George Clooney descends from a long line of Irishmen and, no doubt celebrated St. Patty’s Day this past week. Some might consider George quite a lucky guy; after all, he is rich, famous, handsome, debonair, married to a smart, beautiful woman, and soon to be a father of twins. He is well respected by his peers having won two Oscars and he has been nominated for many more. However, George’s life has not always been a story of luck, although it has been a story of taking an emboldened approach to life.In life, George has had a fair amount of setbacks. For example, he was a good athlete and tried out for the Cincinnati Reds, but they had absolutely no interest in him. From 1978 to 1994, George got bit parts which hardly paid the bills. He sold shoes, cut tobacco, stocked shelves, and worked construction to make ends meet.

During the rest of his twenties and into his thirties, this theme of trying out for things and being rejected was ever present. Broke and auditioning, George was known for crashing on his friends’ sofas. At one point his dad asked him if he had a Plan B if he didn’t make it in Hollywood and his answer was “no.”

Then, in 1994 after turning down a reoccurring role on Rosanne against his father’s advice, he landed the role of a Dr. Doug Ross on the smash hit television show “ER” and the rest, as they say, is history.

Some might call Geroge unwise; for nearly twenty years his career was lackluster. Throughout his twenties, it is likely that his mother didn’t know what to say at cocktail parties when asked about George’s career path. “Sam is an investment banker. He got a six-figure bonus this year! Can you believe it? How is George doing? Still sleeping on his friends’ sofas?”

However, in between bit parts, parties, and girlfriends, George found time to attend acting school and auditions. He consistently put himself out into the world boldly pursuing his dreams.

To him, it was not a matter of if his dreams would come true but when.

Asking if your dreams will come true results in different behaviors than asking when your dreams will come true.

If you believe it is only a matter of time before the “pathway to success” open its doors for you, then you will accept that all the trials and tribulations on your path are making you better, stronger, and faster. Basically, they are on your path to make you the best version of yourself, much like the Six Million Dollar Man or Bionic Woman. Embedded in this belief is that you are a powerful, capable force du jour. You gain hope and boldness with each success both great and small.

If you believe success may or may not happen, then every setback can be seen as a message sent by God to dissuade you from your current path or as an insurmountable roadblock so you must quit. Regardless of how you choose to perceive it, the message to your brain is that your heart is not in it and your luck will soon run out.

Luck favors the bold because the bold believe in the power of their dreams.
Be the boldest version of your best self and embrace a lucky life.

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