We can meticulously plan and scrutinize every aspect of our lives. We can analyze our careers, our work, and our very souls. We can attempt to gain some modicum of control over our lives and the journey that awaits us. And yet, sometimes it just comes down to luck.
Some of the greatest moments in my career have come about through simple luck. Right place, right time. That’s it.
So what then can we control in this world? How much power do we really have over our own destiny? As it turns out, we have all the power in the world.
Luck is invariably an unexpected reality to life. That aspect we cannot control. What we can control is whether or not we make ourselves available to that luck. We can make sure that we place ourselves in that right place, hoping beyond our very wisdom that it’s also the right time.
What this means is that we must stay motivated. We must keep moving. As Walt Disney said, “Keep moving forward.” As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The best thing a man can do is the right thing. The second best thing a man can do is the wrong thing. The worst thing a man can do is nothing.” Or as a famous cartoon fish once told us, “Just keep swimming.” Wherever we hear the call, we must heed the words.
Action breeds more action. It’s that simple. The more we do, the more we live, the more we become engaged, the greater our chance of finding that elusive lucky moment. In this way, the old adage is true: The harder I work, the luckier I get.