How to Create Luck: A Perspective on Luck and Taking Action

How to Create Luck: A Perspective on Luck and Taking Action

Luck is often seen as a random occurrence, something that happens by chance. However, there is a different way to approach luck, one that involves taking an active role in creating opportunities for positive random events. This concept is known as "Luck Surface Area" (LSA), a term coined by Jason Roberts and expanded upon by Sean Murphy and popularized by Patrick McKenzie.

The idea behind LSA is simple: the more things you do and the more people you tell about it, the greater your luck surface area becomes. In other words, by actively engaging in various activities and sharing your experiences with others, you increase your chances of encountering luck.

This mindset aligns with the concept of a fixed vs growth mindset. Instead of passively hoping that luck finds you, adopting a growth mindset means hustling until you stumble into it. It means preparing your mind to be sensitive to chances that others may miss and becoming the best at what you do. By refining your skills and expertise, you position yourself as an opportunity for luck to seek you out, ultimately making luck your destiny.

The words of Charles Kettering and Derek Sivers reinforce this idea. Kettering suggests that luck is not something you stumble upon while sitting down, emphasizing the need for action. Sivers emphasizes that extreme results require extreme actions, further highlighting the importance of actively pursuing opportunities.

However, creating luck is not just about taking action. It also involves being open to the possibilities that come your way. Naval Ravikant categorizes luck into four types: hope, hustle, preparation, and mastery. While actively pursuing opportunities is essential, it is equally important to prepare your mind and be sensitive to chances that others may overlook. By honing your skills and becoming the best at what you do, you increase the likelihood of luck finding you.

These principles can be applied to various aspects of life, including the realm of newsletters. Benedict Evans discusses the rise of email newsletters and their appeal in today's digital landscape. He notes that email newsletters have been around longer than the internet itself, indicating their enduring value.

Evans also highlights the challenges of monetizing content on the web. While meaningful ad revenue often requires more traffic and more writing, it is easier to pay for an email than a web page. Email newsletters offer tangible value, something that is received regularly and can be kept for future reference. In contrast, blog posts often get lost in the vast amount of online content, and it can be challenging to remember to visit specific websites.

This is where platforms like Substack come in. Substack simplifies the process of publishing and charging for newsletters, offering an all-in-one solution that handles website creation, membership management, email delivery, and payment processing. By providing an easy-to-use platform, Substack enables writers to focus on creating quality content and building their audience.

Furthermore, Substack fits the theory of "come for the tool and stay for the network." It not only provides a publishing tool but also has the potential to drive recommendations and discovery through its user-facing brand. However, as with any platform, the question of what happens when there is more content than anyone can consume arises. How does Substack's own reader fit into the equation? Is it primarily a tool or a network? These are crucial questions that Substack must address as it continues to grow.

In conclusion, creating luck involves taking an active approach to life and embracing opportunities. By expanding your luck surface area through action and sharing, you increase your chances of encountering positive random events. Additionally, being open to possibilities and continuously refining your skills can help luck find you. Lastly, in the realm of newsletters, platforms like Substack provide valuable tools for writers to monetize their content and build a network of engaged readers. By leveraging these tools and focusing on quality, writers can increase their chances of success.

3 Actionable Advice:

1. Try new things and engage in various activities. The more experiences you have, the greater your chances of encountering luck.
2. Share your experiences and expertise with others. By telling more people about what you do, you expand your luck surface area and increase the likelihood of luck finding you.
3. Continuously refine your skills and become the best at what you do. Mastery of your field positions you as an opportunity for luck to seek you out.