening, golf, purple swirl ice cream or garden gnomes.

Then I thought it should be about your life purpose or passion. Some people call it God’s calling; other people might describe it as what the universe intended for you to do on this planet.

But those descriptors are too spiritual and esoteric for me. It’s not that I have anything against being spiritual; it’s just my nature to be pragmatic.

Walk with me down the middle of this super highway for a minute.

No matter how you cut it, getting to success is going to take a lot of work. If you don’t love what you do; if you have no passion for it, that’s exactly how it feels — like a lot of work. In fact, I have come to understand the true definition of a workaholic as someone who works incredibly hard at something he or she doesn’t enjoy.

Do we have a word that describes someone who works incredibly hard at something he or she is intensely passionate about?

Yes, we do. We say those people are ‘driven’ — and admit it, you admire those people too, don’t you?

Bet on whatever it is that drives you.

Whatever it is for you, it’s the fuel that keeps you moving forward in the face of uncertain odds.

Do this now.

This is the short version of my 'affirmation/driver statement' on a flip chart. Your short version doesn't have to include all the elements of your positioning statement such as 'why' or 'how'. Use 'I' for your personal positioning statement; use 'we' or 'our team' for your company or group. Try it and let me know what difference it makes for you.

Print your positioning statement in large type on the biggest sheet of paper your printer can handle.

If you’re like most businesses, you probably have starting words like, ‘we work with…’ or ‘I help…’

Take a thick colored marker and cross out those starting words. Scribble the words, ‘I am driven to…’ and connect it with the rest of your existing positioning statement.

Now tape it to your wall (or rewrite it on white board), and stare at it for a long while.

How does it make you feel? Does it ring true? Can you hear yourself saying it to someone else?

The starting words you use for your positioning statement are a great indicator for how closely the rest of it reflects your true self and your authentic comeptitive advantage.

Once you’re done experimenting with, ‘I am driven to..’, try, ‘I am brilliant at…’ and, ‘no one in the world is better than I am at…’.

I mean it.

Your positioning statement should work as a positive affirmation for your unique differentiation and passion — and how it adds value to your customers. Because, if it doesn’t work as a positive affirmation, chances are it doesn’t work at all.

Maybe author Srully Blotnick made up the results in his study. I don’t know, but it would appear they have a positive correlation with the laws of probability and chance. Do you know what drives you? I mean, what really drives you?

Essentially yours,