The Luck Myth: Do You Have A Role?...#50

The Four Types of Luck.

Do you think of yourself as lucky, unlucky, or somewhere in the middle?

Chances are, like me, you see luck as a random force that blesses or curses you by pure chance. But what if this basic view of luck is holding us back? What if luck isn't just one force, but different types we could influence?

Challenging your understanding of luck's distinct layers could be the key to getting more "lucky breaks". Luck has multiple parts, some governed by chance, but many that bend to our efforts.

A neurologist named Dr. James Austin published a book entitled Chase, Chance, & Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty. Austin refers to the word “chance” as “luck”.

Here are four key types of luck to be aware of based on Dr Austin’s book:

Blind Luck - the dumb luck that truly is out of your hands. Where you were born, who your parents are, “works of God” - these lucky or unlucky events can only be handled with humility when they randomly happen to you.

Keep an eye out for this one, it does slip in and out of the other types as well.

Luck + Motion. This is the good luck generated by hard work and consistently hustling daily. Do you think you are unlucky? Maybe that is just because you are not taking enough action. The more you put yourself out there through tireless efforts, curiosity, and meeting new people, the more "lucky" breaks seem to randomly come your way.

“ Chance II favors those who have a persistent curiosity about many things coupled with an energetic willingness to experiment and explore.” - Dr. James H. Austin

The more action you take, the energy you put in, and the people you meet - the better chance you, might get your work to be noticed at the right time and give you a “lucky boost”.

This type is accessible to most of us, For example, Thando works in IT support and always seeks ways to improve processes. He joins online IT forums, attends webinars, and participates in tech meetups to learn about the latest trends and technologies.

At one meetup, he learned about a new cybersecurity tool that could benefit his company. He proposes its implementation, and it prevents a significant security breach, saving the company millions. His proactive learning and networking led to recognition and a major promotion. Thando’s consistent effort to stay engaged with the tech community created this "lucky" break.

Luck + Preparation. This is where life's luckiest opportunities naturally come your way through the skill, awareness, and expertise you have built over many years of hard work.

“Chance III favors those who have a sufficient background of sound knowledge plus special abilities in observing, remembering, recalling, and quickly forming significant new associations.” - Dr. James H. Austin

With years of experience in your field, you know what works and what doesn’t much better than someone new.

Think of a master woodworker who has spent decades perfecting their woodworking abilities down to the smallest details. When a highly coveted, lucrative project comes along needing those precise skills, the woodworker is fully ready and able to claim that incredible opportunity through all their years of preparation. Their dedicated lifelong learning and practice created the circumstances for this career-making luck.

Luck Unique To You. This is where your special abilities act like a magnet drawing compatible opportunities your way. You create your luck by being who you are and not trying to fit in.

“Chance IV favors those with distinctive, if not eccentric hobbies, personal lifestyles, and motor behaviors.” - Dr. James H. Austin

This type might seem beyond your reach initially, but being authentic and developing your skills can make it achievable.

For example, Jane, the IT support worker, is known for her quirky hobby of building custom gaming PCs in her spare time. Her passion for technology and attention to detail have earned her a reputation for solving complex technical issues.

During a company retreat, Jane's CEO, an avid gamer, discovers her hobby and is impressed by her expertise. He offers her the opportunity to lead a new gaming division within the company, where she can combine her IT skills with her passion for gaming. Jane's unique hobby and skills attract luck, leading to a career-defining opportunity.

Can you see how some types of luck are just random chances, while others result from your purposeful actions - working hard, perfecting skills, and focusing on your strengths? When you see this realistic view of luck, you realize you could influence many luck forces.

While blind luck will always be out of your control, actively creating luck + motion, luck + preparation, and luck unique to you can dramatically increase your good fortunes. You shift from letting luck happen to you, to making luck work for you.

Take a moment to think - what types of luck am I experiencing most right now? How much luck am I unknowingly creating through my daily habits? What good luck am I missing out on by not working hard enough on my skills?

leonardo ai