We Create Our Own Luck

Many people think of luck as something random—an external force that some people are blessed with while others miss out on. They look at successful people and assume they are in the right place at the right time.

But what if luck isn’t something you wait for but something you create? What if luck is a lifestyle that increases your chances of success, not by accident, but by design?

Why Luck is a Lifestyle

Luck doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s not just about a single chance encounter or a lucky break. Instead, it results from consistent behaviors, habits, and choices that put you in the best possible position for the opportunity to strike.

I had a very successful career in Japan. Some would look at my career and say, "Wow, The Day Warrior was really lucky."

It was not luck; I positioned myself well by first leaping into the unknown and taking on the challenges I faced head-on. Living and having a successful life in Japan was not just something lucky that happened. It was something that I put in a significant amount of hard work to accomplish.

• I had to learn and adapt to recognize and take advantage of new opportunities.

• I had to build strong relationships to be successful at interviews, promotions, and unexpected chances.

• I had to consistently produce work that the right people would eventually notice.

By stacking the right habits, managing my energy, and making intentional choices, I created an environment where good things were more likely to happen to me.

The more positive habits and systems you build that encourage consistent execution and output, the less you rely on random luck.

Consider the following powerful framework when thinking about luck:

• High energy – Staying physically and mentally sharp creates opportunities.

• In the right place – Position yourself where opportunities emerge.

• Around the right people – Your network is your leverage.

• Producing more than consuming – Value creators attract success.

• Avoiding distractions – Staying focused ensures progress.

• Managing multiple interests – Diverse skills open new doors.

• High agency & self-education – Taking responsibility for learning and growth.

• Not quitting after one mistake – Resilience increases your odds of success.

If you incorporate these behaviors into your daily life, luck stops being something you hope for and starts being something you engineer.

Can Creating Luck be Considered a Skill in Your Skill Stack?

Absolutely!

If we define a skill as something that can be practiced and improved over time, then creating luck is a real and valuable skill. The more you refine it, the more consistently you’ll find yourself in the right situations.

Recalling my experience in Japan, there is a famous saying I like: 努力は運を支配する (Doryoku wa un wo shihai suru) – “Effort controls luck.

Consider the following unrelated skills:

• Networking is a skill that increases your exposure to opportunities. During my time in Japan, I maintained a network that would allow me to identify new opportunities in the Japanese job market. This helped me move from Nagoya to Tokyo and landed me a role with a company I partnered with for sixteen years.
  

• Managing focus and energy gives you more capacity to take action. There are many distractions in Japan. It is an enjoyable place to live, especially as a younger adult. Many of my peers, myself included, sometimes found many ways to distract ourselves. While no hard statistic lists the number of foreigners who achieve high success, it is estimated that only about 5% obtain permanent residency, home ownership, and run a successful business or hold an executive-level position. I accomplished all three by consistently managing my focus and energy.
  

• Pattern recognition allows you to spot potential before others. One of the defining moments in my career in Japan was my promotion from being the "Japan Guy" to the "Asia Pacific Guy." I was able to do this because I recognized opportunities others did not. My company managed small IT teams in each country across the Asia Pacific. I saw the opportunity to leverage economies of scale if we combined all these siloed IT organizations into a centrally managed and optimized Asia Pacific IT organization. My ability to recognize this opportunity and market the benefits of this approach to leadership was so successful that a previously non-existent role was created for me.
  

• Resilience ensures that failure isn’t an endpoint but a stepping stone. Living and working in a new culture brings daily challenges that either make or break you. You can adapt or run away with your tail tucked between your legs. My career in Japan was not all roses and sunshine. There were several occasions when I considered hopping on the next plane back to the United States. Instead, by framing these obstacles and opportunities to create the experience, I built a level of resilience that allowed me to become successful in Japan.

By stacking these skills, you cultivate a lifestyle where opportunities find you—not because of chance but because you’ve designed your environment for success.

How to Start Creating Your Own Luck Today

Creating luck isn’t about hoping for a break—it’s about taking consistent, intentional action that increases your chances of success.

Here are five quick steps (hints) to start today:

• Optimize Your Environment: Your surroundings and the people you spend time with directly impact your opportunities. Align yourself with people who challenge and inspire you. Seek out places and communities where success is the norm.
  

  When I lived in Japan, I was always amazed by how many foreigners only hung out with other foreigners. I knew people who lived in Japan for over ten years and could not speak Japanese. How can you be successful in a foreign country if you do not try to embrace and learn about the people, culture, and traditions of the country you have moved to? It does not mean you must give up your culture, values, and beliefs. It is all about building the experience you need for that pattern recognition I highlighted above.
  

• Stay Focused & Remove Distractions: Every wasted hour on low-value activities is an opportunity lost. Identify your top distractions and eliminate or reduce them. Set non-negotiable time for deep work.
  

  I have many priorities, hobbies, and distractions in my life. I have two young boys and am focused on making sure they grow to become productive young men with strong moral values and commitment to hard work and care for others. A 9 to 5 job keeps me busy Monday through Friday. I am also building my company, The Day Warrior, and writing a book. This leaves little room for distractions. It becomes a matter of prioritization.
  

• Be a Producer, Not Just a Consumer: People who get “lucky” are the ones consistently creating—whether it’s content, solutions, or businesses. Start publishing, building, or sharing something daily. Opportunities find those who put themselves out there.
  

  I am trying to grow The Day Warrior LLC. I have never done this before, but I know it will not happen if I do not build habits and systems around creating content, educating myself, and facing all the new challenges I have to face. The content will not create itself. I work hard at making the systems and habits necessary to incrementally move the ball forward daily.
  

• Commit to Lifelong Learning: Self-education creates luck. Read books, take courses, and study the people with your desired results. Knowledge helps you recognize and seize opportunities others miss.
  

  I have had a long career and many professional and personal experiences. Never once have I considered the journey complete. The idea of retirement does not hit home for me. I do not see myself sitting all day watching TV or playing sports at the local retirement home. I look forward to what I will learn next on this magnificent journey.
  

• Play the Long Game: Most people quit too soon. The longer you stay in the game, the more chances you give yourself to “get lucky.” Reframe setbacks as feedback and keep moving forward.

Final Thoughts

Luck = Preparation + Positioning + Persistence

Luck isn’t random—it’s the natural result of systems, habits, and choices.

By building the right environment, focusing on consistent action, and staying in the game long enough, you become the person who luck seems to follow.

Next time you hear someone say, “That person just got lucky,” remember this: Luck is a lifestyle. Luck is a skill. And luck is something you create.

What’s one way you’re going to create more luck for yourself this week? 

The Day Warrior

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