Whatever the achiever may have done you are bound to have two versions of the story. People say he has earned all that he possesses. Others would say he was fortunate to have a lucky break at the opportune moment. Work hard or get a lucky break – what more could there be?
A controllable factor that can be talked about is hard work. This would be staying up all night to finish homework, getting additional assignments when done with the class, or listening carefully when something becomes difficult. Steady hard work, even by slow students, does make people better over time. An extended period of strenuous training is typically a hallmark of elite athletes. Work ethic, self-discipline, and maturity are difficult to achieve without sustained work. Freshman, Malcolm Biggs stated, “In sports, you can’t just rely on a lucky break or natural talent. It’s the extra hours of practice when no one is watching that build real proficiency.”
But there is no guarantee of success that will come about as a result of hard work. Two students could both have done the same amount of work and still have extremely different results. One student could have been studying all night, fail an exam, and another finishes quickly. And this is where we get into the element of luck.
Luck could come in many different forms; either being born in to a fortunate household, or having a more resources readily available to you, or being lucky to have the right person present at the right time. The difference could occur in as little as a few seconds; a test has been given out, or one of the coaches finally notice you. The factor would have been something completely out of one’s hands.
Certain people feel that luck is the biggest contributing factor because it gives you the power to break open doors that cannot be opened with work. Opportunities are not always divided evenly, the less fortunate student does not stand much of a chance as a more fortunate student. Social studies teacher Cori Kidder mentioned, “From a societal standpoint, we have to acknowledge that the playing field isn’t always level. Access to early resources and support networks plays a massive role in opening those initial doors.”
But even luck cannot take you too far on its own. When an individual is given an opportunity, but they are not prepared, they will never be able to make the most of their lucky break. Hard work can enable one to be able to take the situation of luck, and to make it an actual accomplishment. In this sense, there is a relationship between work and luck.
In reality, there is very little that is completely one or the other. Luck does play a role in the result, but it is hard work that contributes to its formation. One can be given the human capability for success, while the other can influence the time and manner of achieving success.
So where does success lie? Does it lie within luck or hard work? Ultimately, it depends on how it is perceived. The most pragmatic approach for most people to make use of this is quite simple: work with what you can control, remain diligent and prepared just in case fortune decides to shine on you.
