Summary

The article argues that attributing someone's success to luck undermines the hard work and preparation that typically contribute to their achievements.

Abstract

The concept of someone being 'lucky' in their success is challenged in this article, which posits that such a view is unjust and overlooks the effort behind the scenes. The author emphasizes that success often involves significant work and preparation, even for those born into favorable circumstances. The article references the backlash received by influencer Molly Mae for her comment about everyone having the same 24 hours, suggesting that the criticism was unwarranted as it was not intended to belittle those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is acknowledged that while some individuals may indeed be fortunate in their opportunities, the success of many is not solely due to luck. The author points out that even those who seemingly get lucky, such as lottery winners, may struggle with the consequences of their windfall. The article concludes by urging readers to recognize the work that goes into seizing opportunities and to give credit where it is due, rather than dismissing achievements as mere luck.

Opinions

The author believes that success attributed to luck often involves a significant amount of hard work and is not merely a result of chance.
It is noted that people from similar backgrounds can have vastly different levels of success, and it is unfair for those less successful to attribute their peer's achievements to luck.
The article suggests that the criticism towards Molly Mae's comment was unfair and that her point was misunderstood.
The author asserts that even those who win the lottery, often considered the epitome of luck, face challenges in managing their newfound wealth and the social dynamics that come with it.
The author emphasizes that being in the right place at the right time is not enough; one must be prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
The article criticizes the tendency to call successful individuals lucky, advocating instead for recognizing their efforts and the credit they deserve.

The Idea Someone ‘Got Lucky’ is a Massive Injustice

Being lucky is a lot of hard work

People who do great things are often accused of getting lucky.

It softens the blow for those around them who haven’t been as ‘fortunate’ and makes them feel better about their lack of luck.

But if you ask most people who have gone on to achieve great things, ‘being lucky’ usually involved a whole lot of work.

*It is worth noting, some people have been dealt a stronger hand than others. If you are born in a rich country and had a decent upbringing then you are at a better starting point than most others.

This is not a tone-death response that undermines the struggles people have to go through.

Influencer Molly Mae got publically shamed when she made the comment on a podcast that “we all have the same 24 hours a day”. I feel that the criticism was unfair as the point was not a deliberate punch down at people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Although I am unlikely to receive anywhere near the level of hate due to being a male and having nowhere near the following, just wanted to nip that in the bud early.

So if we look at being lucky, in one sense all of us who live in environments where we have opportunities are lucky.

This is hard to deny. But when it comes to the ‘you got lucky’ jibes, it often comes from people who did not come from poverty and had the same opportunities.

There are many people who are dealt a similar hand who don't have a fraction of the success. But still have the audacity to call their peer out for being a lucky person who doesn’t deserve what they have achieved.

And going one step further, how many people who come from challenging backgrounds are able to use their adversity to achieve great things?

There are many rags to riches stories out there, proving the heckle from the middle-class accountants ‘they got lucky’ is fuelled with jealousy and an inability to take responsibility for their own actions.

Even those that win the lottery are rarely as ‘lucky’ as you would think. They tend to get unearned money, sure. But they often have no idea how to deal with this.

Many lottery winners end up broke again. They find that people treat them differently and can find it hard to know who to trust.

Also, because they received this money without doing something to earn it (ok, that does sound lucky), they are often treated with more hate than those that actually worked for it. And everyone expects a handout, as it was essentially ‘free money’.

It would be pretty one-sided to not acknowledge some people were in the right place at the right time and were able to capitalize on fortunate situations.

But as Roman philosopher Seneca put it:

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Those ‘lucky’ folk have often been presented with an opportunity that they were able to take full advantage of. Because they had done the hard yards behind the scenes.

Let’s put our insecurities to one side and stop calling people out for being lucky. And start giving them the credit they deserve.

You often can’t see all the work that goes into ‘getting lucky’.