On luck and gumption

I must have read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" at least two dozen times. I first read it during a solo cycling journey from Clarkson University to New York City. Since then, I've read it at least once or twice a year in one form or another — paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.

Over this Labor Day weekend, I found myself flipping through the "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" pages and re-reading my old highlighted notes. I came upon this highlight:

"If you're going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you haven't got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they won't do you any good.

Gumption is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going. If you haven't got it there's no way the motorcycle can possibly be fixed. But if you have got it and know how to keep it there's absolutely no way in this whole world that motorcycle can keep from getting fixed. It's bound to happen. Therefore the thing that must be monitored at all times and preserved before anything else is the gumption.

— Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig

Luck is random. Luck is an outcome of factors or circumstances beyond one's control rather than the result of one's efforts or abilities.

Gumption refers to initiative, resourcefulness, or determination in approaching situations or solving problems. It's a blend of courage and enterprising spirit, enabling someone to face challenges with enthusiasm and vigor.

Gumption often creates the conditions for luck to emerge. By actively seeking opportunities and facing challenges head-on, one increases the chances of advantageous outcomes. Gumption is a manifestation of self-reliance:

"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events." - Ralph W. Emerson, Self-Reliance

Success is a function of luck and gumption. While luck can present opportunities, the gumption can turn them into successful outcomes. Many people encounter luck, but most don't have the gumption to take advantage of it. Success is not merely the product of fortunate events but the amplification of luck through persistent effort and drive.

I won't go down the rabbit hole of finding examples of famous people using their gumption to turn luck into success. There are books written about it — by lucky, successful people with the gumption to write books. I bet we can all find such examples.

In our industry, gumption is what gets us to try new things, experiment, and build new products. Sometimes, it means trying new programming languages or frameworks with nothing else to explain the decision than your gut feeling. Sometimes, it means ignoring the prevailing management methodology to run your team as you think it should. So when opportunity knocks, have the gumption to answer.