Four Types of Luck

A framework for understanding and systematically increasing luck in business and life, focusing on four distinct types of luck and how to leverage them.

The Four Types of Luck

1. Blind Luck

• Pure chance events that you can't influence
• Like "lightning striking while standing still"
• Can't be controlled or manufactured
• Shouldn't be counted on for success

2. Motion Luck

• Based on the principle of "fortune favors the bold"
• Increases luck through high activity levels
• More actions create more surface area for opportunities
• Even inefficient action better than inaction
• Generates more lucky breaks than staying still

3. Spotting Luck (Pattern Recognition)

• Develops through experience and expertise
• Ability to recognize valuable opportunities others miss
• Built through exposure to many examples
  • Like seeing 100 mundane opportunities helps identify the exceptional one
• Similar to dating - many experiences help recognize special opportunities
• Requires prepared mind through consistent practice

4. Reputational Luck

• Luck becomes magnetic based on reputation
• Example: Being known as best deep sea diver attracts opportunities
• Benefits of content creation:
  • Builds reputation as expert in specific domain
  • Makes you first choice for opportunities in your field
  • Other people's luck flows to you through reputation
• Others' opportunities become your opportunities

Key Implementation Strategies

• Focus on building three core skills:
  • Making things
  • Selling things
  • Getting lucky (through above framework)
• Treat luck as a developable skill
• Take consistent action to increase luck surface area
• Build expertise to recognize opportunities
• Invest in reputation building
• Create content to establish expertise
• Position yourself where luck can find you