🧭The Science of Luck and How To Get Lucky

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Here’s where we’re headed today:

• Thomas Jefferson on luck

• 4 ways to create your own luck

• How Dennis Rodman perfected “luck” in rebounding

• The science of luck and how to get lucky

Thomas Jefferson on Luck

"I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."

- Thomas Jefferson

4 Ways to Create Your Own Luck

In the pursuit of success, luck is often perceived as a serendipitous force that determines one's fate. Creating your own luck goes beyond mere chance; it is a conscious effort to seek out opportunities and embrace resilience. This mindset of proactive engagement becomes the catalyst for unlocking doors to success. Preparation, attitude, opportunity, and action form the pillars that shape the path to a fortuitous journey. Creating your own luck isn't about waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap, but rather your ability to actively seek them out.

• Luck favors those who take action.

• Luck favors those who are resilient.

• Luck favors those who are willing to put in the effort.

1. Preparation - Preparation is the key that unlocks the door to success. It sets the foundation for achieving your goals and enables you to seize opportunities when they arise.

2. Attitude - Your attitude shapes your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It influences how you perceive and respond to the world around you.

3. Opportunity - Opportunities are not always easy to come by, but with hard work and persistence, you can create your own luck. You need to spend time looking for those opportunities.

4. Action - Action is the fuel that drives progress. With the courage to take action, you overcome your fear, uncertainty, and doubt. You begin to create a life based on your purpose and fulfillment.

"I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky." – Oprah

How Dennis Rodman Perfected the Science of Rebounding

Dennis Rodman, a basketball legend, is widely revered for his unparalleled rebounding and defensive skills. With five NBA Championships, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Rodman's success was no stroke of luck. He transformed rebounding into a science, demonstrating that it's the result of meticulous preparation, a keen attitude, seizing opportunities, and taking decisive action.

Rodman's dedication to rebounding went beyond the court: he would invite friends to the gym late at night, urging them to shoot the ball from various angles. As they fired away, Rodman honed his reaction skills, positioning himself strategically to anticipate the trajectory and spin of the ball. "I used to have my friends late at night — s--t, three, four in the morning — go to the gym and I said 'shoot the ball,'" Rodman said. "'Shoot over here, shoot over here, shoot over there, shoot over there. I'd sit there and react, react."

Rodman's attention to detail was unparalleled. He would analyze all shooters and their shooting styles to adapt his positioning. Rodman studied their shots extensively, knowing the precise spin and direction the ball would take. You got a Larry Bird; it's gonna spin," he said. "You got a Magic [Johnson]; there may be spin. When [Jordan] shoots over here, I position myself right there. 

His teammates would marvel at his brilliance. He could predict the spin, the trajectory, and the eventual landing spot of the ball, demonstrating a level of expertise described as genius. Thomas said that he heard the following from Rodman, “Like, when you shoot, your ball spins three times in the air. Joe’s sometimes has three-and-a-half or four times.” Isaiah Thomas, his Pistons teammates said, “He knew the rotation of every person that shot on our team – if it spins sideways, where it would bounce, how often it would bounce left or right. He had rebounding down to a science, and I never heard anyone think or talk about rebounding and defense the way he could break it down.”

Takeaway 1:

People think that rebounding in basketball is all about luck, but Dennis Rodman's success in rebounding was not merely the result of luck. His story teaches us that true success is a culmination of careful preparation, adopting the right attitude, recognizing and seizing opportunities, and taking consistent action. By approaching our endeavors with the same level of dedication, attention to detail, and willingness to learn, we too can create our own luck and achieve extraordinary feats in our chosen fields.

Takeaway 2:

Sometimes greatness means you only need to perfect 1-2 things and be elite at them.

Dennis Rodman knew that the only way that he would make it onto the court was through hard work, excellent defense, and rebounding, so that is what he pursued for greatness. Rodman's relentless pursuit of understanding the game and his unwavering commitment to his craft propelled him to become one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history. He clinched an impressive seven rebounding titles over his illustrious career, and even in the historic 1997-98 championship season, Rodman became the oldest player to lead the league in rebounds at the age of 36.

The Science of Luck and How to Get Lucky

This short 2 minute video explains the science behind why some people live charmed lives, while others seem to grind along with lives full of ill fortune.

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