According to Naval Ravikant and Babak Nivi, there are broadly four ways to get lucky:

Wait for it

The first kind of luck is pure luck, created solely from the things out of your control. You can sit around and wait for it to find you, but that won’t be very wise.

Show your work

Now to get lucky in somewhat deterministic manner, you need to put yourself out there. You need to show your work.

Instead of updating your resume with a brief description of your latest project, put regular updates about your project on a public forum (like social media or blog). Simply show what you’re up to. This way, you make it easier for the right recruiters to find and hire you.

I remember inviting a handful of writing opportunities simply because I wrote a technical article on Medium.

Be aware and sensitive

The third way to get lucky is to be extremely aware of what’s happening and what’s coming up. Attend conferences, go out and network, keep up with the latest trends, make long-term connections with the clients, etc. This will allow you to grab the opportunity when it comes up.

I get reminded of a friend who participated in over 25 hackathons during our college time. He took part in every event, was the first in line to meet the guests, kept a high GPA, and said yes to every opportunity he got, no matter how small.

Seeing his growth today, the one word that comes to mind is in fact “lucky”. But he most definitely produced his own luck.

Become the best

Finally, the most deterministic way to get lucky is to become the best at what you do. Work hard, learn, and keep refining your craft until there’s no competition. Either you can do it, or it can’t be done.

If you are the best man for the job, you don’t have worry too much about putting yourself out there. Your reputation will precede you, opportunities will seek you out.

This way is so straightforward, so deterministic, that it stops feeling like luck. It kind of becomes your destiny. Something that was meant to happen. The inevitable result of your efforts.

To sum up in one line, you can produce luck by showcasing your work, being more receptive to opportunities, and improving your skills.

Did you find this insightful? Let me know by replying to this email or commenting on the website.

Happy Raksha Bandhan!
Aachman