Good Luck

How to Create It Every Day

I’ve always been intrigued by that phrase: “Big opportunities only come once in a lifetime.” It sounds dramatic—almost as if we were all waiting for one single moment that changes everything… and if we miss it, that’s it, no second chance. But real life doesn’t work that way. Opportunities aren’t rare trains that pass only once; they’re more like buses that keep running. The real difference is whether you’re standing at the right stop, ready to get on—or distracted, looking the other way.

George Washington once said: “Out of ten circumstances of good fortune, nine you can create yourself.” And there’s the key: good luck isn’t a mysterious gift reserved for a few. Good luck is the result of living with open eyes, an awake mind, and a willingness to act. Sure, sometimes it looks like a sudden stroke of luck changes everything. But if you look closer, you’ll usually see that behind that “coincidence” there was preparation, intention, and movement.

Think of it this way: luck has a pretty simple formula—opportunity + preparation + action. If one of these three is missing, luck slips away. You might be prepared, but if you never act, the opportunity vanishes. You might act enthusiastically, but without preparation, the outcome won’t be great. And if you don’t even recognize the opportunity because you’re not paying attention, there’s nothing to do.

The problem is, many people get stuck in the myth of the “one big chance.” That belief paralyzes us, because it makes us afraid of messing up. If I think I’ll only get one chance in my entire life, I’ll obsess about not failing—and that fear may keep me from acting at all. Living like that is like staring at the distant horizon while ignoring the flowers right at your feet.

But when you understand that opportunities are everywhere, your mindset shifts. You become curious, open, creative. You start to see possibilities where you once saw routine. You realize a casual conversation can spark an important project. An unexpected invitation can connect you to someone key in your life. Saying “yes” to something small can open very big doors. It’s not magic—it’s simply living in a state of friendly alertness, ready to discover.

And that state doesn’t mean living anxiously; it means living attentively. It’s walking through life knowing something interesting could show up at any moment. Like spotting a bill on the sidewalk—only those who are looking pick it up, not the ones glued to their phones. That ability to see what others don’t is something you can train. Start by asking yourself: What can I learn here? Who can I talk to today? What new things can I try? Curiosity is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Of course, none of this works without preparation. We often say, “That person was so lucky” without seeing the work behind it. That musician who got to replace someone in a big concert wasn’t there by chance—he’d been practicing for years. That entrepreneur who landed a deal at dinner wasn’t just “lucky”—she had prepared her pitch and refined it long before. Preparation is invisible, nobody applauds while you’re doing it, but it’s the foundation of every opportunity.

The couch, metaphorically speaking, is the enemy of good luck. Not resting—but staying still, waiting for life to bring you what you want. Meanwhile, the world moves on and opportunities pass you by. But when you step out, connect, explore, and expose yourself to new experiences, you multiply the odds that something will happen.

It’s also worth recognizing the luck we’ve already had. Sometimes we chase the “next big thing” so hard that we forget the opportunities we’ve already seized. Reflecting on them—and being grateful—not only gives us perspective, but sharpens our radar for spotting more. Gratitude works like a magnet: when you value the good you already have, you attract more of it.

Creating good luck isn’t a one-time act—it’s a way of living. It’s observing, preparing, acting, and learning. It’s accepting that if you miss one chance today, it’s not the end—another one will show up tomorrow. The key is never losing the habit of paying attention, preparing, and moving forward. Over time, good luck stops being something that “happens to you” and becomes something you create.

So next time you hear someone say, “Big opportunities only come once,” smile and think: “No—opportunities are everywhere, and I’m going after them.” Because as George Washington reminded us, out of ten strokes of good luck, nine you can create yourself. And living with purpose is exactly that: learning to create them every single day.