Success Through Chance and Dedication: A Life Perspective
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When my friend stepped into the room, I was already at my desk, fully prepared to start my tasks. He looked anxious, as if something was troubling him. Turning in my chair, I gazed at him, curious about what was happening. That’s when he opened up.
The day before, he had received a call from a friend asking for a substantial ten thousand dollars to invest in his startup. Considering this was thirty years ago, that amount was significant. Naturally, my friend felt conflicted and sought my advice.
As a supportive friend, I hesitated to give him a firm opinion, knowing it was a personal choice. Deep inside, I thought that if I were in his position, I might have taken the risk. I told him the decision was his to make and that I would likely invest if I were him. After that, we parted ways, and life went on.
Years passed, and I lost contact with my friend until fate brought us together at a party two decades later. While reminiscing, I had to ask him about that investment.
I casually remarked, “You must be doing really well now, right? That startup must have been a hit!” But the expression on his face told a different story—one of pain and regret. He revealed, “Nope, I didn’t put money into that company.” In that moment, I felt his disappointment. This was a genuine tale, nothing out of the ordinary. Many of you might have faced similar situations in your lives; my friend opted for hard work over luck.
The thin line between luck and hard work can significantly influence our lives. Luck may bring unexpected benefits, while hard work drives the relentless chase toward goals. This balance plays a crucial role in shaping destinies, where chance and effort intersect. Let’s explore the interplay of luck and hard work.
Imagine being on the brink of entering the world, yet not having arrived. Before you take that monumental step, envision a cosmic architect appearing, offering you the chance to establish the rules for the world you are about to enter.
They hand you a cosmic brush and say, “You get to determine the guidelines—social norms, financial systems, and government operations. And these rules? They’ll persist not just through your lifetime but for generations to follow.”
However, the key point is that you lack knowledge about your situation and don't know whether you’ll be rich or poor, male or female, or born in Kabul, Kathmandu, New Delhi, or New York. All you know is that you have one opportunity to draw a ball from a vast barrel filled with countless options. That ball? It represents you.
Consider this: you might land in a favorable situation, akin to winning a golden ticket, or face significant challenges that would test even a superhero. The strokes of your cosmic brush could portray a life of ease or one filled with unexpected turns, but your choices will define more than just your personal narrative; you are setting the stage for an entire generational saga.
The cosmic roulette wheel spins quietly, marking the intricate dance between randomness and fate. Your design sets the tone, but the lottery of birth dictates which role you will play. It’s akin to entering the world’s largest lottery, where your rewards are not determined by you. The real story lies in how you handle the hand you’ve been dealt. As you reach into this cosmic mix, remember that you are not merely crafting your image but laying the foundation for a tale that will resonate through time.
The importance of luck, randomness, and serendipity becomes unmistakably clear within this complex framework. As we navigate life's intricacies, we recognize that chance and luck are powerful allies on our unfolding journeys.
For instance, being born in the USA, rather than a war-torn country like Afghanistan, significantly facilitated the success of individuals like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, or Mark Zuckerberg. While being born in the U.S. did not guarantee their success, it certainly made it more attainable.
Thus, we find ourselves in this grand theater of life, where luck has a prominent seat, but your choices? They are your spotlight. This second narrative is worth exploring in the cosmic tale of luck and hard work.
The Journey of J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling's life serves as an inspiring example that I turn to during tough times. She represents the delicate interplay between luck and hard work. Let’s delve into her story and draw motivation from it.
Rowling's imagination was a cauldron of ideas that birthed the mesmerizing Harry Potter series. In the late 1990s, she faced a whirlwind of personal and professional struggles. During a train ride from Manchester to London, the vision of Harry Potter sparked in her mind, igniting her creativity. He appeared as a young boy with tousled black hair, round spectacles, and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, his eyes shining like emeralds.
As the train rattled along, Rowling’s vivid mental image of Harry intensified, as if a powerful incantation was bringing her vision to life. She breathed in the refreshing scent of rain, a mist that filled the air, while the rhythmic sound of the train wheels harmonized with its melodic hum. The vibrations of the train resonated within her, reminding her of the journey ahead. The image of Harry, born from her imagination, felt tangible, as if a newborn phoenix was erupting into a brilliant blaze before her eyes.
Drawing inspiration from her own experiences, Rowling began crafting a story destined to enchant hearts and ignite imaginations. She envisioned a secret magical society coexisting with the mundane world—a realm filled with spells and potions, inhabited by mythical creatures and shadowy forces. In her mind's eye, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry took shape as a grand castle reminiscent of the enchanted fortresses from classic fairy tales.
The Power of Dedication
At the time of writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Rowling was a single mother, unemployed, relying on welfare, and battling depression, even contemplating suicide. Like many first-time authors, she faced numerous rejections while trying to publish Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Almost every major publisher in the UK turned her down, until Bloomsbury, a small publishing house, reluctantly agreed to publish it, spurred by the chairman’s 8-year-old daughter who demanded to read the rest of the book after enjoying the first chapter. Rowling invested years of committed effort to bring Harry Potter and his world to life on the pages of her books. During this journey, she encountered countless refusals from publishers who overlooked the potential of her story. Nevertheless, Rowling’s unwavering determination and belief in her work kept her moving forward. Finally, in 1997, she secured a publishing deal with Bloomsbury, and the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S.), was released.
It worked.
From that point onward, Harry Potter captivated readers globally. The series became a worldwide sensation, enchanting audiences of all ages and crossing cultural boundaries. As the books grew in popularity, they were adapted into a highly successful film franchise, further solidifying the enduring legacy of Harry Potter.
