Highly successful people do 5 things to get luckier in life, says Stanford leadership expert: 'Good luck isn't random or rare'

For 27 years, I've run programs at Stanford University focused on leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the most valuable lessons I teach my students is how to create opportunities for good luck. Contrary to popular belief, good luck isn't random or rare. I like to compare luck to the wind: You can't see it, but it's powerful and everywhere. If you know how to sail, you can harness it and make it work for you. Here are five ways to catch the winds of luck every day. To define your core values, pay attention to what is important to you, and where you won't compromise. When you have strong core values, you can better recognize whether a opportunity aligns with who you want to be or if it is a dangerous distraction. For example, if someone asks you to fudge the numbers in an expense report or exaggerate what your product can do, it's much easier to say "no" when you have a clear sense of honesty and integrity. When people see your values in action, it builds trust. This can lead to bigger opportunities down the road because likeminded individuals will see you as someone who can follow through. Many people have a fixed perception about what is possible for them. There's a cruel and limiting voice in their head that sounds like, "I'm just not good at this," or "It's always been this way." It's easy to get bogged down by the past or feel like you don't have any control over what comes next. That's how people get stuck in situations that no longer serve them. When you start to view yourself as someone who is capable of overcoming adversity, whether it was a difficult childhood or challenging work environment, you become much more aware of the agency that you do have to make positive changes in your life. Every decision you make, no matter how small, has the potential to dramatically alter the course of your life. That choice might be as simple as saying hello to the person standing next to you in line, calling an old colleague you haven't spoken with in years, or getting up an hour earlier to exercise. That person in line might become a lifelong friend. A call to an old colleague could lead to an exciting new job. Getting up earlier to exercise might actually save your life. So many of us struggle with imposter syndrome — feeling like a fraud due to a lack of experience. The luckiest people understand that every new experience comes with the possibility of success or failure. Feeling stretched is part of growth. Let's redefine imposter syndrome as "improvement syndrome." Consider a baby learning to walk: They will fail repeatedly, but every stumble brings them one step closer to success. Instead of feeling ashamed by your missteps, I suggest keeping a failure resume. Any time you're faced with disappointment or regret, write down what you learned from each one and what you can do differently next time. Once you acknowledge that success lives on the other side of hard lessons, you open the door to more lucky breaks. Showing appreciation may be the most underrated way to increase your luck. A simple act of gratitude, acknowledging someone's effort on your behalf, can have an outsized impact. Appreciation comes in many forms, including a formal thank you note, public recognition, or a small but thoughtful gift that shows that you were paying attention. People who feel appreciated are much more likely to help you again in the future, while those who feel taken for granted will choose not to. Ultimately it is one of the most powerful ways to harness good luck. Tina Seelig is executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University. Her book "What I Wish I Knew About Luck," focuses on how to harness good luck in order to turn your aspirations into achievements. Dr. Seelig earned her Ph.D. at Stanford School of Medicine where she studied neuroscience. Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC's new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today! CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links. Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It © 2026 Versant Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Versant Media Company

Highly successful people do 5 things to get luckier in life, says Stanford leadership expert: 'Good luck isn't random or rare'

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