Preparation Meets Opportunity: How to Engineer Your Own Luck

For centuries, people believed luck was something you either had or you didn't—a mystical force, a roll of the dice. But scientific research and real-world stories keep challenging this. In a landmark study, psychologist Richard Wiseman discovered that people who deemed themselves 'lucky' consistently took more social and professional risks. They were also better at noticing and acting on unexpected opportunities.

Consider the classic story of Gary Player, the legendary golfer who claimed, 'The harder I practice, the luckier I get.' Business data bears this out as well: serendipity is far more likely to visit people and teams who prepare, connect, and push boundaries. In the business world, so-called 'lucky breaks'—like being in the right place when a rival folds or chance meetings with future collaborators—almost always trace back to preparation, perseverance, and willingness to leap at the unexpected.

Studies across fields show that 'engineering luck' is less about fate, and more about cultivating a readiness for opportunity through diverse experience, consistently learning, and being active in domains outside one’s comfort zone. The wisdom is ancient, too: Roman philosopher Seneca put it best—'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.'

Push yourself to say 'yes' to something new, stretching beyond what feels expected or safe. Afterward, take a few minutes to recall a time when acting in uncertainty led to something surprisingly positive, and look for hidden opportunities around you now—knowing they only become real with movement. Finally, spend part of this week practicing, learning, or building skills even if there’s no clear payoff yet, trusting that you’re preparing the ground for luck to find you. Try it, and you’ll be amazed at what unfolds.