Today, Rowling's creation of the Harry Potter series stands as a testament to her extraordinary creativity, perseverance, and ability to weave a captivating narrative that resonates with millions. The world she constructed, filled with magic, friendship, adventure, and essential moral lessons, continues to inspire and delight readers across generations.
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide. This impressive figure encompasses the total sales of all seven books in the series, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S.) and concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The books have been translated into numerous languages and have gained immense popularity around the globe.
I cannot help but quote her powerful words, which encapsulate everything:
“…….<i>So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.</i>
<i>You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.”</i>
Complete Success vs. Earned Success
One way to approach this question is by examining the roles of luck and hard work in various contexts. In a broader sense, luck tends to play a more substantial role, whereas hard work becomes more significant in an earned context.
When we analyze success globally, considering individuals who have achieved remarkable heights in their fields, luck often emerges as a critical factor. Viewed from this comprehensive perspective, success is frequently attributed to luck—take Elon Musk, for example, who boldly pursued ventures like SpaceX and Tesla. However, Musk's extraordinary accomplishments are not solely the result of his decisions. They also stem from a series of unpredictably occurring events, perfect timing, advantageous connections, and various factors that are difficult to predict or fully understand.
It's important to note that the more extraordinary the success, the more unique and improbable the circumstances leading to it. In such cases, luck is a prominent factor, highlighting the unpredictable forces contributing to exceptional achievements.
Conversely, the earned perspective assesses success among individuals with similar backgrounds, education levels, and inherent talents. Many individuals may share comparable educational experiences, grow up in similar neighborhoods, or possess similar genetic potential. However, not all of them attain the same level of success. In these scenarios, the differences in outcomes are typically attributed to hard work, personal choices, and daily habits.
When we compare ourselves to those who have had similar strokes of luck, we can differentiate ourselves through our efforts, discipline, and decision-making. Our choices and the routines we develop shape our earned success, enabling us to excel beyond others with similar opportunities.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that luck significantly influences complete success, while our actions and behaviors shape earned success.
An insightful realization follows from this understanding: as outcomes become increasingly remarkable, the role of luck becomes more pronounced. In other words, the more successful one becomes, the greater the portion of that success can be attributed to luck.
By recognizing the interplay between luck and hard work in different contexts, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex nature of success and the factors that contribute to it.
<i>“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”</i> — Thomas Jefferson.
This quote from Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, emphasizes the connection between hard work and luck. The more effort one invests in their endeavors, the more opportunities and favorable circumstances arise. It suggests that hard work increases the likelihood of encountering positive outcomes, or “luck,” highlighting the importance of diligence and perseverance in achieving success.
Both Perspectives Hold Truth
Sometimes, individuals struggle to accept and embrace both perspectives simultaneously. There tends to be a tendency to discuss outcomes from either a broad, global standpoint or a narrower, local viewpoint.
The global perspective, often associated with the complete view, prompts us to examine the disparities between someone born into wealth in America and someone born into extreme poverty. When discussing success from this angle, sentiments like “Can’t you recognize your privilege? Do you understand the advantages bestowed upon you?” may arise.
Conversely, the local perspective aligns with the relative view and urges us to consider the differences in achievements among those who attended the same school, grew up in the same neighborhood, or worked for the same company. When contemplating success through this lens, individuals might say, “Are you joking? Do you comprehend the level of hard work I invested? Do you recognize the choices and sacrifices I made that others did not? Dismissing my accomplishments as mere luck undermines my diligent efforts. If my success is solely attributed to luck or my environment, why didn’t my neighbors, classmates, or coworkers achieve the same level of success?”
Both narratives contain elements of truth. The validity of each story depends on the specific perspective we choose to adopt regarding life’s complexities.
Can You Make Luck Work for You?
We’ve all heard about lady luck and baby luck. But is there any truth to it? Let’s explore.
Can you make luck work in your favor? The concept of luck often appears elusive, beyond our control, and subject to chance and unpredictability. However, some argue that while we cannot directly manipulate luck, we can influence the conditions that increase the likelihood of favorable outcomes. By fostering certain attitudes and behaviors, we can position ourselves to be more receptive to opportunities and serendipitous moments. Proactive steps, such as continuously learning and expanding our knowledge, networking with diverse individuals, and adopting a growth mindset, can create an environment where luck is more likely to favor us. Additionally, being open to new experiences, stepping outside our comfort zones, and persevering through challenges can foster a mindset that recognizes and seizes fortunate opportunities. While we cannot control luck itself, we can strive to create circumstances that make it more likely to smile upon us.
Richard Wiseman, a respected psychologist and author of The Luck Factor, has conducted extensive research on luck and its relationship to behavior and mindset. He suggests that certain attitudes and behaviors can influence luck, rather than it being purely random. Wiseman underscores the significance of optimism, resilience, and openness to new opportunities in attracting good fortune.
Picture expanding the surface area upon which good luck may land by taking proactive steps. Just as a forager who explores vast terrains is more likely to discover a fruitful berry patch than one who remains confined to their home, those who work diligently, pursue opportunities with relentless determination, and dare to try new ventures have a greater chance of experiencing a fortuitous breakthrough than those who passively wait for luck to come their way.
To emphasize this theme, I’d like to reiterate the President’s words: <i>“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”</i> — Thomas Jefferson.
Ultimately, the unpredictable nature of luck, whether benevolent or malevolent, lies beyond our control. However, we hold dominion over our efforts and preparation. Fortune smiles upon us all at some point. When that moment arrives, the most profound tribute we can pay to our good fortune is to work diligently and make the most of the blessings we receive.
Thank you for reading.