How to throw a little luck into your career

Globe and Mail

23-05-2025

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Who wouldn't want a little luck thrown their way for their career and life? What if you could create some of your own luck? I believe you can.
There's a quote I've always loved and have made it one of my mantras: 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.' Some attribute this quote to Seneca, the Roman philosopher, but the origins are often debated. In more modern days, it has also been attributed to Oprah Winfrey.
Well before I even knew of Oprah, I'd seen this quote. In my 20s I was trying to figure out my career path and was at a crossroads. Something about this quote buoyed my spirits and even my sense of hope. I was always preparing but sometimes I didn't know exactly what for. This quote said to me it is okay to not yet know. Prepare and when the opportunity strikes, you will see it, be ready and go for it. Create your own luck by being prepared and keeping your eyes wide open.
Some people may think this luck notion is malarkey. Isn't luck random, happenstance? And how can you prepare and create luck when you don't even know what 'opportunity' you are aiming for? What if you don't know what kind of job you want? Career path still confusing? Your next step? Or you are already perfectly happy where you are?
Isn't preparing in advance like shooting darts to – nowhere?
Not quite.
In fact, with so much uncertainty in our economy and many people feeling anxious about not knowing what is coming next, there are many ways to prepare and be ready for a lucky break to appear or to create it.
Consider these hypothetical scenarios.
Giorge gets a random call from a recruiter for a leadership role that he hadn't applied for but sounded interesting enough to explore further. But he's worried about how to pull his act together on such short notice. It's been ages since he's interviewed or updated his resume and he is wondering if he is prepared enough to effectively tell his story and compete with the other candidates.
Francois gets the same call and while he too didn't know about the role, he's been keeping his resume updated and made sure to regularly reflect on his strengths and accomplishments because you never know when you'll need to speak about them. He ends up acing the interviews and gets the job. What a lucky break that the recruiter called (and he was ready).
Zahra is ready for a change and sees a job ad with a company she has long admired. There are likely hundreds of applicants. But lucky for her she has been actively networking – just to keep current and connected, even before she was looking for a new role. It turns out one of her new acquaintances works at that company and was able to help Zahra get her resume seen. And with a good word put in, Zahra got the interview, nailed it and landed the job. What luck (that she's been networking and found someone to help).
Layla's current job doesn't call for AI skills. But she knows it is coming so she takes a couple of courses. Not long after, her employer restructures and shifts focus to – you guessed it – use more AI. Layla gets to stay while others in her team were unfortunately let go. Lucky Layla (good thing she had the foresight and curiosity to learn some new AI skills).
While there's no guarantee that one's preparation will garner the win or bring luck, these few examples point to how luck can happen when preparation meets opportunity.
There's lots of uncertainty these days but you may have more control over your destiny than you think. Here are a few ideas on how to prepare for those yet unseen lucky breaks that either come your way – or that you create.
Foster the Boy/Girl Scouts mindset of 'always being prepared': Reflect on what this means for you in your career – be it resume updates, new skills or networking. Don't wait for the opportunity to present itself and then prepare. Prepare now and always. Funny how opportunities show up once you start to kick up some dust. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
Learn, grow, be curious – and awake: Don't get too comfy in your current role/sector. Be someone who reads, stays up to date and is always curious beyond their current task/job description. Even if you are not looking for a job, stay awake to where the job market is headed – and stay alert for luck that may come your way, even if disguised as a challenge.
Connect, connect, connect: No matter how skilled you are or impressive your resume is, you must nurture connections with others. If you are uncomfortable with 'networking', reframe it as connection. Remember, it's often people who can introduce you to hidden opportunities beyond those listed. And do remember to reciprocate and offer help to others as well.
Stay in possibility: Lean in and take actions to do what you can – even in uncertain and ambiguous times. This will elevate your own sense of trust and confidence. I have a colleague who often says, 'Do something, and something will happen.' I love that. It gives me hope that I can generate some of my own luck. How about you?
Eileen Chadnick, PCC, of Big Cheese Coaching, is an ICF credentialed, two-time ICF (International Coaching Federation) Prism award winner, who works with leaders (emerging to experienced), and organizations, on navigating, leading and flourishing in times of flux, opportunity and challenge. She is the author of Ease: Manage Overwhelm in Times of Crazy Busy.