Creating Luck

Luck isn't just chance, but a skill that can be developed. I'm not talking about the kind of superstitious luck you'd associate with spilling salt, walking under ladders, or finding a penny in the street. I'm talking about the kind of luck you create by following your interests, maximizing opportunity, minimizing risk, networking with the right people, and taking calculated risks with a long term perspective. Luck isn't something that just happens to someone; it's something that is actively cultivated through strategic choice and action.

I feel that the foundation of luck is rooted in genuine authenticity. You have to pursue what sparks your interests and fuels your natural curiosity. It's this curiosity that empowers you to learn faster, dig deeper, and persist longer than your competition. The deeper your genuine interest is will directly influence the expertise you will build that will greatly surpass those that simply go through the motions.

Maximize Opportunities
In order to create luck you have to have an opportunistic mindset by remaining alert to possibilities that others might dismiss. This could be saying yes to random invitations, speaking to the passenger next to you on an airplane, or volunteering for new projects at work. I feel that the key is to develop your pattern recognition skills for opportunities. The passenger next to you could be a recruiter for the company you dream of working for. The random invite could be to an exclusive event with big shots who wouldn't think twice about buying your art. The new project at work could be the next big thing that secures you that promotion. Even the side project you feel like is a waste of time could become your main venture.

Maximize your opportunities by staying prepared when luck presents itself. Keep your skills sharp, let your network know about your interests, and maintain a level of availability to pivot to the next compelling opportunity. You must also train your pattern recognition skills to see past the inconvenience or extra work needed beyond the short term cost and recognize the potential long-term value.

Minimize Risk
Creating luck isn't about being reckless and throwing spaghetti against a wall hoping it sticks. You should be smart in evaluating risk as certain risks may set you back temporarily while others could derail you permanently. You want to maximize your chances of winning while preserving your ability to stay in the game. This might mean saving up to create a financial buffer to take a huge career risk, being selective over tasks that may destroy your reputation or relationship if you cannot follow through, and most importantly keeping a healthy mind and body. Risk minimization involves continuous learning and skill development as having valuable skills reduces the chance of taking on unnecessary risk when evaluating new opportunities.

Network with Intention
When you network with intention, the goal should not be to just collect contacts or LinkedIn connections but to create genuine connections with people who inspire you and/or whom you can help in return. Personally I tend to focus on quality over quantity as it allows me to not feel overwhelmed in staying connected and authentic. The best network you can build is one consisting of individuals from a diverse background who truly understand your capabilities, trust your judgement, and are mutually beneficial for both parties.

TL;DR
Creating luck is not just relying on random chance and probability but becoming the best version of yourself with a great mindset, strong network, proven skill-set, and willingness to jump when the opportunity presents itself.

Author's Note
Here are a few examples of ways that led to me being "lucky":

• Photographing snakes near my home caught the attention of a marketing agency owner who lived nearby, which ultimately led to my role as creative director.
• Being too young for a PayPal account to collect graphic design payments in high school pushed me toward cryptocurrency, where I started bitcoin mining in 2013 when BTC was just $33.
• Offering free work via Instagram direct messages opened doors to travel nationally and internationally for paid projects with full expense coverage.
• Free consulting and social media work on online forums grew into overseeing an Instagram network with 4,000,000 total followers.
• Tweeting about learning to code during college introduced me to my first startup partner, who remains one of my best friends today.