Have you ever experienced beginner’s luck? What’s really going on...

Beginner’s luck is a real phenomenon – but luck has nothing to do with it...  

What we chalk up to beginner’s luck is actually two-fold. First of all, beginners or novices often fail or don’t perform well on a first attempt – that’s no surprise. When a beginner does get “lucky,” surprise! We naturally notice and respond to a surprise more than the predictable. 

The other all-important aspect of beginner’s luck is pressure. Experts focus on success and often pay too much attention to detail or what has worked in the past. They’re expected to succeed - and performing under pressure is always more of a challenge. Beginners, on the other hand, often don’t care how they perform on that first attempt and the pressure is off. A novice is also more likely to take a risk that just might pay off.