I’ve met the three people today who have used the phrase “When I win the lottery …” in their conversations with me. This is not good.

The odds of winning the National Lottery in the UK are, statistically one in 13,983,816. Let’s call it one in 14 million. So if you buy one ticket you have a 14 million to one chance of scooping the jackpot. That is a ridiculously long odds and whilst it doesn’t stop me buying a ticket every week (yes, I do, honestly) it is only one ticket and it doesn’t, in any way, form part of my life plan or financial goals.

I have been fortunate enough to win £10 on five separate occasions … – which is not a fantastic return given that the first lottery draw was in November 1994 (yes, it really is almost 16 years ago since it first started).

So far, I’ve spent £1,422 on my tickets for each draw (I do enter the midweek draw as well!) and for that I’ve had a return of £50. Life-changing!

The financials don’t worry me. I’m in the draw every week, it’s a bit of fun and a four-figure “loss” like that over 16 years isn’t going to hurt me. What would hurt me would be a situation where my happiness and fulfilment in life depended on a 14 million to one shot coming in. That’s a rubbish way to live your life, which is why I find it so sad that three people today used that phrase with me. Just think about it. Think about all the implications of what you are saying. (and don’t tell me it’s juts a figure of speech and people don’t really mean it – they do. These are poor people who right now haven’t got the money to come to Royal Ascot with me, or the theatre in London or a weekend break in Spain – an dtheir strategy to change their situation is – “when I win the lottery”. Pfui.

Despite all the economic traumas that prevail at the moment there’s never been a time with more opportunity than the one that we are living in right now, this week, today. All the resources that are available, online, in libraries and elsewhere mean that anyone – and I do mean anyone – with a dream, a bit of passion, and a dedicated work ethic really can achieve whatever it is that they want to do.

So, to the person who said that they’d like to go to Royal Ascot, in the Royal Enclosure … “when I win the lottery …” – You could go next year if it mattered enough to you.

If you have never been to the Caribbean and you’d like to go on a family holiday then get into gear, make a plan, do something that will generate the money and get on the plane and go. But don’t consign it to the “it will never happen, I’m not worthy” box by saying that you’ll go to the Caribbean “when I win the lottery …”.

And I know some people say this is harsh, but it’s not. It’s just true. We’re all responsible for our destiny in life. We all make choices about what we do with our time and energy. We can waste it, lying in bed, watching TV or standing in a queue to buy lottery tickets … but there is an alternative and it is a much more sensible strategy, I promise you.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!