Do You Believe in Luck?

I get asked that question more than you’d think, and my answer is it depends on what you mean by “luck.”

If I’m walking down a random street and find a crisp $100 bill on the sidewalk, that’s luck. (I’d also probably spend the next 10 minutes looking around like I’m in a prank show.)

Even in that situation, I already know myself. I’d probably be predisposed to do something meaningful with it like donate it or use it for a gift for a friend or colleague or put it toward something that makes someone else’s day a little brighter.

That part isn’t luck, that part is values, and that’s where the conversation gets interesting. When people say they want more luck in their lives, what they usually mean is:

• “I want my business to grow.”

• “I want my family to feel more stable.”

• “I want more opportunities.”

• “I want things to finally start going my way.”

  
  

And I get it but the kind of “luck” that builds a strong family, creates financial security, and builds a business you’re proud of? That’s not random or something you find on the sidewalk. That kind of luck is built, and it’s the result of work.

It’s the ability to show up when you don’t feel like showing up, to keep going when the momentum isn’t immediate and it’s also about something people don’t talk about enough: being in a position to accept what life brings you.

Sometimes they show up as:

• a conversation you almost didn’t go to

• a person you were “too busy” to follow up with

• a referral you didn’t expect

• a client who was watching you quietly for months

• a small decision that felt insignificant at the time

Luck is often just preparedness meeting timing and preparedness isn’t glamorous. Preparedness is:

• answering the email

• returning the call

• being consistent

• doing what you said you would do

• being someone people trust

• staying sharp

• staying kind

• staying ready

I’ve watched people call things “luck” that were anything but. I’ve seen business owners who spent years building relationships, serving clients with excellence, and staying committed to their reputation and then when something finally “clicked,” people said, “Wow. You’re so lucky.” No. They were ready, and they were brave enough to keep going long after most people would’ve quit.

I’ve also seen the flip side. People who want the reward but don’t want the responsibility. People who want the outcome but don’t want the uncomfortable parts, the learning curve, the discipline, the follow-through. They want the luck without the labor but that’s not how it works.

So yes, I believe in luck. I believe in the $100 bill on the sidewalk kind, but the kind of luck that creates long-term stability, strong relationships, and a business built on trust? That kind of luck is earned and it's created by showing up with integrity and built by being someone people want in their corner.

What I really believe in is People. I believe in working with people who are gracious, grounded, and genuinely care. The kind of people you want to refer without hesitation and the kind of people who don’t just “do business,” they build relationships.

If you’ve ever worked with someone like that, you know exactly what I mean. That’s not luck either, that’s trust, and trust is everything.