5.22 Gary Player: Create Your Own Luck

“The more I practice, the luckier I get.” - Gary Player

Do you believe in luck?

One of the things I truly believe is something I call Luck and Legacy. This means that for every legacy, there is some luck involved. But I also believe that the more prepared you are and the harder you work, the luckier you get.

A timely opportunity, a helpful connection, a favorable bounce. But here’s the truth: that kind of luck doesn’t show up for everyone - it shows up for those who are prepared to take advantage of it, because if you aren’t ready, you will miss out on the opportunity.

Gary Player is a legendary South African professional golfer, widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. He once said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

We say someone got a “lucky break” while overlooking the hours of work they put in. I grew up watching Michael Jordan hitting big, game-winning shots that he had practiced over and over again. When I see someone hit a tough, lucky shot, I now think of all the practice they must have done to put themselves in position to take it with confidence or courage.

When I see a coach get a great team and take them over the top, I think of all the work they must have put in and the experiences that they have had to prepare them to lead their current team effectively.

Do some people just get lucky? Of course! But a lot of the luck we see is because of the work we don’t see.

Question of the Day: What can you do today to create lucky opportunities tomorrow?