People love to chalk success up to luck. It’s easier that way. It makes the wins seem random, out of reach, or reserved for the fortunate few. But real success rarely comes down to chance. More often, it’s about doing the right thing—at the right time.

Timing matters. But so does preparation. So does decision-making. So does action. You have to be ready when the moment shows up. And you have to know what to do with it.

The right thing isn’t always the biggest move. Sometimes it’s staying quiet. Sometimes it’s walking away. Sometimes it’s showing up, again and again, when no one’s watching. But when the time comes, if you’re prepared, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know. And that’s what people on the outside call “luck.”

But what they don’t see are the hours, the failures, the pivots, the practice. The thousands of small decisions that built up to that one moment.

Success is a combination of clarity, instinct, and action. And yes—timing. But not blind luck. It’s about being aligned with the moment, not surprised by it.

So don’t wait around hoping to get lucky. Do the work. Learn the timing. Trust the process. The moment will come. The question is: will you be ready to do the right thing when it does?