I had a thread go viral this week and — as sure as death and taxes — on came the comment: “You’re so lucky.”
And that set me on fire right there and then.
Mind you, according to my husband, just his breathing sets me on fire, but this newsletter is not about hormones, so I digress.
People are often surprised when I say I don’t believe in luck. Especially given how superstitious I am — I still avoid leaving my house on Friday the 13th.
But one mention of luck, and I. JUST. SPIRAL.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m lucky as hell:
- I was born in Western Europe in 1976.
- I was born during peace in Europe.
- I had access to free education and healthcare.
- I was raised by parents who believed gender had nothing to do with my potential.
That was pure luck. I had nothing to do with it.
But calling me lucky because of my career?
Oh, give me a bloody break.
That “luck” cost me a hell of a lot of work.
I did things most people wouldn’t consider doing.
Every once in a while, I hear it at the school gate:
“You’re so lucky you get to work flexibly.”
And I’ll be honest — I nearly choked on my coffee the first time I heard it.
Because here’s what they didn’t see:
- The late nights and the early mornings
- The uncertainty keeping me awake
- The months I made £0 and still showed up anyway
- The cringe clients I took on because they paid retainers
They didn’t see the decisions. The discipline. The long-game patience.
They saw the result — and called it luck.
Let me say it clearly:
Luck didn’t build my business. I did.
Yes, I’ve had some lucky breaks. But they didn’t come with a golden envelope. They came disguised as shaky first steps, late nights, and one-too-many awkward conversations.
This week, I want to unpack something important:
Luck matters. But it’s not magic. And it’s not random.
It’s something you can build, if you understand how it works.
Quote of the Week
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca
Why Luck Feels Like a Dirty Word (Especially for Women)
Most of us were taught to earn our place. Work hard. Don’t ask for too much.
So when success comes our way, we downplay it:
“Oh, I just got lucky.”
Except that’s not what’s happening.
What looks like luck from the outside is usually a mix of:
- Relentless consistency
- Resilience in the face of rejection
- Strategic positioning
- And yes, being in the right room at the right time
But here’s the thing:
You can’t control when lightning strikes. But you can absolutely make sure you’re outside holding a metal rod when it does.
Let’s talk about how.
The Psychology of Luck (Backed by Science, Not Superstition)
British psychologist Richard Wiseman spent over a decade studying people who identified as “lucky” vs “unlucky.”
Here’s what he found:
“Lucky people aren’t lucky. They behave in ways that create more opportunities, spot them faster, and bounce back quicker.”
He identified four traits that lucky people — especially entrepreneurs — tend to share:
1. They Maximize Chance Opportunities
They talk to strangers. They network widely. They keep doors open.
They’re constantly positioning themselves for serendipity — which means they see and act on more opportunities.
2. They Trust Their Intuition
They don’t need a 47-tab spreadsheet to make every decision.
They move when something feels right — often faster than their over-analytical counterparts.
3. They Expect Good Things
This isn’t manifestation. It’s self-fulfilling psychology.
Optimists try more, which means they fail more — but also win more. Their persistence gets mistaken for good fortune.
4. They Turn Bad Luck Into Good
A failed launch? A rejected proposal? Lucky entrepreneurs use it as intel.
They pivot, refine, and come back sharper.
They’re not lucky because everything goes right. They’re lucky because nothing knocks them out.
The Truth About Luck (That No One Wants to Hear)
If you’re serious about building a business?
You need to stop looking for signs — and start planting seeds.
Because the people you call “lucky”?
✔ Posted for 18 months before going viral
✔ Pitched 20 podcasts before getting one yes
✔ Sent the cringe offers and hosted zero-attendee webinars
✔ Looked stupid — and kept going
That’s not luck.
That’s leverage.
Lucky People Do This Differently
According to psychology research:
- People who believe they’re lucky are more confident, more persistent, and less anxious.
- They perform better under pressure — not because the stars align, but because their mindset reduces stress.
- They interpret setbacks through a positive lens: “If this didn’t work, something better must be coming.”
Your perception of luck becomes your emotional armor.
The opposite is also true:
If you believe the world is out to get you, you’ll retreat, play safe, and ignore the chances right in front of you.
So, Can You Make Yourself Luckier? Yes — Here’s How
Psychologists call it “luck optimization.” Here’s your 3-part framework:
Step 1: Expand Your Exposure
More rooms. More people. More action.
Talk to that person. Publish the post. Pitch the idea.
Luck can’t find you if you’re hiding.
Step 2: Sharpen Your Pattern Recognition
Journal what “good luck” has looked like in your life.
You’ll see the pattern:
Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with?
Then intentionally replicate those conditions.
Step 3: Build Your Bounce-Back Rate
Reframe every rejection as data.
Ask: “What did I learn? How did this redirect me?”
The faster you bounce, the faster luck shows up again.
One More Thought
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
Thomas Jefferson
Own It: Luck Is an Outcome, Not a Personality Trait
Here’s what I want you to remember:
You don’t need to sit on a mountaintop meditating for the universe to bless your bank account.
And you don’t need to write “I am a millionaire” 33 times a day in a pink notebook.
You don’t need the moon in Capricorn.
You need to get in the game – before you feel ready.
What you do need:
- A strategy that puts you in motion
- A mindset that sees possibilities everywhere
- And the resilience to keep moving when the first door doesn’t open
The world isn’t fair.
But it does tend to reward those who act like the next lucky break is just around the corner — and are ready when it comes.
Your Weekly Action Plan: Make Your Own Luck
- Say yes to one unexpected opportunity this week
- Publish something (even if it’s not perfect) to increase your surface area for luck
- Reach out to someone who might open a door (or a window)
- Write down one recent moment of “luck” – and ask what behavior created it
- Create a luck tracker: every time something good happens this month, note the action that led to it. You’ll start seeing the pattern – and it’ll change your confidence forever.
You’re not unlucky. You’re underexposed.
Luck isn’t a lightning strike.
It’s a pattern. And now you know how to create one.
With love (and just the right amount of luck),
Claudia
