I have experienced numerous successes in my life, and a significant portion of that success can be attributed to good luck.
The mere fact of living in Canada and having enough money to cover my rent and food places me among the global 1%. I routinely tip waiters an amount that surpasses the monthly earnings of many individuals in other countries.
The streets in my neighborhood are clean, and the presence of the rule of law gives me a sense of security. In my apartment, I have running water, and the lights come on every time I flick the switch. Luxuries such as Internet access, a computer, and a cell phone are taken for granted.
Millions of people around the world don’t have the same privileges.
Unfortunately, individuals in developed countries often overlook their good fortune. Instead of comparing ourselves to the millions who face greater challenges, we tend to compare ourselves against the relatively few who seem more prosperous.
We often look at successful people and attribute their success to their hard work, and although that’s often the case, we tend to forget that luck also plays a significant role in the success of many of us.
For example, companies such as Uber and Airbnb managed to grow at a rapid pace in part because they decided to break the law of the cities where they operated. Those companies could have easily been fined with penalties so high that they could have gone bankrupt. Although there was a lot of hard work to grow to where they are, luck played a huge role in their success.
There is also the luck of whoever happens to be your parents. Some people are born into environments where education and self-confidence are taken for granted, while there are people who are born in families where education is not important, and they grow up in an environment of self-doubt. There is also the economic environment when we grow up; a person who grows up during the Great Depression doesn’t have the same outlook on the future as a person who grew up in the economic boom following WWII.
Of course, hard work is often the reason for success, but let’s not forget good luck.
Stories from the community
Kelly Johnson: I won a five-figure contract simply because I answered my phone. I was called out of the blue based on my reputation built through my LinkedIn posts. I spoke to the person and was awarded the contract right away.
OLGA ROZIN: I don’t know if I would call it luck, I’d call it the mysterious adventure of life!
This may not resonate with everyone but I personally believe that each one of us has a path that’s authentic and another one that isn’t. When we remain on our true path things happen sooner or later – sometimes we need to do certain things to set the stage for success. But when we try to push for something that isn’t in alignment with our true path we hit more roadblocks and there is very little movement forward. It’s basically trying to force yourself to be who you are not.
I don’t believe that anyone can achieve anything with only hard work, we need to combine the work with our natural talents and strengths. It sounds to me like you had a hunch that was in line with something you were good at and it paid off!
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