Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity
Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity
and the Digital Renaissance is all three...
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Seneca, a Roman philosopher and statesman who lived in the first century AD, once famously said,
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
But Seneca's view of luck was very different from the way we might think of it today.
For Seneca, luck was not something that was beyond our control or simply a matter of chance.
Instead, he saw it as something that was created by our own actions and choices.
In other words, when we spend our time doing things that matter to us… long enough… naturally the opportunities for them will appear.
You are more likely to succeed when you are presently building toward future outcomes.
In essence, luck is what happens when you build on your talent, learn to stack your skills, put yourself out there, take risks and gain experience.
I do something, the world learns that I do that thing or set of things, and the luck finds me at the intersection of preparation (ongoing practice) & opportunity (visibility).
This is why you’re seeing so many people become successful in the digital age.
This is why you’re seeing folks “build in public,” or share how they do things or learn in real time (preparation) so they can grow their audience (opportunities & visibilities) and earn a lot more (luck) than the traditional industrial age systems in place.
This is why we’re living in what I like to call a Digital Renaissance.
The original Renaissance was a period of great cultural and intellectual growth that took place during the 14th to the 17th centuries, beginning in Italy and spreading throughout Europe.
It was marked by a renewed interest in the arts, classical learning, and the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman knowledge.
During this time, there was a great surge in the development of new ideas in science, literature, art, and philosophy, and many of the most important figures of the modern era, such as Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, and Michelangelo, were active during this period.
The Renaissance also marked the transition from the medieval period to the modern age, and it had a profound influence on the development of Western culture.
Any of that above sound familiar?
I’m not saying we just encountered a “medieval” period, but….. 😂👀
what I am saying is the industrial age and the information age are two periods in history that have been characterized by different dominant technologies and economic systems… and we’re no longer in the industrial.
The industrial age, which began in the late 18th century and lasted until the mid-20th century, was characterized by the rise of manufacturing and heavy industry.
During this time, the main drivers of economic growth were the development of new machines and the expansion of transportation networks, which allowed for the mass production and distribution of goods.
The information age, on the other hand, is characterized by the rise of digital technologies and the internet, which have transformed the way that people communicate, access information, and do business.
In the information age, the main drivers of economic growth are the creation and dissemination of knowledge and information, as well as the development of new technologies and innovations.
One of the main reasons why the information age is much more advantageous for creating wealth is because it allows for much greater efficiency and productivity.
With the use of digital technologies and the internet, it is possible to access and share information instantly and collaborate with people from around the world.
This has made it much easier for individuals and businesses to create and sell products and services, and has led to the creation of many new industries and markets.
Additionally, the information age has made it possible for people to work remotely and to create their own businesses, which has increased economic opportunity and mobility.
Not only have we moved out of the industrial age era, but the information age has brought back a lot of the qualities found during the original Renaissance period….
Renewed interest in the arts, classical learning… a great surge in the development of new ideas in science, literature, art, and philosophy.
So, let me tie it all together for you.
The Renaissance areas of focus X the Digital Age’s abilities to access people, mass communicate and automate work has created a new era of opportunities… or what you might call LUCK.
So, what does this mean and why should you care?
Because now you have the ability to…
create what you want
from a unique set of interests
share it to a subset of people amongst the 8 billion on the planet
operate lean (minimal costs to run it using software)
do it remotely from anywhere in the world
and on your time
And, with all great opportunities comes great responsibilities.
Yes, we’re living in the single-handed greatest wealth and health generating era of our time, but you’re going to have to make yourself the number one priority to take part in it.
It appears, life will always present a way to bring the people back to their God given rights while simultaneously reminding them they’re responsible for the work.
Welcome to the Digital Renaissance… may you value yourself enough to go all in and recreate our future.
Simplify, Multiply, Diversify below…👇🏼
SIMPLIFY…
What you do while you’re “waiting” dictates what you will attract from the process.
If you take the time to prepare yourself and put yourself in the right place at the right time, then you are more likely to encounter opportunities that can lead to success.
MULTIPLY…
Practicing your talents X learning new skills X maximizing effort = preparation, opportunities & luck.
Your world multiplies simply by being in the game of you.
DIVERSIFY…
You no longer have to be ‘one thing.’
In fact, it’s encouraged that you not be ‘one thing’ given that we have the ability to be multiple things in less time, with maximum production and visibility, and tools to allow us both free time and higher earnings.
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So much great info! I’ve never thought about the Renaissance as, in a sense, an era that’s linking arms with the current era. I love the visual and how it adds to the incredible time we’re living in.
I also love the line where you say, “may you value yourself enough to go all in and recreate our future.”
It really is on all of us to use our gifts and talents to shape what’s to come, but we need deeper belief in our gifts, which means more intentionality towards our inner work.
Excited to be a part of it all, and to living with so much intention so that I can contribute in the biggest way possible as God leads the way.
Thank you, Matt! Keep these coming! 😊
I concur completely & share these exact sentiments about “luck”, the old paradigm breeds victim mentality by placing that responsibility outside of ourselves.
When we take that responsibility back within ourselves we can develop the sense of self that leads to better, more thoughtful decision making. It’s the choices we make that direct the flow of life. And sure, sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control, however the second we label that “bad luck” we give our power away. We give away what we ARE in control of, our response. For me, a huge piece of this is acceptance, accepting what IS and acting according to your value’s & principles. Which will hopefully require you to do something differently! IE: THE WORK!!
I love how you tied it all together!! You CAN create exactly what you desire, all it’s going to take is your consistent aligned action. It is that simple.
“Your world multiples by simply being in the game of you” YES 1000xs to this. I have experienced this first hand, simply stepping into my authenticity and releasing every single part/role I ever played to appease anyone else was the catalyst for the alignment I currently have. It took a lot of work though! 👌🏽👌🏽
Thank you for sharing your wisdom Matt! 💚💚