Planning Beats Luck: Why You Aren’t a Lottery Ticket

You scroll through social media and notice almost everyone talks about luck—who got what internship, who happened to meet the right people. It's starting to rub off; you keep your calendar overloaded with options, afraid to miss the next break. But days blur, and the sense that you're making genuine progress is missing. One morning, you pause and decide to actually choose a direction. You block off your schedule, say no to overlapping commitments, and put serious time into one major project. At first, it's scary—what if the “real” opportunity is hidden elsewhere? But focusing on your chosen path gives you space to learn, build, and connect far more deeply. Research shows that people who plan deliberately—who see themselves as active creators, not lottery entrants—report higher satisfaction and far more real achievement in their fields. Recovering agency is always a leap, but the rewards are compound: progress builds on progress, and uncertainty becomes a source of energy, not anxiety.

Decide today to view yourself as an agent of your future, not someone waiting for permission or luck. Notice where you default to keeping options open—maybe taking too many courses or projects out of fear of missing out—and then commit to dropping even one in favor of a focused, affirmative plan. Make space on your calendar for real progress, regularly check if your energy lines up with your goals, and let go of tiny bets that run you ragged. As you act more intentionally, your momentum will make doors open—without needing a winning ticket. Try it this week and see the difference.