on luck

"all my life i had to fight." — Sofia, The Color Purple (famously sampled by Kendrick Lamar)

an instagram reel a friend shared last night digressed into an interesting subject around luck. it was a small announcement asking founders under thirty to submit for a grant. i thought it might be worth spending some time on because the grant amount would definitely help keep the infrastructure alive for a product we were building, one that was already eating deep into our personal finances.

he had gauged it and thought it was a waste of time. the selection, he said, would mostly come down to luck. who cares to be lucky?

i loved his resignation because we shared similar values around beliefs among a lot of other things. i have rarely been lucky and have rarely expected to be, and there is something strangely liberating about knowing that whatever happens will probably not happen because the "universe" or whatever dictates luck decided to pick you that day. you make your plans, you do the work, you find another way when the first one doesn't work. que sera, sera.

while this doesn't stop me from taking chances—especially on things i prepare adequately for—it has helped me set expectations around outcomes, especially where the deciding variables aren't really about merit or things i can directly influence, because i can be sure to do my assignment.

this also reminded me of a quote from ernest hemingway's the old man and the sea that i read more than a decade ago: "it is better to be lucky. but i would rather be exact. then when luck comes you are ready."