Luck, what is it really? We still use the term often even today. How does it relate to business and success? People of the 19th century felt in a way that life was a game of luck and the ones who were most able to retain luck and whose knowledge could then turn luck into power, self-improvement, and success were the ones who had what it took to be prosperous in business. As many of us would agree would still be true today. Although, the concept of luck in business may have originated in this time in the 19th century where a great deal of inventions and theories beginning to evolve."Again, the luck may secure a good position, or enable a man to make a fortune, it will not enable him to hold his position or to keep his money." This belief can be seen readily today, how often do we hear about someone who won the lottery 10 or 15 years ago now filling for bankruptcy. "Life is full of golden chances, but only wisdom sees them and only labor reaps their harvest. Luck comes to those who look after it says a Spanish proverb. Luck meets the fool, but he seizes it not says the German." The writers also point out that many that have become failures do not accept the actions they have taken as the cause, they will only claim that they came across ill-luck. "Go talk with the bankrupt man of business, who has swamped his fortune by wild speculation, extravagance of living, or lack of energy and you will find that he vindicates his wounded self-love by confounding the steps which he took indiscreetly with those to which he was forced by "circumstance" and complacently regarding himself as the victim of ill-luck." In closing, these writings try to emphasize to young men that if you fail it is because of your own actions and no other reason. Luck will someday come your way, when it does be prepared to hold on to it and though labor and wisdom turn it into success.