Can You Learn to be Lucky?

Luck is not just a matter of chance—it's a skill you can foster and refine by understanding human behavior and preparing yourself for opportunity.

1. Timing Matters: Always Aim to Go Last

Being last in a lineup can play to your advantage, whether in competition, interviews, or evaluations. Human brains rely heavily on context, and our comparisons evolve over time. If you wait until later in the sequence, you'll often stand out more vividly than those who went before you.

Studies on figure-skating competitions in Europe showed skaters who performed later consistently earned higher scores. Judges subconsciously reserved their best marks for the end, ensuring they didn’t run out of top ratings too early. This phenomenon is also observed in events like synchronized swimming and Eurovision contests.

The reasoning is simple: when judging, humans tend to compare the present directly to the previous few experiences, rather than weighing everything equally. It’s why house-hunters tend to favor houses they view later in their search. So, when possible, take the last slot in job interviews, auditions, or competitions.

Examples

• The last figure skaters scored 14% wins compared to 3% for those who performed first.
• House-hunters typically choose a home seen late in their process.
• Late performances often win Eurovision contests.

2. Familiarity Builds Connection

People like what they know. Familiarity can act as an unseen force that draws others to you, boosting your luck in relationships and opportunities. This instinct, known as the "exposure effect," makes people more comfortable with what feels familiar.

Social psychologists discovered this effect through studies exposing participants to unfamiliar symbols repeatedly. Over time, people preferred the symbols they saw more often. Similarly, proximity enhances relationships. Students in the middle seats of a class, for example, tend to make more friends than those sitting in harder-to-reach corners.

Placing yourself in places where you naturally bump into people can maximize your own exposure effect. It's not only about being present but looking the part. First impressions matter, and dressing for the role signals professionalism, trustworthiness, or expertise—important factors in influencing outcomes.

Examples

• People formed friendships more often with those they sat near in school or training classes.
• Judges rated musicians in formal concert attire as being more proficient, even when sound quality was identical.
• Doctors with white coats were seen as more credible than those without them.

3. Beauty Opens Doors

Physical attractiveness isn’t just skin deep—it influences the way others treat you and how easily opportunities come your way. Humans unconsciously equate attractiveness with competence and reliability, favoring those they find appealing.

Research reveals that from babies to adults, people are drawn to symmetrical, aesthetically pleasing faces. Attractive applicants in experimental studies even had mislaid job applications returned more frequently than plain-looking ones—proof that beauty can inspire goodwill.

While natural beauty plays a role, improving your appearance—through grooming, dressing well, or staying fit—can still influence your luck. But being overly critical of yourself can harm your confidence, which is just as important as looks for getting ahead.

Examples

• Attractive babies received more nurturing care from adults in studies.
• University applications with photos of attractive candidates were returned more often than others.
• Symmetry and grooming heavily sway first impressions.

4. Confidence Encourages Luck

Confidence helps you take risks, which expose you to more opportunities. People with confidence focus on rewards, not risks, leading them to connect with strangers, take career chances, or ask for recognition.

The roots of confidence lie in early social conditioning. Children raised in supportive environments naturally grow up with greater self-belief. Unfortunately, children from less encouraging environments often lack this same foundation. Yet, confidence can be built through deliberate practice, like reminding yourself of your strengths or visualizing success.

When entering a room or engaging others, focus less on what could go wrong and more on the possible benefits. Confidence isn't arrogance—it's trusting that your efforts and strengths will lead to something good.

Examples

• Confident individuals are more likely to ask for promotions or start conversations.
• Women imagining themselves as "stereotypical men" performed better in math tests.
• Writing about personal strengths improved performance over time.

5. Hard Work Alone Isn’t Enough

The idea that practice makes perfect isn't the full story. While hard work matters, other factors—like resources, genetics, and environment—play an equally large role in standout success.

Studies on world-class athletes reveal that genes influence physical aptitude as much as effort. Likewise, environment counts: competitive swimmers often come from warm climates and affluent families, giving them access to training and exposure.

