Does luck favor those who are prepared?
Haebom
The concept of luck has long been a subject of much debate. The phrase " Luck is when preparation meets opportunity " is often attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca , though it may not have been his own words. This phrase opens up a variety of interpretations of success. Successful people often use this phrase to emphasize that their success is solely a result of hard work. However, this contrasts sharply with the reality that countless hard-working individuals still fail to achieve significant success.
Can you achieve success through luck?
Is luck a necessary component of success? To some extent, yes. 😂 While successful people tend to downplay the role of luck, unsuccessful people may overestimate its importance or use it to cover up their own lack of effort. Ryan Holiday summed it up well: "Luck is polarizing. Successful people pretend it doesn't exist, while unsuccessful or cynical people insist it's everything." Ultimately, the concept of luck may be something we've created to explain other people's success and to console ourselves.
However, if you interpret this saying more positively, it shows that preparation and effort are crucial factors in putting yourself in the best position when opportunity arrives. Preparation doesn't guarantee success, but without it, the odds are slim. This phrase is really a call to action: don't wait passively for opportunities. Instead, actively seek them out, improve your abilities, learn from failure, and try again.
Success and Good Luck
Personally, whenever people asked me about my career, wealth, or success, I'd just smile and say, "I was lucky." And honestly, I think that's true. Most of the billionaires I've met also describe themselves as lucky. Luck may be an essential element in some ways, but it's important to truly understand what that means.
When someone asks me about luck, I have a story I often tell. I think I mentioned this recently in a conversation with Gyudam: the Korean word for luck, '운(運),' comes from a Chinese character meaning 'to carry' or 'to move.' You see it in words like 'destiny' and 'good fortune.' If you break it down, it's made up of 辵 (meaning to walk or proceed leisurely) and 軍 (which represents a group or army). Luck, then, isn't something that comes quickly; it's more about having space and moving along with others. In my view, luck doesn't come to those desperately chasing it—it visits those who find themselves in a relaxed pause. This got a bit long, but all I'm saying is: don't be in a rush.
Brief Summary
1.
Accept that luck is always a factor. Keep an open mind, stay patient, and maintain your composure.
2.
Always be prepared. Continually work on developing yourself and put yourself in a position to take full advantage when an opportunity comes your way.
3.
Learn to accept failure. Even with the best preparation, you don't always succeed when opportunity comes. Even people who are ready can hesitate when faced with a chance. But it's not the end of the world. Learn from your experience, try again, and do better next time.
4.
Be grateful for the luck you already have. Your situation and opportunities might be better than many others'. You may have fewer challenges, a better starting point, stronger support, or other genetic factors. It's important to stay humble.
5.
Accept the possibility that others may attribute your success to luck—even when they know how much effort you put in.
So the next time someone says "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity," smile and remember that it's not quite that simple.
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I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭.
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haebom@kakao.com
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I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭.
If you are curious about my thoughts, perspectives or interests, please subscribe.
haebom@kakao.com