Luck Isn't Random—How You Can Literally Control Luck

Here’s what’s in store for today:

• Understanding luck’s role in success

• The 4 different types of luck

Read time: 3 minutes

Last week, I talked about “Regression to the Mean” and how luck plays a huge role in success.

I shared two equations that define success, as described by Daniel Kahneman in Thinking, Fast and Slow:

So, let’s talk about luck.

You might assume luck is all about probabilities and random chances.

After all, the dictionary defines luck as “success or failure apparently brought on by chance, rather than through one’s own actions.”

But if luck is really random, how do some people always manage to be wildly successful, no matter what they do?

Does Apple get “lucky” every time they release a new successful product?

Is Magnus Carlsen the #1 chess player in the world because of pure chance?

Is Phil Ivey one of the greatest poker players of all time because he gets lucky?

Even with a game like poker where much of the gameplay involves chance, it’s important to understand that luck isn’t random.

Before you try and “get luckier,” you need to understand the 4 different types of luck:

1. Blind Luck

This is your typical kind of luck. It's no better than guessing a roulette number or winning the lottery. It happens by pure chance.

Example:

You dive into the ocean and randomly find a lost treasure chest.

2. Luck from Motion

This type of luck happens by putting yourself in front of as many opportunities as possible. If you buy $1M worth of lottery tickets (something I don't recommend), you spread yourself across many numbers, maximizing your surface area to succeed.

In more practical terms, if you constantly hustle, say yes to every opportunity, connect with new people, change jobs, socialize within your communities, etc., you're putting yourself in as many different situations as possible to get lucky and find success.

Example: 

You search for treasure in the ocean, day and night, 24/7. You scour as many different areas as you can. Eventually, you might get lucky and find it.

3. Luck from Awareness

This type of luck requires a heightened sense of awareness. When you become an expert in a particular domain (or multiple domains), you get good at picking up subtle cues.

You can "spot luck" because you have greater knowledge in an area.

Example:

You're a treasure hunter and know the location of an old pirate ship wreckage, so you know the best places to search for treasure.

4. Luck from Uniqueness

The best type of luck (and the hardest to achieve). When you're the best at what you do, people will come to you with opportunities.

Example:

You're the best treasure hunter in the world. People come to you asking for resources to help them find the treasure. You provide your equipment and expertise, and in return, you get a cut of every treasure you help someone find.

So, how do you start getting luckier?

When I say luck isn't random, this is what I mean. By understanding the different types of luck, you can actually open yourself up to more chances to succeed. 

The best rule of thumb that encompasses all types of luck is the Luck Razor.

The Luck Razor states that when choosing between two different paths, choose the one with a larger luck surface.

For starters, you can hustle. It's easier to get lucky and succeed when you're constantly learning, networking, and growing (vs. sitting on the couch and watching TV all day.)

But personally, I'm more of a "work smarter, not harder" kind of guy. 

I learned you can also get lucky by being in the right place at the right time.

The key is to know what the "right place" is.

When you pick up new skills, you add another layer of uniqueness to yourself and have more chances to be "in the right place."

I've been collecting skills like Thanos collects Infinity Stones.

When my friends or family need engineering advice, I'm their guy.

When they need financial advice, I'm their guy.

When they need psychology tricks, game theory explanations, or deeper insights on maximizing life's fulfillment, I'm their guy. 

By diversifying my skills, I've become a jack-of-all-trades. 

To maximize your luck, become someone that people don't just WANT, but NEED.

Here are some ways I diversify myself:

• Learn new skills through online courses.

• Listen before you speak, especially to the experts.

• Network with people in the domains you want to learn about.

• Don't just ask questions—ask the right questions. You should learn something new if you ask the right question.

Getting lucky isn't all about random chance. By understanding the different types of luck and constantly learning new things, you can literally increase your odds of finding success.

Quote of the week

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions, hit me up on 𝕏 at @sam_starkman, or feel free to reply to this email!

— Sam