While talent and resources are often beyond control, cultivating resilience and mental toughness can tilt the balance. Those who interpret challenges as learning opportunities instead of failures stay in the race to seize their lucky breaks.

Examples

• Genes account for up to 85% of variation in athletic performance.
• Top swimmers often hail from wealthier families who can afford travel and competition fees.
• Tom Brady’s mindset of learning from failure catapulted him to NFL greatness.

6. Self-Control Shapes Success

Luck isn’t always about being at the right place at the right time—it’s also about preparing for opportunity. Self-discipline allows you to master skills and develop systems that enable success long-term.

Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, exemplified self-control. Known for working tirelessly on his ideas, he spent weekends creating websites instead of relaxing. When opportunities arose, like helping musician friends sell CDs, his preparedness turned those chances into multimillion-dollar successes.

The brain struggles with delayed gratification, but small habit changes—removing distractions or visualizing rewards—can increase willpower. Focused persistence makes you ready when life hands you a chance to level up.

Examples

• Sivers coded websites during weekends long before CD Baby took off.
• Moving cookies out of sight helped people eat less and focus on long-term goals.
• Picturing future rewards (e.g., homeownership) can discourage short-term pitfalls (e.g., bar tabs).

7. Connections Drive Luck

The more people you know, the more open doors you’ll encounter. Strong connections expand your access to information, resources, and unexpected chances.

Sociologist Katherine Giuffre studied photographers, finding that those deeply connected in their social circles achieved far greater career success. Their large networks gave their work more exposure, whereas loners and closed groups stayed stagnant.

Building connections means going beyond perfunctory small talk. Express curiosity and engage deeply with others, signaling genuine interest. Being warm, open, and approachable helps battle your and others’ social hesitations, leading to authentic relationships.

Examples

• Photographers with wide networks thrived, while secluded artists with equal talent lagged behind.
• Friendly gestures like smiling and leaning in create trust during conversations.
• Parties or mixers are prime places to expand your network with new contacts.

8. Curiosity Creates Luck

Luck finds the curious. By experimenting with opportunities and resisting routines, we expand our chances of stumbling on success. Curiosity challenges the status quo and creates fresh paths.

Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos, used curiosity to seize opportunities—from running a childhood worm business to selling shoes online. His endless explorations often turned into moneymaking ventures, including billion-dollar sales at Zappos.

Curiosity requires effort. Fear of change keeps many people stuck in familiar patterns. Taking small risks, like trying a new hobby or exploring a niche topic, builds confidence for embracing bigger unknowns. Over time, those chances may lead to breakthroughs.

Examples

• Hsieh’s childhood projects included breeding worms and reselling burgers at Harvard.
• Going to unfamiliar parties can lead to career or relationship connections.
• Exploring skills like coding opens up unexpected opportunities for jobs or side hustles.

9. Saying Yes Can Open Doors

The willingness to act—even when unsure—connects people with luck-inducing scenarios. Hesitating or waiting for "better" moments reduces the amount of experience and exposure you gather.

No one knew this better than Tony Hsieh, who considered the shoe business uninteresting but seized it anyway. The unexpected effort turned him into a self-made multimillionaire. Each "yes" led to more possibilities, creating fruitful domino effects.

When saying yes feels risky, consider future rewards and incremental steps. Accepting new challenges helps build versatility, making life more dynamic and future opportunities richer.

Examples

• Hsieh reluctantly invested in Zappos, turning hesitation into breakthrough moments.
• Embracing new tasks often prompts unexpected results (e.g., hobbies become thriving businesses).
• Showing up to events can create unforeseen connections or encounters.

Takeaways

1. Build curiosity and treat every situation as a chance to explore and grow—new experiences often spark unexpected success.
2. Develop a strong social network by being friendly, warm, and genuinely interested in others. Relationships often channel luck and opportunities.
3. Cultivate self-discipline and invest time in mastering skills today. Preparation makes you ready for when chance opportunities appear.