Make your own luck

THE ANECDOTE

Have you ever thought about luck?

Good luck, bad luck—why some people seem to have more of it than others? Maybe they carry a lucky penny, find a four-leaf clover, or make a wish at 11:11.

But if you look up the definition of luck, you’ll find something interesting:

Luck (/lək/) noun
Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.

One word stands out: “apparently.”

Its use suggests there are actually two kinds of luck:

1. The kind you can’t control.
2. The kind you create.

A RADICAL IDEA

Luck isn’t purely random—it’s something you can influence.

What we call “good luck” is often just intentional action over time.

If you want to increase your luck, be more intentional—at work, at home, and in how you invest your time.

Think about it like this:

• Luck isn’t something that happens to you—it’s something you create.
• The best opportunities don’t show up unannounced—you have to go after them. And sometimes, you have to create them yourself.
• Success isn’t random—it’s the result of consistent, intentional action. More often than not, what looks like luck is just hard work paying off.

My kids loved the movie Storks. In it they have a motto they use that delivers the perfect summary for creating luck:

“Make a plan, stick to the plan, and always deliver.”

THE CHALLENGE

This year, consider how will you be more proactive in creating your own luck. If good luck comes in two forms, why not maximize the one you can influence?

• Be selective—every yes is a no to something else.
• Say no to things that don’t align with your mission.
• Seek or create opportunities instead of waiting for them.

Of course things are always easier said than done. To put this in perspective and provide more practical application of this in action, here’s a few ways we’ve created our own luck.

1. Proactive Pitching: You don’t have to wait for permission to present ideas. If you have expertise to share or an idea you believe in—just get after it. Some of our best work has come from projects we weren’t even asked for.
2. Glenlore Trails: When the event industry shut down, we shifted gears. Instead of waiting, we built something new—an experience that aligned with our values, supported our community, and kept our team working. Now, six seasons later, it brings joy to over 100,000 visitors a year.
3. Publishing Work: Even this post is an example. What started as an internal message has grown into a newsletter, opening doors to new opportunities—speaking engagements, panel invites, podcast features, and meaningful conversations. The more we share our work, the more “luck” we create.

So, what action will you take this week to make your own luck?

Now go make it happen.

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