I used to think luck was something that just happened to other people. You know, those folks who seemed to be in the right place at the right time. But after running two businesses—one that crashed and one that’s still going—I learned something important: luck doesn’t just show up. You have to give it a reason to find you.
The Truth About Luck and Risk
Here’s what nobody tells you: luck and risk are basically the same thing, just from different angles. Think about it. Every time someone gets “lucky,” they probably took a risk first. They applied for that job, which they weren’t sure they’d get. They started that side hustle with money they could barely spare. They moved to a new city where they didn’t know anyone.
The risk comes first. The luck comes after—if you’re fortunate.
My Coffee Shop Story
In 2021, I opened a small coffee shop. I was excited and terrified at the same time. I put my savings in, worked crazy hours, and hoped it would work out.
It didn’t.
By 2023, I had to close it down. I lost money. I felt embarrassed. My family kept asking what went wrong, and honestly, I didn’t have great answers. I just knew it hurt.
But here’s the weird part: I didn’t regret trying.
What Failure Actually Taught Me
After I closed that first shop, I could have given up entirely. I could have said, “Well, I’m just not a lucky person,” and gone back to a regular job. And you know what? Nobody would have blamed me.
Instead, I got curious about my mistakes. Why did I run out of cash so quickly? Why didn’t customers come back? What did I miss?
I started reading about business finances—the boring stuff I skipped the first time. I took a short course at CamEd Business School (just 7 days long, but it was helpful). I talked to other business owners who’d failed and bounced back.
Then in mid-2023, I tried again. I opened The Press Day Coffee.
This time felt different because I was different. I knew what to watch out for. I planned better. I didn’t wait for luck—I just worked on not making the same dumb mistakes twice.
Why Doing Nothing Is Actually Risky
Here’s something that messed with my head: not taking risks is actually the biggest risk of all.
When you stay comfortable and don’t try anything new, you think you’re being safe. But the world keeps moving. Other people keep learning and growing. And you? You’re standing still, which in real life means you’re falling behind.
I see friends who talk about their business ideas for years but never start. They’re waiting for the “perfect time,” or until they “save enough money,” or until they “learn just a bit more.” Meanwhile, years pass. The perfect time never comes.
The only way I got better at business was by actually doing it—and screwing it up.
How to Actually Increase Your Luck
Want to know the real secret to getting luckier? It’s almost too simple: just do more things.
I’m serious. Luck has a better chance of finding you when you’re out there trying stuff. Every time you:
- Start a project (even a small one)
- Learn a new skill
- Meet new people
- Apply for an opportunity.
- Share your work online.
…you’re creating another chance for something good to happen.
My second coffee shop is still running today, not because I suddenly got lucky, but because I took what I learned from failing and tried again. That’s it. That’s the whole formula.
The Bottom Line
Look, I’m not going to lie to you—taking risks is scary. There’s a real chance you’ll fail. You might lose money. People might think you made a bad choice.
But if you never buy a lottery ticket, you can’t win the lottery. And I’m not even talking about actual lotteries here (please don’t spend all your money on scratch cards). I’m talking about the lottery of life—the chances you take that might actually change everything.
So if you’re sitting on an idea right now, or thinking about making a change, or wondering if you should try that thing you keep daydreaming about… maybe this is your sign.
You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to be brave enough to try.
Because luck? It’s already out there looking for you. You just have to give it somewhere to land.
