Success has many definitions and depending on who you talk to, those definitions could be vastly different. Even in some cases, complete opposites. Regardless of one’s definition of success, it has a shadow that goes unnoticed. This shadow is overconfidence.
Success brings confidence and depending on how that confidence is used matters. To some, that confidence becomes a blinder. It enchants one with the belief that they are immune to the randomness of life. This can lead one to become reckless with their decisions and actions. This recklessness can lead to their own demise. Taking unnecessary risks and completely missing the areas one is most vulnerable.
On the other hand, success can bring confidence that is humbling and fuels courage. This side of confidence pushes one to do things they once didn’t believe they were capable of. It increases one’s self-efficacy. This confidence doesn’t blind them but instead expands one’s perspective. They become more aware of the potential consequences and understand with success that there is an element of luck that must be appreciated.
Where one finds success, one is sure to find tracks of luck. Understanding that this is a condition of success is the difference between becoming blinded by it or expanding one’s perspective. Luck rarely gets the credit it deserves and usually replaced with the idea of hard work. This can be related to a quote from Old Man in the Sea…
“I would rather be lucky than good, but I will be prepared for when luck arrives.”
See, hard work is the precedent to luck, which is the precedent of success. All three ingredients are required. They are not interchangeable. This distinction matters but can easily be overlooked. The idea of success without respecting luck’s contribution clouds one’s judgment about their limitations. Leading to reckless decisions, which inevitably leads to the destruction of success.
It’s imperative we give luck recognition when it comes to success because if we don’t, luck will take success away. Luck can deceive us by masking our problems with success.
Take the advice from the Old Man; work hard (or better yet intelligently), so when success arrives, you are ready but don’t discount the part luck plays.
