"Luck is like a bus that comes to the same stop repeatedly. But you have to be there with the right fare"

Many of us have a faulty view of luck. We think luck is this completely random, unexpected event that sweeps us away into our 'success' and in whose happening we play little to no part. This is very misleading. I see fellow young people endlessly entertaining themselves and hoping that some day luck knocks on their door. Life doesn't work that way.

The reality is that luck is not random, it doesn't just sweep you into 'success' and it certainly requires you to play your own part. Someone once said that luck is like a bus that comes to the same stop repeatedly. But to board you must have the right fare to pay, this is very true. By breaking down this analogy, we see how we can take action to create our own luck.

First you have to have the 'fare' to pay. To know how much to pay you first have to know your destination. What opportunity are you seeking? Then ask what is required for you to get this opportunity. Is this a particular set of skills, a grade, a certificate, an amount of money? How can you get these ready before the opportunity (luck) comes in? Are there alternative ways of getting these? From whom can you seek help and support? How are you going to go about it?

Next you have to actually be in the bust stop to be able to catch the bus. This means asking yourself where this opportunity is most likely going to show up? How am I going to get myself closer to this environment? When is the best time to start engaging myself and those who can help me? You do not want to come to the bus stop just to find out you missed the bus. Also, you want to make sure you are not in the wrong bus stop. Get yourself in an environment that will support your success and do not forget to choose your company carefully.

Finally, remember it doesn't end once you get on the bus. This is where many fail. You figured out what is required, prepared for it, put yourself in the right environment and you finally got it. Once you're in you have to sustain that energy. Otherwise you are likely to be disappointed. I am sure you know a lot of people who seemed to have had the perfect opportunity and circumstances, but in the end didn't go very far in life. This is where they fail.

There are of course rare times when 'luck' shows up without you taking the first and second steps. Realise that this type of luck is very risky, your situation could become very unpredictable if/when the person who brought you in is no longer there or if he/she faces a hard time themselves. Realise that you can not drop your luggage and fall into sleep mode once you board the bus.

In the end, what we mostly see as luck is actually not luck at all. We see others succeed and we see only luck. I would like to advice you stay clear of this one-day-my-luck-will-come mentality as this often leads to failure. Pure luck, where you have nothing to give is so rare I do not want you to bet your life's progress on it. It is much better to think about what you want, what would be required for you to achieve it, make sure you are in the right environment and once you get the opportunity continue to learn and improve. Don't settle down.

Remember, luck always comes around, but you have to be at the (right) bus stop with the right fare to pay.