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# Lucky Number 7 - and a 40-degree day
- URL: https://www.howardgray.net/lucky-number-7-and-a-40-degree-day/
- Published: 2019-06-17T15:28:32.000Z
- Updated: 2021-07-25T21:48:34.000Z
- Author: Howard Gray
- Tags: Stage Left

Many of us are captivated by the number seven. It’s supposedly lucky (more on the reasons behind this were discussed on [this NPR episode](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11803762&ref=howardgray.net))

But what happens when we ditch it?

Look at a survey with respondents asked to rate a product or service on a scale of 1-10.

When someone rates what we’ve done as a 7, it’s good. 

Not great. Not bad. 

It’s good. Above satisfactory. Solid. Decent.

Do we want our work to get a 7? Maybe, but is it more valuable to us to receive a 4?

Is the 7 in fact a 40 degree day, as described by Idris Elba’s Stringer Bell?

As the late Alexander McQueen said; he’d rather you felt *something* about his work rather than nothing – even if that something was hating it.

When 7 disappears, something happens. 

Maybe we can get more lucky without it.