Is Luck Real? Understanding the Role of Skill and Personality

Luck is real in the sense that random positive events, good timing, and chance encounters can influence our outcomes and determine our success. While this age-old question often divides people, most researchers agree that luck is a combination of chance and personal factors.

Since you can control personal factors, such as mindset, anyone can become luckier by raising their self-awareness, breaking unhelpful thought and behavioral patterns, and embracing personal growth.

In this article, we’ll answer the question, “Is luck real?” in greater detail, analyze how personality influences outcomes, and let you in on the secret to becoming a luckier person.

The Science Behind Luck

From a scientific perspective, luck is often tied to probability, randomness, and statistical chance. This means that luck is both objective and subjective.

A study by Pluchino et al., for example, suggests there’s a discrepancy between people with high intelligence or talent and the distribution of wealth. In other words, mediocre individuals often become more successful than highly talented people.

The authors argue that this happens due to randomness; some people become successful by chance. In this sense, it could be concluded that luck is real.

Furthermore, the perception of luck plays a critical role in how people interpret situations and anticipate their outcomes.

A study by Darke and Freedman reveals a link between mindset and luck perception. Some people hold irrational views of luck, seeing it as a relatively stable force that tends to influence events in their favor. Such irrational beliefs may lead people to hold positive expectations for the outcomes of future events. Lucky events only reinforce their positive beliefs.

Optimism can also make you feel luckier and more positive about the future. A study by Briony D. Pulford suggests that highly optimistic people are more comfortable with ambiguity and open to uncertain outcomes, which makes them more willing to take risks.

Ultimately, people who are optimistic and believe in luck may approach situations with more confidence, initiative, and resolve, which may, in fact, increase the likelihood of good outcomes. That said, unrealistic beliefs about luck can also distort people’s judgment, leading to excessive risk-taking.

Now that we’ve discussed the science behind luck, let’s explore the luck vs. skill dilemma.

Luck vs. Skill: Where Do They Overlap?

Luck and skill overlap in determining success, as impressive accomplishments often result from both competence and favorable circumstances. In other words, successful people tend to be both skilled and lucky.

However, success isn’t always proof of exceptional skill; the above-mentioned study by Pluchino et al. suggests that randomness, or luck, strongly shapes who becomes successful. As such, talent and skill don’t always translate into real-world success, with some less competent people becoming wildly successful by chance, upon stumbling into favorable opportunities.

Moreover, a study done by Liu and Tsay reveals that certain cognitive biases, such as attribution bias, may affect how people evaluate success. They may, for example, assume that successful people are extraordinarily skilled, which isn’t always the case.

In fact, this study suggests that success depends primarily on chance in competitive environments where everyone is highly skilled. So, luck does exist, and in some cases, it may be even more critical for determining success than skill.

Importantly, luck in life and at work depends not only on your skills but also on your personality. According to psychologist Richard Wiseman, unlucky people are more anxious and tense than lucky ones, as anxiety causes them to miss favorable opportunities. Meanwhile, lucky people are open to change and create their own good fortune by:

• Creating and noticing chance opportunities
• Listening to their intuition when making decisions
• Transforming bad luck into good by adopting a resilient attitude
• Having positive expectations, which turn into self-fulfilling prophecies

Therefore, lucky people do exist, and much of their good fortune results from their attitude and personalities. Flexibility, perseverance, positivity, confidence, and openness to changeand uncertainty are among the key traits that make you a lucky person.

Now that you’re aware of how personality affects luck, let’s explore the connection between luck and the Enneagram framework.

Personality and Luck: Can Your Type Influence Your Outcomes?

Since there’s a correlation between personality and luck, your Enneagram type can certainly influence your outcomes. While some types, such as Sevens, seem to attract it effortlessly, others (like Sixes) often wonder whether luck is real since they rarely, if ever, notice and take advantage of chance opportunities.

Here’s how each Enneagram personality type perceives and experiences luck:

Type 1: Earn Luck Through Discipline

Enneagram Ones are disciplined individuals who rarely attribute their triumphs to chance, believing hard work is the key to success. Because they avoid chaos, these organized people may easily miss spontaneous opportunities. In their eyes, good luck is “earned” by avoiding mistakes and striving for perfection, rather than being in the right place at the right time.

Type 2: Luck Secured Through Relationships

Helpful and compassionate, Enneagram Twos usually experience luck through relationships. Because they display empathy and attentiveness, they often receive support, favorable opportunities, and unexpected help from others. However, some people may take their kindness for granted, so how lucky they are largely depends on their ability to set personal boundaries.

Type 3: Self-Made Luck

The Enneagram Type Three is success-oriented, so it’s no surprise that Threes excel at creating and seizing opportunities needed to reach their goals.

However, because their self-esteem relies on their performance, they aren’t likely to attribute their success to favorable timing or circumstances. So, even though Threes usually believe that luck is real, they see it as a result of strategic actions rather than pure chance.

Type 4: Symbolic Perception of Luck

Enneagram Fours experience luck in a highly subjective way; depending on their mood, they may feel either deeply unfortunate or, conversely, incredibly lucky. Because they seek meaning in life, they often perceive luck as a fated synchronicity rather than a random coincidence. Therefore, they tend to think that luck is a real phenomenon that carries symbolic meaning.

