We Lucky Few

Did you ever watch Band Of Brothers? It was an American mini series set in the Second World War, following the exploits of Easy Company from the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

The series follows their various missions in Europe, from initial training in a brutal bootcamp in Georgia all the way to V-J Day.

It tracks the unit's experiences through the landings in Normandy, Operation Market Garden, the Siege of Bastogne, the invasion of Germany, including the liberation of a concentration camp, and on to the war's end.

It was an epic production and my mate Dingle was actually in it. He was one of twenty extras that were an integral part of the series.

When I say integral I mean they were the ones getting shot by snipers or wandering around naked for the shower scenes when Donny Wahlberg didn’t want to take his pants off.

Extra Extra

He wouldn’t be called an extra these days. He’d be a 'junior artist' or 'background talent' or something, and he’d be completely insufferable because of it. I mean he still brings up the fact that he had an equity card. 

Anyway during that period of filming he had a great time. It was a lengthy production - I seem to recall it took most of the year 2000 to film and was then released in 2001. It was a wonderful time for Dingle filled with amazing experiences. 

His photos from the film sets were incredible; huge swathes of Hertfordshire were transformed into 1940s war torn France. They shot on location too, travelling to Obersalzberg, Hitler’s mountain residence, to film the storming of Kehlsteinhaus, the Eagle’s Nest.

Fame, Fame, Fatal Fame

I remember Dingle turning up late for a meal at Fatty Arbuckle’s (!) restaurant once, his face still covered in mud from the day’s filming. He apologised for being late but it was because he’d been “run over by a tank. Repeatedly.”

Even Alan Shearer might have accepted that as a reasonable excuse! 

He met the great and the good from the acting world; Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg were directing and producing. Damien Lewis, David Schwimmer and Dexter Fletcher were among the big name actors.

There were also lots of smaller names, lesser known actors who were just starting out including Tom Hardy, Marc Warren, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy, Dominic Cooper and Stephen Graham. Even Jimmy Fallon was in it. That’s quite a list.

Got To Move With The Fashion

There were strange little perks too. For the sake of continuity he had to have his hair kept at the same length for the duration. This was classed as an inconvenience so he actually got compensatory pay to have his hair cut regularly.

The make up department would trim his barnet and then pay him for his troubles! He no doubt misses those days as much as his shiny skull misses his ginger locks now.

In short, he was very lucky. Don’t you think?

In fact, I was with him one day when someone said this exact thing.

“You’re so lucky. To be given that opportunity. You lucky, lucky git!”

Dingle agreed quietly, just nodding. But he gave me a glance and I knew what he was thinking. 'You make your own luck.'

I'm A Lucky Man

Luck exists. Absolutely it does. I found a ten pound note floating in the street in Redhill a couple of years ago. No Keith, it wasn't yours. There was no one around, not a single soul anywhere near in any direction. I wasn’t close to a home or shop or anything. I kept it. And felt lucky. 

That sort of luck is simply pure luck. Pure good luck for me and pure bad luck for whoever lost the tenner.

Getting a job on Band of Brothers is a different sort of luck. The sort of luck that you have to work hard for. The sort of luck that you put yourself in the position to notice and accept. The sort of luck that has to find you ready and waiting. As of right now I’m going to label it ‘earned luck’. 

Let me tell you how Dingle became lucky enough to work on Band of Brothers.

End Of A Century

He'd joined the Royal Navy at eighteen and served for seven or eight years. By the turn of the century he had been out for a little while and was working for a bespoke travel agency in Kensington.

One day a colleague passed him a copy of the Metro and pointed out an advert in the back pages. It was a casting call looking for males of his age with a military background.

He turned up at the audition in a US naval uniform that strictly he shouldn’t have had in his possession. But anyway he had it, so he got it dry cleaned and pressed and wore it to the audition.

The casting crew put him through his paces, assessing his suitability for the work ahead. Once they’d finished he was told to stand ‘at ease’ and that they’d be in touch.

Ask Me, I Won't Say No

At this point instead of thanking them and heading out the door Dingle stood to attention and spoke loudly.

“Permission to speak sir!?”

The chap he was requesting permission to speak from was a certain Dale Dye. Dye is a decorated Vietnam vet and legendary advisor for filming realistic military action. He’s not someone to be trifled with. He looked Dingle up and down.

“Permission granted.”

“Sir! You’re looking for twenty extras for this mission,” Dingle barked. “With respect sir, you’re not. You’re now looking for nineteen. You’ve found the first member of your team. I’m the man you’re looking for. Sir!”

Dye and the casting crew looked at each other. Dye turned to Dingle.

“Thank you Mr Dell. At ease. We’ll let you know.”

Watching on a monitor in a separate room behind the audition space, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg turned to each other, both nodding in agreement. 

And that's how Dingle got the Band of Brothers gig. 

Lucky right?

So this week’s Top Tips is simple. Make your own luck. Earn it. Or rather, be aware of when you can give yourself the best chance to get lucky. To earn luck.

Working hard to be lucky is about choosing to notice opportunities and then embracing them. Put yourself in the right places and earn your luck.

You'll never score a goal if you don't shoot. And you'll never get the chance to shoot if you don't get on the pitch. Make sure you're on the pitch.

So this weekend, whatever goals you’re currently working on, have fun noticing those opportunities to be lucky.