Is Friday the 13th bad for business?

In the Western world Friday the 13th is often considered to be an unlucky day.  So much so that many people do, in fact, suffer from a fear of Friday the 13th, otherwise known as paraskevidekatriaphobia.  On Friday the 13th many Americans avoid making important decisions, reschedule their meetings for a different day and even adjust their travel plans.  According to a USA study by the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, it is also estimated that the USA loses $700 to $800 million in business when Friday the 13th comes around. In the UK people tend to avoid the roads, which results in less traffic congestion and fewer automobile accidents.

Yet, some of the most successful people in the world are superstitious.  Tennis legend Serena Williams has won an unparalleled number of Grand Slam titles to date but seemingly not without the help of some odd rituals that she performs.  Before a match, she ties her shoe laces the exact same way and on-court she wears the same pair of socks during a tournament.  Another ritual she practises on the court is to bounce the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second serve.  The legendary Coco Chanel was told by a fortune teller that her lucky number is 5.  She then gave her most famous perfume the name Chanel No. 5.

Celebrity quirks aside, Friday the 13th has been associated with bad luck due to three main historical events in Western tradition:

  • The last days of Jesus Christ when there were 13 people present at the Last Supper.
  • The Trials of the Knights Templar perpetrated by Philip IV of France which began with the arrest of the Knights Templar that took place on Friday 13 October 1307.
  • The Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla, whereby the trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest and was responsible for orchestrating the shooting of the god Baldr by the god Hoor.

Superstitions connected to the number 13

Ancient superstitions around the number 13 have survived well into the modern era and frequently rear their heads on the business front.  According to Harvard Business Review, many airplanes do not have a 13th row of seats and many buildings simply skip the 13th floor.  This especially applies to hotels where the owners don’t want to frighten their guests.  Airports often skip Gate 13 and software companies avoid releasing edition 13.0. 

Superstitious beliefs around numbers in the Chinese culture

Despite the fact that the number 13 is considered to be unlucky in Western cultures, in Chinese culture the number 8 is considered lucky since its pronounciation is similar to the word for ‘fortune’, ‘prosper’ and ‘wealth’.  Whereas, on the other hand, the number 4 sounds similar to the pronounciation of the word ‘death’ and is therefore considered to be unlucky.

Strange events that happened on Friday the 13th

The disappearance of a Swedish Military Plane

On Friday the 13th 1952 that later became known as the Catalina affair, a Swedish military plane with a crew of eight was reported missing.  Two Catalina planes were sent to search for the missing plane but both were shot down by the Soviet air force, which afterwards admitted to having shot down the first military plane.

Computer virus infects hundreds of computers on Friday the 13th

On Friday the 13th 1989, a widespread computer virus that later became known as the Friday the 13th Virus or Jerusalem Virus, infected hundreds of IBM computers in the UK.  This virus slowed computers down to such an extent that the ensuing crash led to lost files and widespread anxiety over the new technologies of that time.

Costa Concordia cruise ship sinks off the Italian Coast on Friday the 13th of January 2012

On Friday the 13th of January 2012, the Costa Concordia sank of the Italian Coast killing 32 people.  At the time, it was reported to be the largest passenger ship ever wrecked, with almost double the amount of people on board than the Titanic.

Can Friday the 13th be good for business?

While some businesses may shy away from the number 13, one study revealed that Friday the 13th might, in fact, be good for business.  Even though rumours abound that the stock market performs badly on this day, it turns out that this is apparently not true.  Marketwatch reports that traditionally, Friday the 13th is a good day for the stock market, with stocks veering upwards of 55.63%.

A 2008 insurance study in the USA also showed that fewer traffic accidents occur on a Friday the 13th and reports of fire and theft are lower.  As finance becomes more globalised, establishing what influences market forces is a necessity.  While it is not to say that everyone working in finance believes in superstitions, some studies indicate that highly pressurised jobs breed a degree of superstition.  Having said that, investors are subject to market forces as well as the whims and impulses of their peers and colleagues.  The financial industry is one where small waves can cause huge effects, so, Friday the 13th might be a gentle reminder that it is worth taking into account all factors that influence the world’s biggest financial engines. 

Top 13 job skills employers want in the new world of work

Superstitions aside, as we move forward, one thing is certain. 2020 turned the world of work on its head. In the wake of the pandemic remote work became the norm, creating and imposing new strategies and new ways of working.

So, if you are seeking ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pool during your next job search, you need to look beyond your technical qualifications and know what top job skills you need in the new world of work. Here are the top 13 job skills that employers are looking for:

  1. Continuous Learning
  2. Time Management
  3. Decision Making
  4. Collaboration
  5. Emotional Intelligence
  6. Creativity and Resilience
  7. Adaptability
  8. Change Management
  9. Coaching Mindset
  10. Project Management
  11. Cloud Computing
  12. Knowledge of new social & digital media
  13. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you are not superstitious Friday the 13th is just another normal day

There are many different perspectives around why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky.  Yet, if you strongly fear Friday the 13th and that bad luck will find its way to you on this day then chances are you will draw all sorts of ‘bad luck’ towards yourself. Yet, you wouldn’t think anything of it if the same events took place on a different day.  But, if you don’t subscribe to superstitious beliefs Friday the 13th is just another normal day.

Reference sources:  Fastcompany.com|Technation.io|Blogs.windows.com|Thesouthafrican.com

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