Type 5: Luck Drawn Through Knowledge Sharing

Those belonging to Type Five are private and reserved; since they enjoy solitude, they usually have limited exposure to random events and chance opportunities. As a result, luck typically reaches them only on rare occasions when they share their insight, expertise, or niche knowledge with others, which can unintentionally attract favorable opportunities.

Type 6: Skeptical Perception of Luck

Security-oriented Enneagram Sixes fear uncertainty and resist change, which naturally makes them less likely to come across lucky opportunities. Even when an opportunity presents itself, they rarely, if ever, seize it due to their anxious, risk-averse natures. So, if you ever ask a Six, “Is luck real?” don’t be surprised to hear a negative or neutral response.

Type 7: Effortlessly Lucky

Outgoing and enthusiastic, Enneagram 7 individuals maintain a positive mindset and enjoy new experiences, so this may just be the luckiest Enneagram type. Their openness to novelty and high risk tolerance help them attract chance encounters and stumble into favorable opportunities, and because they are curious and optimistic, they rarely hesitate to act on them.

Type 8: Firm Believers of Luck Being In Their Hands

Enneagram Eights often mistake luck for personal power and control, believing only they can influence their lives. Good luck, in their eyes, is what happens when everything goes according to their plan. However, because these bold individuals aren’t afraid to take risks others wouldn’t, they usually have a high level of exposure to chance opportunities.

Type 9: Passive Attitude Toward Lucky Opportunities

It’s not unusual for the accommodating presence of Enneagram Nines to attract unexpected opportunities without having to pursue them. And yet, passivity and hesitation often stop these serene individuals from seizing them. While a calm, peaceful nature protects Nines from chaos and preserves inner harmony, it also makes them prioritize comfort over possibility.

Can You Become a Luckier Person?

You can become a luckier person by changing how you interact with chance. The aforementioned Richard Wiseman research reveals that people who consider themselves lucky share certain behavioral patterns. As such, you, too, can become luckier by:

• Reframing bad luck. Lucky people don’t let difficulties and failure break their spirit; they see them as temporary setbacks or hidden opportunities. Adopting this mindset can help you become more resilient, increasing the likelihood of future success.
• Trusting your intuition and staying flexible. Overthinking often breeds anxiety, deterring you from taking advantage of chance opportunities. Instead of letting doubt get to you, follow your gut when making decisions and maintain a flexible mindset; adaptability fuels courage and resilience.
• Expanding your exposure to opportunities. Shaking up your routine and stepping outside your comfort zone is key to coming in contact with new opportunities and lucky encounters. So, don’t hesitate to try new experiences and make new acquaintances.
• Training yourself to expect positive outcomes. Having an optimistic mindset can shape your behavior, making you more likely to spot more possibilities, take initiative, and persist through difficulties. Because confidence can help you become more tolerant of uncertainty, self-esteem development is crucial to becoming a luckier person.

3 Real-Life Examples of Luck and Personality Alignment

Here are three real-life examples of luck and personality alignment in celebrities:

1. Madonna. While Madonna, one of the most iconic Enneagram 3 celebrities, is undeniably talented, her success can be partially attributed to luck and personality alignment. She began her career in the midst of the 1980s pop evolution and became famous for fearlessly taking risks in both music and fashion, which ultimately led her to being dubbed The Queen of Pop.
2. Jeff Bezos. One of the richest people on Earth, Jeff Bezos, also achieved immense success by being in the right place at the right time and having the right personality traits. Bezos capitalized on the early internet boom, giving him a massive timing advantage in the e-commerce space. However, it was his visionary thinking and risk tolerance that helped him sustain his success for decades.
3. Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, one of the most influential talk show hosts, famously said, “I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” This is also evident in her life story: before television, she embraced a variety of opportunities, such as entering a beauty pageant, after which she was hired by a local radio station. Like a typical female Three, she made her own luck. Though born into poverty, she became massively successful.

In all of these cases, success wasn’t purely random; it came as a result of favorable timing, bold personality, and fearless action.

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Final Thoughts

So, is luck real?

Yes, but it is not as mystical as most people think. In most cases, it is a combination of skill, personality, and chance that allows you to seize favorable moments. While you can’t control chance and deliberately attract random good fortune, you can still become a luckier person by increasing your exposure and attitude toward favorable opportunities.

In this sense, luck is a real phenomenon, and it isn’t as random as we often think; you can generate more chance opportunities by fostering an optimistic, open-minded, and flexible mindset.

Is Luck Real FAQs

#1. How do I create opportunities that feel like luck?

You can create opportunities that feel like luck by increasing your exposure to new people and environments. Though leaving the comfort zone may feel dreadful, it considerably raises the chances of stumbling upon unexpected offers, suggestions, and invitations.

#2. Is luck a personality trait?

Luck is not a personality trait, but your personality can significantly influence how you perceive and experience it. The more optimistic, flexible, bold, and open to change and new experiences you are, the luckier you may feel. Anxiety, on the other hand, can make you perceive yourself as unlucky.

#3. How to identify a lucky person?

You can identify a lucky person by their mindset and attitude, as they are proactive and optimistic. They often believe that luck is real and consider themselves to be lucky, as their confidence and courage to take risks usually pay off, leading to favorable outcomes. And even when things go wrong, lucky people never let setbacks stop them from trying again.

#4. Are some people naturally luckier than others?

No, some people aren’t naturally luckier than others; they simply perceive more potentially favorable opportunities and aren’t afraid to leverage them for their benefit. Therefore, you can “train” yourself to be a luckier person by being more open to novelty and taking bold action.