Luck Surface Area: Maximizing Your Life's Fortunes Beyond Wealth

Ben Mumme

Sep 10, 2023

Wisdom

One piece of wisdom that motivates, encourages and empowers you to grow.

"The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself." — Douglas MacArthur

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Insight

One insight that helps you deeply understand a situation, idea, or concept.

What Is The Surface Area of Luck?

Luck is often associated with chance, but it's not entirely beyond your influence. You can actually increase your luck using this idea called the "Surface Area of Luck."

This means your likelihood of experiencing luck is based on how much effort you put into your passions, multiplied by how well you communicate those passions and actions to others.

In simpler terms:

Luck = (Passionately) Doing x Telling (Effectively)

To understand how to increase your luck, it's important to first clarify what luck means. Luck comes in different forms, and there are four levels to it.

What Are the 4 Levels of Luck?

Blind luck: This is the kind of luck that seems entirely random and beyond your control. Examples include where you were born or winning a lottery.
Hard work brings luck: Sometimes, your effort and dedication can attract luck. For instance, if you work tirelessly on something, like tweeting or working on a project, luck may find you because of your dedication.
You discover luck: When you have deep knowledge or expertise in a particular area, you can spot opportunities that others might miss. For instance, Isaac Newton's understanding of physics allowed him to turn a falling apple into a groundbreaking discovery.
You attract luck: This is the highest level of luck, where luck seems to come to you naturally. This can happen when you have a strong personal brand, a large audience, or a position of influence.

How Can You Increase Your Luck Surface Area?

To increase your luck surface area, think of luck as random opportunities flying like arrows, and you want to catch them. Expanding your luck surface area means creating more chances for luck to find you. This applies to all four levels of luck.

Here's how you can do it:

Do and Tell: It's not enough to do the work; you need to share it. Let more people know about your efforts through effective marketing. The more visibility you have, the greater your odds of encountering luck.
Follow Your Curiosity: Be curious and explore new subjects. Connect your interests with what you already know. This way, you can spot opportunities that others might overlook. Luck often arises when preparation meets opportunity.
Allow Serendipity: Engage with the world by attending events, joining online communities, and connecting with people, especially those who have different knowledge and experiences. Each new connection expands your potential for luck.
Build a Personal Brand: Create value for others and become known for something. Building a strong reputation attracts luck in unexpected ways. Your brand can give you a competitive edge.
Take Luck as a Skill: Understand that luck can be improved. Don't wait for it to happen; actively work on becoming someone who attracts luck. Treat luck as a skill you can develop over time.

By applying these strategies, you can expand your luck surface area and increase your chances of encountering fortunate opportunities in life.

Living Legend

One inspiring story of a famous person who is still living for doing something exceptionally well.

J.K Rowling

The famous author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, is a remarkable example of someone who expanded her luck surface area to achieve extraordinary success.

At the beginning of her journey, Rowling faced numerous challenges and setbacks. She was a struggling single mother, living on welfare, and trying to make ends meet. However, she had a passion for writing and a vivid imagination.

Rowling's journey to luck began when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. She poured her heart into her work and persevered despite facing rejection from multiple publishers. This dedication and hard work can be seen as the second level of luck: "Hard work brings luck." Rowling's hustle and determination eventually led to her manuscript being accepted by a publisher.

As her books gained popularity, she embraced the third level of luck: "You discover luck." Rowling had a deep knowledge of her magical world, and she identified opportunities that others might have missed. She knew her audience and tapped into a market hungry for captivating stories.

Moreover, Rowling actively built her brand, becoming known for her literary talent and the magical universe she created. This is the fourth level of luck: "You attract luck." Her brand not only drew in readers but also opened doors to various opportunities, including movie adaptations, merchandise, and more.

Finally, Rowling recognized that luck was a skill she could enhance, and she continued to refine her craft as an author and storyteller. She didn't merely wait for luck to come to her; she actively worked on her writing and storytelling skills.

J.K. Rowling's journey demonstrates how expanding one's luck surface area through hard work, expertise, personal branding, and continuous improvement can lead to incredible success. Her story is an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and making the most of the luck that comes your way.

Final Thoughts

Questions for you to ponder and think carefully about.

Exploring the concept of the Luck Surface Area can lead to insightful reflections and personal growth. Here are valuable writing prompts and questions to help you delve deeper into this concept.

Have you ever experienced a stroke of luck in your life?
What steps can you take to actively expand your luck surface area?
What are some specific ways you can treat luck as a skill to develop over time?

Cheers,