One question I get asked frequently is, “What are my odds of winning?” In Canada, the odds of winning are usually stated in the rules as follows: The odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received. That doesn’t tell the entrant very much. If the marketers did a great job of promoting the contest there could be ten of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of entries, decreasing your odds of winning. If the marketers did a poor job, there may only be hundreds of entries, increasing your odds of winning.
Jeff Rosenthal, a professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Toronto wrote Struck by Lighting-The Curious World of Probabilities. It examines the role randomness plays in our everyday lives. According to Jeff, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than you do winning the lottery.
I say, “Half the hobby is in your head.” I prefer to follow Joe Dispenza’s teachings. He teaches in Evolve Your Brain, that your thoughts create your world, your Universe, around you. Every morning he creates his day.
(NOTE: Watch all three parts.)
So what do you think your odds of winning are?
Remember, Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Think you can win and you will be right, no matter what the odds.
Tags: Jeff Rosenthal, Joe Dispenza, odds of winning
We know that the dominant way a person’s thoughts interact with the outside world is through that person’s hands. There are no possible physical forces by which the brain can interact with the outside world directly in a meaningful way.
But, if someone can create their day and meaningfully manipulate the universe using their will, is it ethical to do this to win contests?
In a fair contest, each entry will have an equal chance of winning. “Creating a day” will give someone an unfair advantage over the other entrants. This certainly would be an injustice toward the people who believe the contest to be fair, and who do not create their day.
What are the karma ramifications of stealing a contest using this technique?
I believe it is ethical. I think everyone should be using it to improve their lives in every aspect.
I use Joe’s technique(s) every morning. I do not think I am stealing prizes from anyone. I win 5–15+ contests every month, month after month. I am submitting 100–300 entries per day. Therefore I win less then 1% of what I enter. I don’t even every contest as there are more contests running in Canada at any given time than I could physically enter. There are enough prizes for everyone.
What I focus on every morning are the goals I want to achieve in all areas of my life; love, family, friends, home, business, career, health, and contesting. What I do for contesting is focus on the end result, not a particular contest, such as winning a trip to Disneyworld. I do not focus on one contest, but one prize as there are many promotions with a trip to Disney as a grand prize. I also envision winning surprise prizes, as I like, what I call, the Christmas aspect of the hobby. I don’t always like to know exactly what I am going to win.
I also know there are some people that are entering with the intent to lose. Helene once told me the story of the neighbour who used to throw her entries into the mailbox declaring, “There goes nothing. Why am I wasting my postage?” She too was creating her Universe. She didn’t win.
Do you still think I have an unfair advantage over any other entrant? I just taught you and anyone else reading this blog post to do what I do every morning. You are the one that will choose to use the information or let it go.
I totally believe this. Although I think one has to be really careful with this cause sometimes other things and God does have the last word. But I have seen enough flakiness in this world to know how thoughts and prayers and meditation does affect the world. –C