"Luck is not chance, it's toil"

Luck and hard work are often seen as opposites, but they're actually intertwined. The essence of the quote is that what we often perceive as luck is usually the result of hard work and perseverance.

Think about Thomas Edison, for example. He didn’t just stumble upon the light bulb by luck. Edison tried thousands of different materials for the filament before he found one that worked. It was his relentless effort and countless hours in the lab that eventually led to his breakthrough. People looking from the outside might have thought he was lucky or that his success came by chance. But if you dig deeper, it's clear his "luck" was earned through sheer determination and hard work.

Now, let’s consider how this concept applies in the real world. Picture someone working their way up the corporate ladder. They start in an entry-level position, but they're always the first to arrive and the last to leave. They take on extra projects, seek out mentors, and constantly look for ways to improve their skills. Years later, when they're promoted to a top executive role, outsiders might call them lucky. But those who know them understand it wasn’t luck at all—it was the result of years of dedication and hard work.

So how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? First, change your mindset. Stop waiting for luck to strike. Instead, focus on what you can control—your effort, your attitude, and your resilience. Set clear goals and break them down into actionable steps. Work on those steps consistently, even when it gets tough or boring. It’s about putting in the work, day in and day out, without expecting immediate results.

Also, don't underestimate the power of preparation. When an opportunity arises, you need to be ready to seize it. Think of a writer who finally gets their big break—perhaps their manuscript is picked up by a major publisher. It might seem like luck, but it’s more likely they’ve spent years honing their craft, facing rejection, and improving their writing. Their break came because they were prepared for it.

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop with a friend discussing their recent success. Your friend, let’s call them Sarah, just landed their dream job. They tell you about the sleepless nights studying, the extra projects they took on, and the networking events they attended. You see a social media post about Sarah’s new job and think, "Wow, she's so lucky!" But sitting here, sipping your coffee and listening to her story, you realize that luck had very little to do with it. Sarah’s success is the result of all the hard work she put in when no one else was watching.

In the end, luck might give you a nudge, but it's the sweat and effort you put in that truly paves the way to success. So next time you think someone got lucky, look a little closer—you'll probably find a lot of hard work behind that so-called luck.