Happy Monday!

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This week we're discussing how luck as we know it is actually quite different than we've been led to believe.

As a brief disclaimer: many links for items, books, etc. are done through affiliate links, which means I may get paid a small pittance of money for anything you purchase using these links.

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Make Your Own Luck

"That person is so lucky. They're always given opportunities. If only I was put in the same position, I could prove myself too!" Some version of this sequence has probably run through your mind before. It likely plays on repeat more than you'd like to admit. That's fair; it's almost impossible to not look at the accomplishments of others and give undue credit to luck.

The reality is, if put in the same situation as that person you see succeeding, you very well may rise to the occasion. The problem is, unless you change your actions, you'll never be put in that position. Oprah Winfrey once described luck as preparation meeting opportunity. The reason that successful people are "lucky" is because they've put in the work to be prepared; when opportunity presents itself, they seize the moment. If you never prepare, opportunities will pass you by.

When I say you must make your own luck, I'm referring to the daily habits, blood, sweat, and tears required to get better. As an athlete, if you train hard and listen to your coaches then you'll be ready to showcase your skills. Any actor that caught "their big break" spent years honing their craft, taking classes, and working to improve; they were ready for the audition when it came.

Opportunities surround us every day. We just fail to see these opportunities if we haven't spent the time working to prepare ourselves. Instead of trying to be lucky, aim to improve. Habitual, consistent practice increases the chances that luck will find you. Even if, by some miracle, you are thrust into the spotlight without preparation, how likely is it that you'll squander that opportunity if you're not ready?

So, if you feel unlucky, work harder. It doesn't matter how motivated you are, it doesn't matter how you feel, it doesn't matter what's happening in the world around you. Praise work, not luck. I can guarantee you someone's luck is changing right now because they put in that work.

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Hit List

The most interesting things I've encountered this week:

What I'm reading: The One Thing by Gary Keller

So you want to turn your luck around, but you don't know what you actually want to do. This book is incredibly powerful for helping you focus; what is the thing you actually should spend your time working on, and how do you know? In a world full of clutter, distraction, and chaos, The One Thing is a useful and practical guide.

A great fitness article: Zone 2 Work on Art of Manliness

Zone 2 training isn't a new concept, but something that I've heard more people discussing recently. With the rise in popularity of high-intensity training like CrossFit, people aren't spending enough time doing easy work. Zone 2 training is a great way to trade some intense work for it's beneficial counterpart.

If you want to nerd out: Monitoring DFA Alpha 1 for Zone 2 Work​

This is a metric that I've been using in my Zone 2 work for a little awhile. In summary, your HRV and resting heart rate fluctuate daily and will have an effect on your aerobic threshold. If you want to accurately remain in Zone 2, you can monitor your DFA Alpha 1 levels in real-time. Anything below .75 places you in Zone 3 or higher.

NOTE: The app recommended for monitoring this costs $10 and can be found here: iOS, Android​

Quote(s) of the week:

"Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get." - Ray Kroc, CEO of McDonald's from 1967-1973

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That will do it for this week!

If you haven't downloaded your free copy yet, I've distilled all my tips and tricks for learning and retaining information here: Trainedwright Learning Guide.pdf​

Lastly, as always, if you found any value in this week's newsletter, please share it with just one person who might like it!

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