Mardi Gras and Good Fortune

Mardi Gras and Good Fortune

Today is Mardi Gras, “Fat Tuesday,” and is a major celebration in many places before the start of the Lenten season. I imagine most of you have some immediate images when you hear about Mardi Gras, some of them less savory than others most likely, but in New Orleans and other places there are a number of traditions that have withstood the passage of time. Of course there are beads (“throws”), parades, floats, bands, and general revelry. But there is also a traditional “king cake” often described as a mix between coffee cake and a cinnamon roll that is decorated in Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold, and green. Apart from being a tasty treat, the cake contains an exciting hidden treasure. If you’re lucky, you might score a slice containing a plastic baby, which signifies good fortune for the year ahead.

While I am a bit skeptical of my good fortune relying on getting the right slice of cake, I do believe in luck and, in particular, the idea of creating your own luck. I recall a briefing during my Navy career before a major war game where someone in the audience said something to the effect of, “if we’re lucky we should be able to [do something].” The briefer paused for a couple of seconds and suggested that maybe we would be better off figuring out ways to create our own luck. This resonated with me and I try to follow that concept in my life.

What does that mean to me? In trying to explain how I try to create my own luck, I found a list that captured many of the things that I believe help you be successful. Whether that is truly creating your own luck or simply looking for ways to accomplish goals, be a good citizen, and live a fulfilling life, I leave that to you to decide.

• Commit to goals you can believe in – and achieve.
• Be proactive.
• Say “yes” more than “no” (discerningly, of course).
• Keep a positive focus.
• Be prepared for anything – especially the best.
• Seek opportunity.
• Be generous. It has a boomerang effect.
• Trust your instincts.
• Be persistent when it matters; redirect your efforts when it’s time.
• Surround yourself with smart, honest people who believe in you and challenge you.
• Go for what you really, really want – not what you think you should want.
• Build your strengths and do work that uses your core competencies.
• Know when to ask for help.
• Work smarter, not harder.
• Learn from your mistakes.
• Choose happiness.

Since I could not say it any better, my thanks to the Tempo blog team for these great thoughts on creating your own luck. https://www.tempo.io/blog/make-luck

These attributes also tie into maximizing the enjoyment of your retirement experience and understanding that being successful in retirement is far more than just having financial independence. It is active engagement, maintaining a positive mindset, taking chances and, as the list concludes, choosing happiness!

At Safe Harbor Financial Advisors we can help you with your own list of ideas for creating luck or good fortune. I’d like to think I can be part of your group of smart, honest people who believe in you and challenge you. Learn more about what a specialized retirement-focused, fiduciary, fee-only financial advisor can do for you by visiting our website at www.SafeHarbor.financial where you will find information about our cash flow approach to retirement planning, the value of using a Retirement Success Advocate, and a list of our standard projects and fees. Or you can call Safe Harbor at 302-313-6644 or email us at info@safeharborfinancialadvisors.com for an initial no-cost, no-obligation assessment meeting.