The Lucky Truth About Luck

"Oh my goodness, you're so lucky!" they exclaim, as if some cosmic fairy godmother sprinkles good fortune dust on random passersby. Well, I've got a confession that might ruffle some feathers: I don't believe in luck. There, I said it! And no, I haven't been hit on the head by a falling horseshoe.

You can't swing a black cat these days without hitting someone attributing success to luck. "Did you hear? Bob landed that fancy CEO position. How lucky!" Or "Sarah won an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas. Some people have all the luck!" My personal favorite: "Jim narrowly avoided being flattened by a runaway hot dog cart. Lucky guy!" But was it really luck, or was Jim simply paying attention to his surroundings instead of being glued to TikTok while crossing the street?

Many moons ago, my father shared a piece of wisdom that stuck with me like gum on a summer sidewalk: "Luck favors the prepared." So, I decided to test this theory, approaching life with all the preparation of a doomsday prepper, minus the underground bunker (still working on that permit).

Let me tell you what preparation really looks like. It's showing up to job interviews having researched the company so thoroughly you could write their Wikipedia page. It's practicing your presentation until your cat can recite it in its sleep. It's checking the weather forecast, traffic reports, and tire pressure before that important meeting—and still leaving an hour early "just in case."

Take my friend "Lucky" Lucy, for example. She "lucked into" her dream job at a prestigious tech company. Funny how that luck coincided with her spending four years earning a relevant degree, building an impressive portfolio, networking at industry events, and applying to 147 positions (yes, she counted). Her luck looked suspiciously like sleep deprivation and carpet-bombing LinkedIn with applications.

Then there's "Fortune's Favorite" Fred, who "got lucky" with his successful startup. His luck consisted of three failed businesses, maxed-out credit cards, and eating nothing but ramen noodles for two years while he refined his business model. If that's luck, you can keep it.

I've had my share of "lucky" breaks, too. Like the time I "fortunately" avoided bankruptcy during the economic downturn. My good fortune mysteriously aligned with years of maintaining an emergency fund and living below my means. Imagine that!

The truth is, what we call luck is often just preparation breakdancing with opportunity. Sometimes, they nail the routine, and sometimes, they step on each other's toes, but it's never random. It's more like a carefully choreographed performance where only the audience sees the final show, not the countless hours of practice.

Does this mean every prepared person succeeds? Of course not. Life occasionally throws curveballs that no amount of preparation can catch. Sometimes, you do everything right and still end up with pie on your face (metaphorically speaking, though in my case, it was literal—food fighting is not an acceptable networking strategy, as it turns out).

But here's the kicker: being prepared means you're better equipped to handle both success and failure. When opportunity knocks, you're not scrambling to find pants before answering the door. And when things go sideways, you've got a backup plan—or at least a sense of humor about it.

So, the next time someone tells you they got lucky, look closer. Chances are you'll find a trail of preparation, persistence, and probably a few paper cuts from all those resume printouts. As for me, I'll keep preparing, planning, and showing up, trading luck for readiness.

Just don't expect me to walk under any ladders though. I mean, I'm skeptical about luck, not stupid.