The Four Types of Luck
And ones we can create
“Oh he just got lucky”
It’s the easiest thing to say. I often see this used as an excuse by people to explain why someone achieved something that they did not.
How do you know if that is true though?
And how do you know if the luck was really blind, or something that was created from action?
Yes, there are more than one form of luck, and yes, you can create your own.
“Winners create their own luck” maybe cliche, but its not really farfetched.
The Four Types of Luck
The concept of luck is fascinating and multifaceted.
A helpful framework for understanding luck comes from the work of Dr. James Austin, who outlined four distinct types of luck in his book “Chase, Chance, & Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty”.
1. Blind Luck
This is the most commonly understood type of luck, representing random chance and unpredictable events beyond our control.
It encompasses things like winning the lottery, finding a hidden treasure, or narrowly escaping a dangerous situation.
Take Sarah for example.
Sarah’s story begins in the opulent halls of her family’s estate. Born into wealth, her life unfolds against the backdrop of privilege.
Financial security, exclusive opportunities, and a network of influential connections characterize her existence.
While she didn’t actively choose this starting point, blind luck played a pivotal role in shaping the canvas of Sarah’s life, affording her possibilities that many only dream of.
Compare this to someone born in a family living on a daily earning, and the disparity in opportunities is huge.
But that isn’t the whole story- it never is.
Because luck can be manufactured.
2. Luck from Motion
This type of luck emphasizes the role of action and effort in creating opportunities for good fortune.
It’s about putting in the hard work, taking risks, and actively pursuing your goals.
The more “motion” you create, the more likely you are to encounter lucky breaks and serendipitous moments.
Meet Alex, a tech entrepreneur with a bright idea but limited resources.
Deciding to share his journey, he starts a blog, documenting his progress, setbacks, and learnings. He engages with his audience, building a community around his vision.
Slowly, Alex’s honesty and transparency attract attention. Investors take notice, impressed by his dedication and open communication.
He secures funding, not just because of his idea, but due to the luck he created through his proactive, public journey.
This is also the reason I am a huge fan of building in public.
Through my own experience, I can say that this works. Your personal brand can become a lighthouse to draw ships of opportunity into your port.
It’s already worked for me-try it!
3. Luck from Awareness
This type of luck focuses on the ability to recognize and capitalize on opportunities when they arise.
Most often, this is a collated series of experiences, allowing an individual to see opportunity, where others see nothing.
It’s about being open-minded, curious, and having a positive outlook that allows you to see the potential in unexpected situations. In Range, David Epstein talks about how people with a diverse set of skills and experiences can vastly outperform others in tasks that have multiple interconnected moving parts.
I believe luck from awareness stems from a bit of the same- the ability to identify patterns in seemingly unrelated occurrences, or the ability to link together concepts or disciplines that to most people have no connections.
Emily, a former entrepreneur with a background in biological sciences is at a conference where she bumps to the managing director of a medtech company.
The director mentions to her the need for targeted drug delivery for certain types of cancer.
Emily is able to piece together the puzzle when she meets another researcher developing nanorobots for operation inside the human body. They start a robotics company which designs nanorobots for targeted drug delivery and pilot it with the medtech company.
The awareness cultivated through her varied experiences allows Emily to spot a chance others might have missed. T
he combination of biological sciences and entrepreneurial experience allows her to see the business case, and her contact help her better understand the problem and the potential solution.
4. Luck from Uniqueness
This type of luck highlights the role of your personal qualities and experiences in attracting opportunities.
It’s about developing your skills, talents, and personality in ways that make you stand out and attract inbound leads.
Remember Jimmy Donaldson?
Of course you don’t.
How about Mr. Beast?
That’s Jimmy.
See the power of the personal brand?
His YouTube channel isn’t just about outlandish stunts and philanthropy; it’s built on his unique personality, infectious energy, and relentless creativity.
Jimmy pushes boundaries, constantly innovating and experimenting with content.
He connects directly with his audience, fostering a loyalty that propels his channel forward.
Mr. Beast’s success isn’t just random luck; it’s the culmination of his distinct personality, relentless work ethic, and an ever-evolving brand that sets him apart.
It’s his uniqueness that makes him stand apart. This is what creates opportunities few have access to- but it took him a decaded to build.
Concluding remarks
Dismissing someone’s success as mere “luck” overlooks the forces that contribute to a fortunate outcome.
While blind luck certainly plays a role, we hold considerable power in shaping our own destiny.
Through dedicated effort, open-mindedness, and the courage to embrace our unique talents, we can cultivate fertile ground for “lucky breaks” to blossom.
So, the next time you witness someone soaring, remember, their journey likely involved a blend of serendipity and self-made luck. And remember you can do the same.
Luck can, counterintuively, be built up over time.
Key takeaways:
- Luck is not always just random chance.
- While blind luck exists, we can create our own “lucky breaks” through proactive behavior.
- We can influence our own luck through our actions, developing awareness, and building up our uniqueness or personal brand.
This article was first published on my blog here.
If you like counterintuitive ideas from the world’s best minds, consider following Thinksightful.
I also blog about Tech, Notion and startups. You can read more on my personal blog.
