Happy St. Patrick’s Day – a day that celebrates (in part) luck. 🍀

Luck – good fortune – certainly plays a role in success. Maybe:

• Someone introduces you to a new contact at the right time.
• An opportunity pops up that you couldn’t have predicted.
• A project you’ve been working on suddenly has everyone’s attention.

But, luck only works if you’re ready for it.

Above the desk in my office, framed on the wall, I have a quote attributed to the philosopher, Seneca:

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

(Or more accurately, the perception of luck)

This isn’t abstract philosophy, it plays out every day.

Let’s frame it as an equation:

Opportunity × Preparation = Luck

Which of these variables do we control?

Luck? That’s the outcome.

Opportunity? We can influence it, but we can’t always anticipate it.

Preparation, though – that’s entirely on us.

Let’s see this math in action:

• Preparation: I write regularly to clarify my own thinking. When I publish, I’m forced to sharpen half-formed ideas into structured arguments and stories. Because I’m obsessed with learning (books scattered around the house, podcasts on walks), I’m constantly exposed to new inputs.
• Opportunity: When I sit down to write, I re-read the half-finished paragraph from yesterday...
• Luck: ...My brain makes an unexpected connection between the writing and the reading, helping me finish the draft, or realize something new, or say just the right thing in the next meeting.

From the outside, it might seem like a stroke of luck. But, it was set in motion with preparation.

Preparation also helps us meet moments we don’t control:

• Preparation: On mornings when I journal, I’m able to clear out mental clutter and center on the kind of person I want to be that day.
• Opportunity: At breakfast, my son has a meltdown because the pancakes I made did not have rainbow sprinkles...
• Luck: ...On my best days, I’ve cultivated enough patience to remain calm and can help him work through it. (Somewhere my wife is laughing because this is not happening consistently yet)

We don’t control when opportunity knocks.

We control whether we’re ready to answer.

What are you doing to prepare for the opportunities you can’t predict?

• Are you building the skills you’ll need when the moment comes?
• Are you strengthening the relationships that could open new doors?
• Are you refining your pitch so you can move quickly when you get called on?

When something breaks your way it might look like luck from the outside.

But you’ll know better.

It wasn’t random. It was preparation meeting opportunity.

⭐ ICYMI:

I’m developing a coaching framework and self-assessment designed to help people navigate ambiguity so they can create clarity, discipline, and momentum toward their goals.

But, I need your help to test these ideas...

➡️ Help Needed: Apply Today to be a Beta Tester​ As a Beta Tester, you get free personal development: 💡 Improved awareness of how you respond to ambiguity 🛠️ The tools and language to navigate ambiguity more effectively 💬 1x coaching session with me to debrief the assessment results APPLY TODAY

Take a moment to pause & reflect. If an opportunity showed up this week, would you be ready?​ Where do you need more reps, refinement, or preparation?

Actions, experiments, & things to try next. Pick one area where you’ve been hoping for momentum and increase your readiness. Block an hour to set it in motion this week.

📫 If this sparked an idea, or if you’re feeling stuck, I’d love to hear from you. You can reply directly to this email to share what you’re working on, ask a question, or suggest topics you’d like me to cover in future newsletters. I read every response.

Until next time,

Michael

Michael Schefman | 321 Liftoff​

Copyright © 2026 by 321 Liftoff LLC

​​​​​​