How Steve O from Jackass taught me something new

I hate inspirational quotes. I think sharing them are a baseless act of futility if you're not actively out there grinding. Sorry, not sorry.

They feel like the business class version of those revolting, "Live, Laugh, Love" signs. Let's be honest, that phrase is the Steve Bannon of a perceived dream, yet somehow wanna-be motivational life. The phrase doesn't mean anything - It's just a bunch of words strung together that ring to a self-serving, self-please narrative. As it stands, when people share an inspirational quote, most of the time I cringe. Not because I think trying to pump yourself up is stupid, but because it feels like a firesale method of self-awareness through the murk. 

It's a constant question of what are you trying to achieve by promoting some thought like, "you are your best you" or some inane point of view no buys into. On LinkedIn, most of the time, it's some dude trying to get noticed as a "thought leader" on Facebook, it's people with lives that suck. I'm not a curmudgeon, just honest. 

Because I'll bet dollars to donuts you've never read some quote and been like, "fuck yeah. You've just reaffirmed my self-esteem from my boss emotionally ruining me for the next 48 hours. I may not chug that bottle of tequila today, after all. Thanks quote!"

But, I heard one today. A quote that resonated. For once: 

“Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity."

I was listening to the Rogan podcast, with of all people, Steve-O as the guest. Yes, the dude who did the "butt chug" on Jackass. (Google it, if you don't know.) Anyhow, he was talking about opportunity and knowing when to make your move. He knew he couldn't keep getting kicked in the nuts for money every day, so he mutated into a stand-up comedian. There's no easy way to become a stand-up - it's a dedicated life, a career. You gotta put in the work. You have to suffer. You've gotta get up earlier than everyone else, stay through bad shows, and endure being un-funny. Wanna see someone with guts? Watch someone die on stage trying to be funny, they bomb and then get back up and do it again till they've got a few solid jokes. 

The quote isn't Steve O's. I don't know who's it is. But, why this ONE resonates is the essential nuance of the meaning: you have to wake up and be ready to knife fight the world every day when you wake up. There's a difference between being in the right place, at the right time, vs. seeing your moment and grabbing it by the throat. Every day, we've gotta hustle and drive ourselves insane to finally reach that coveted Jay-Z summit where you can do whatever the hell you want. 

But, what separates fact from fiction is putting in the work. You gotta be ready to shine Lil Wayne-style when someone calls your bluff and wants you at the ready to show off those skills you've honed. If you're acting a fool and posing, when that chance comes, you look like a dumbass and the person who was out there, working at being a boss comes in and owns it. It's not anything but a lion eating a gazelle. That's life. 

And here I am in my car, driving to work and here's the dude who barfed in a deep sea diver's mask because a fat dude farted in it, dropping some knowledge on me. I was taken aback by the sheer will and passion of his explanation of the phrase - “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity." 

This dude saw one window was closing and made sure to put in the work to evolve, to be bigger and be better. I can't hate the man for that, and I certainly can't bust on him for a contrived notion of self through a comment on ethic. I had to tip my hat and dig my heels in harder. Ain't perfect, but it's honest, and it's what gets you work - the hustle has to be real. 

If you're willing to kill yourself to be great at something, that's when success happens. Not because you willed it by a generic, catch-all quote - but, you heard something, for once and it made you work on that early morning knife swing just a little harder. 

Preach.