4 Kinds of Luck: Which One Do You Have

Luck is a word we often hear and envy in other people. We wonder why we never seem to experience it ourselves. But the truth is, there isn't just one type of luck; there are four.

Some may question whether luck is even real or if it is merely disguised hard work.

Influential individuals throughout history have interpreted luck in various ways:

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson

"Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get." - Ray Kroc

"Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, are they right? Is luck simply plain, boring hard work?

Let's delve into the different types of luck and how they operate. This theory was initially published by Dr. James Austin, further explored by Marc Anderson, Ameet Ranadive, Sahil Bloom, Otto Mendes, and others, and now, I present my understanding of it.

There are four kinds of luck:

Blind Luck:

This is when you are fortunate without having done anything to bring it about. In such cases, it's best not to overanalyze and simply embrace the good fortune.

Examples of Blind luck include

• Winning a lottery ticket,
• Being born into a wealthy family,
• Being born in the wealthiest part of the world,

Luck from Motion:

Imagine a pot with all your past actions as ingredients, and by taking action (stirring the pot), you create randomness and transform the mixture into an entirely different concoction.

The more action you take, the more likely you are to stumble upon new opportunities.

To harness this type of luck, you must stop overthinking and start doing. Follow your instincts and connect the dots as you reflect on your past actions.

For instance, consider a scenario where you begin posting on LinkedIn, connecting with professionals in your industry, and engaging in conversations about random topics. Through this action, one of your connections might inquire about your services and refer you to their friend, leading to a new client. This is how taking action can generate luck.

Luck from Awareness:

This type of luck is accessible to those with in-depth knowledge, skills, experience, and awareness in a specific domain. Countless opportunities present themselves daily, but only a few individuals can make sense of them and leverage them to their advantage.

To others, it may seem like luck, but it is rooted in preparation and expertise.

For example, suppose you witnessed the 2007 stock market crash and studied how people made millions from it. Although you missed that opportunity, you gained valuable knowledge. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, you recognized similar patterns in the stock market and capitalized on the situation because you were well-prepared and had the necessary expertise to spot the opportunity.

Luck from Uniqueness:

This type of luck occurs when your unique set of attributes attracts specific opportunities to you. It differs from Luck from Awareness because, this time, luck finds you, rather than you seeking it out. It happens because of who you are and what you know, which can be attributed to fate as well. In this case, you don't find luck; luck finds you.

For instance, let's say you have spent years tinkering with generative AI models long before they became a popular topic of discussion. Your unique passion and acquired expertise result in founders and CEOs seeking your input as they build projects at the forefront of AI. Consequently, you are able to earn equity in various exciting ventures that have the potential to yield millions. Your distinct and unconventional hobby attracts luck to you. - SAHIL BLOOM

Now, what should you do with this knowledge? Should you wait for luck to find you or take action?

The answer is simple: stop overthinking and start doing. Make waves in the sea, even if they seem small at first. Eventually, they will grow significant enough to catch the attention of others. Meanwhile, prepare yourself by reading, learning, and personal growth in all aspects of life. When opportunity knocks on your door, you will be ready.

People may label it as luck, but it is far more complex and straightforward than that. You are Bending the universe to your will and creating your luck.

This perspective on luck draws inspiration from the book "Chase, Chance, and Creativity," published by Dr. James Austin in 1978.

This post is made possible because of work of Sahil Bloom, Marc Anderson, Otto Mendes, Ameet Ranadive and Naval Ravikant.

I just picked up their thoughts and processed it my mixer