The Myth of Luck
Ever heard someone say they got lucky? Right place, right time, right connection? But luck isn’t magic, it’s built. It’s the result of unseen preparation meeting the right moment. As the Roman philosopher Seneca put it:
“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.”
This mindset shift can change the way you approach your career and life. It has for me.
🎧 Watch my Build the Invisible Documentary here:
The Myth of Luck
We all have to start somewhere.
It’s easy to look at someone’s success and assume they were simply fortunate. A job offer that seemed to come out of nowhere, an introduction that led to a major deal or a business idea that took off.
But what we don’t see is the groundwork—the unseen investment in learning, networking, and persistence. These invisible efforts stack up over time, quietly shaping the moment when preparation meets opportunity. My first book Done Deal came about because I had written over 300 blogs on the football industry and my publisher Bloomsbury had a good sense of my writing style and that I (hopefully) knew what I was talking about!
Euston Station, London
Back in 2015, I was sat outside Euston Station in the spring sunshine. Across from me was Andrew, my (now) fellow partner at Sheridans, trying to persuade me to join his law firm.
It should have been an easy decision, but I had doubts. I had zero clients. I worried I’d be “found out.”
But as my wife, Hollie, reminded me, I had already put in the work. I had written over 300 football law blogs. I had spent years refining my legal skills, building industry knowledge, and networking tirelessly.
That moment at Euston Station wasn’t luck—it was the invisible preparation culminating in the opportunity I couldn’t refuse.
But here’s the thing: that conversation with Andrew only happened because, six months earlier, I had organised a charity panel event. I had invited people from the sports industry, including Andrew and his colleague Maurice. That event led to a breakfast meeting. That meeting led to more conversations. And eventually, it led to the job offer.
It was the same for my latest book I co-authored with the bestselling Jamie Johnson author Dan Freedman. We started chatting about our career trajectories and realised there wasn’t a handbook for kids wanting to work in football. That was the birth of 50 Ways Into Football.
Building Your Invisible Foundation
The key to creating your own luck is the work no one sees. This doesn’t mean planning every detail of your future but rather consistently investing in yourself. My Build The Invisible book talks about consuming three pieces of content a day.
Try this:
✅ Read widely in areas that interest you.
✅ Take on projects that stretch your skills.
✅ Build relationships with people who inspire you.
These small actions compound over time, preparing you for the moment opportunity knocks.
Nick Robinson’s Creative Pitch
Football agent Nick Robinson had spent months trying to get a meeting with a prominent football manager. When he finally secured a slot, the manager cancelled at the last minute due to an urgent meeting in another city.
Instead of accepting defeat, Nick asked,
“How are you getting there?”
When the manager said he’d take a taxi, Nick jumped in:
“I’ll drive you, and we can have our meeting on the way.”
That 30-minute car ride became his pitch. He found a way to create his own opportunity.
Seizing the Opportunity
Opportunities don’t always knock on the front door. Sometimes, you have to go looking for them.
As Sun Tzu put it: “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
Your next big break could be one email, one conversation or one event away. But you have to create the conditions for it to happen.
Here’s how to start today:
📌 Consume three pieces of content a day. (Track them in the BTI Journal.)
📌 Reach out to someone whose work you admire. (A thoughtful message can open doors.)
📌 Go to the event. Write the email. Ask for the introduction.
Next Steps
If you want to get serious about this, download a month’s worth of the BTI Journal here and start tracking your progress.
To Finish…
Here’s a Build The Invisible themed talk I gave on How To Get a Job in the Sports Industry