7 Proven Ways to Create Your Own Luck

"I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Although this quote is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, he wasn't the first to announce the concept. "Diligence is the mother of good luck," goes back to the 16th century.

So, it seems that for five hundred years, successful people have known "luck" is often the result of developing a plan, working to make it a reality, and creating new opportunities. Entrepreneurs don't wait to be invited to the Today Show or to make Oprah's Favorite Things list. Instead, most entrepreneurs know that they have to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to make good things happen.

Here are seven tips to help you learn to work hard and create your own luck:

1. Network, network, network: No matter where you are in your plan, it's important to build relationships as soon as possible. Join Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn to Tweet. Attend industry meetings, but also let your family, friends, and colleagues know what you're doing. You never, ever know where future clients and connections will come from.
2. Be positive: When you surround yourself with supportive people, you can stay energized, even during tough times. Take time to find something good in your day, every day. Avoid and ignore critics; keep your eye on the prize.
3. Have a clear mission: Study the great companies: they adhere to their purpose. If they develop "mission creep," they return to their service or product. If a new opportunity isn't a fit, they decline and move forward.
4. Refine your craft: Focus on your skills and talents. What are you really good at? What makes you happy? What makes time pass quickly? How can you become an expert? Describe yourself in one sentence: I am a _______." Then work to make it happen. Today.
5. Be imperfect: Don't wait until you have enough cash flow, a better office space, or the next version of your invention. You may have a clear vision of your business, but hesitation will only delay and frustrate you. Constant adjustments are part of life, whether personal or professional. Perfection never arrives, so get going.
6. Accept setbacks: There is not one inventor, entrepreneur, or leader who has not been humbled by failure. When it happens to you, choose to learn from it. No one learns during complacent times--it's always the challenges that make us wiser.
7. Do good works: Some people call it karma or "paying it forward." When you help others, contribute, and volunteer, giving service always brings rewards...and feels good. When you help others, you may be planting seeds that will someday ripen and bring you a rich harvest.

Need one more quote? Think of Thomas Edison, who worked tirelessly--a thousand false starts--to develop the light bulb: "The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is that it usually walks around wearing overalls, looking like hard work."

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Read the original article on Inc.com