In everyday language, we often attribute success to ‘luck,’ just as many believe a lucky bamboo can bring them good fortune, a happy event that seems to appear by chance, without any clear explanation:
“Wow, that student is lucky, he got a scholarship!”
“That entrepreneur is so lucky, her business is booming!”
But this way of thinking only shows part of the picture. Behind what many call “luck,” there is usually a mix of preparation, consistent effort, reflection, and clarity.
The truth is, success is not random.
It happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Opportunities, threats, and events: it all depends on our posture
In the definition of the word “luck”, we find the idea of an event. In entrepreneurship, the same event can be seen as an opportunity or a threat. The difference does not come from the event itself, but from our level of preparation when it happens.
- • Without resources, information, or vision, an event can shake us.
- • With the right skills, anticipation, and clarity, it becomes an opportunity.
So what we call “luck” may simply be our ability to recognize, interpret, and use what happens around us, thanks to preparation already done, both inside and outside.
When preparation becomes a key factor
During a panel where a women entrepreneur, recipient of one of the “RBC StartUP Awards” revealed each year by Futurpreneur, was speaking, she strongly reminded us of a truth many people underestimate when they start their entrepreneurial journey:
« Every entrepreneur must prepare and do their homework before launching.»
This statement is powerful because it highlights something essential: success is built on structured work that is often invisible.
Preparing means:
- build skills,
- understand your environment,
- strengthen your network,
- work on your attitude,
- identify your strengths and limits,
- and, something often forgotten, share your ideas with others.
Talking, mentoring, supporting, and challenging our ideas with other people is also part of preparation. It helps us question ourselves, refine our thinking, and grow. Preparing someone else is often a way of preparing ourselves.
The true nature of success
If we look only at the moment when things go well, we might believe it is luck.
But if we look at the path taken before that moment, we clearly see that luck is mostly something built over time.
The formula is simple, almost too simple:
Success = Preparation × Opportunity
The more prepared we are, the more visible, accessible, and achievable opportunities become.
And the more prepared we are, the less we need “luck” as we usually imagine it.
And the reason I am talking about this today is that even writing these words, sharing my ideas, my beliefs, and my advice, can also be seen as an act of preparation. Writing makes you think, search, discover new concepts, and organize your thoughts. It helps you grow and become more ready than you were yesterday.
Maybe by engaging in this exercise, I may simply be becoming a better version of myself, more attentive, more equipped, and more alert.
And opportunities are like Uber rides, trains, subways… and even the Tap Taps from my home country, Haïti: they pass by every day.
So, the real question isn’t: Will you be lucky enough to catch the next one?
What truly matters is believing in preparation, understanding your professional journey, and trusting your actions.
Because in the end, success is not a matter of luck. It is the ability to be ready when the door opens.
