Luck Is Not Luck

March 23, 2026

Welcome to another beautiful week. When an idea sparks that I think is worth sharing, it becomes this weekly newsletter. If something hits home, write back. I love conversations. This is Weekly Spark #43.

Today, I want to talk about luck. My son and I were talking about this the other day. He said that some people are lucky to be born with a talent or to be born into an environment where they can thrive. I responded with a nod and added, “And some create their luck by working hard (and smart!). It is your actions that create 95% of your luck. The rest 5% is out of your control.”

Luck… today, I am not talking to you about the kind of luck that just falls into your lap, but the kind that quietly builds when you show up, say yes, and stay in motion.

In a week from when you are reading this, I will be on the stage at the National HR Summit in Sydney, leading a session for 100 People and Culture leaders on Living Your Values Under Pressure. Now, if I tell you how that opportunity came to me, it might surprise you.

It started with a run.

A simple run at the Melbourne Zoo.

A friend of mine, Sonya Law, invited me for a run on a Wednesday evening. Middle of the week, busy schedule, many reasons to say no. But I said yes. I wanted to spend time with her, experience something different, and feel that sense of connection I often miss in my routines.

During that run, she mentioned she would be the MC at the National HR Summit. I got curious and asked if I could attend. She helped me get a ticket.

That could have been the end of the story.

But something interesting happened next.

When the producer saw my name on the attendee list, they remembered a session I had delivered for them earlier in Melbourne. A good session leaves a trace. They reached out internally, and suddenly, I was not just attending the summit, I was invited to lead a workshop.

Now, if someone looks at this from the outside, they might say, “That’s lucky.”

But was it really?

Or was it a combination of saying yes, showing up, doing good work over time, and staying open to opportunities?

Luck often looks like magic from a distance, but up close, it is built through small actions.

You say yes to a conversation.

You show up even when it is inconvenient.

You do your work well when no one is watching.

You stay in the game long enough for the dots to connect.

Opportunities rarely arrive announced. They hide inside ordinary moments. A run. A coffee. A casual conversation.

The question is not whether opportunities exist.

The question is whether you are available for them.

So here is something simple you can do this week.

Say yes to one thing you would normally say no to. Reach out to one person you have been meaning to connect with. Show up fully in one room where you might otherwise hold back.

Because luck is not something you wait for.

It is something you build.

And maybe, just maybe, your next opportunity is already waiting for you in a place that looks completely ordinary today.

Sending my share of luck to you,

With love, 

Utkarsh

PS - The IgnitedNeurons Podcast has crossed 950 subscribers on YouTube. Not luck but effort. If you have not seen it yet, follow us on Spotify or subscribe to the YouTube channel. We have conversations on the pod that will resonate with the seeker in you!