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Goodluck can be enticed by accepting opportunities.

I can remember complaining about my finances, and one of my besties, Rahman, gave me three books to read. He said, surely after reading these books, my relationship with money will change. He also said that if it didn’t, there’s a much bigger problem 😂. He gave me The Psychology of Money, The Alchemist and The Richest Man in Babylon. I read both of them first, but for some weird reason, I could not get past the preliminary pages of The Richest Man in Babylon. Maybe it is because of the King James Version approach that the author, George Clason, took. Anyway, I picked it up at the beginning of this month and made it a goal to finish before May ends.

Since I started with the plan of one chapter a day, I have been loving every bit of it, and from it, I have drawn my talking point for today.

Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunities.

First of all, the book started with a man who understood his financial predicament and knew that something had to change. They (the man and his friend) heard about the Richest Man in Babylon, and they decided to make the journey to where he resides. One thing that stood out to me and made me smile was when one of the men suggested they involve their other friends who were struggling financially as well, so they could all take the journey together. It was giving friends who put you on. If you can put me on, I want to be friends with YOU!

They eventually made the journey and indeed met the man. Like the wise man he was, he did not hesitate to educate them on gold, the wisdom of growing it, and the value of owning estates. He asked them a striking question, “ What do you think of Goodluck?” (Paraphrased). Some of them said they did, some said they didn’t, and the ones I agree with said they believe good luck is complementary. Apparently, you can entice the goddess of Good Luck with your actions and strategy, which means how are you positioning yourself for good luck to complement your actions?

And honestly, that part sat with me for a while because a lot of us talk about luck like it is this random, magical thing that either falls on you or completely skips you. Like, some people are just born under a special star, and the rest of us are just trying to survive the vibes and inflation. But the older I get, the more I am starting to believe that what we call luck is sometimes preparation finally meeting opportunity.

Think about it. So many people we describe as “lucky” were actually just ready when the opportunity came. The person who got the amazing job had probably spent months or years quietly building the skill set. The business owner who suddenly “blew” online may have been posting consistently to 17 people for two years. The person who got the scholarship probably applied despite feeling unqualified, while others convinced themselves not to bother.

From afar, it looks like luck. Up close, it looks like positioning.

And that is what Arkad was trying to explain in that chapter. The goddess of Goodluck is drawn to people who act. People who move when the opportunity presents itself. Not people who overthink themselves into paralysis. Not people who wait for every single condition to become perfect before they start. Because if we are being honest, life rarely presents opportunities wrapped in certainty.

Sometimes opportunities come dressed as inconvenience, like the farmer who had the opportunity to buy a herd of sheep when the gate was closed at midnight, but didn’t because the area was too dark to count them, thinking that when morning came, he would buy. What do you think happened? Morning came, and the gates opened, and the shepherd sold to another buyer who came for a price he would have considered a steal. Sometimes they come looking like hard work. Sometimes they even look scary.

I think about how many moments I personally may have missed because I was waiting to feel “ready.” Waiting to be less afraid and waiting for confidence to magically appear before taking action. Meanwhile, the people moving ahead were probably also scared, but they moved anyway. That alone has been such a huge lesson for me recently.

Another thing the book made me reflect on was the importance of proximity. Those men literally changed the trajectory of their lives by choosing to seek wisdom. They intentionally went towards someone who had the results they desired. And honestly? That matters so much. The people around you matter. The conversations you entertain matter. Your environment can either stretch your thinking or trap you in cycles you have outgrown.

That part especially made me appreciate friendships like the one I have with Rahman. Because sometimes the people who genuinely care about you will not just sympathize with your problems, they will hand you tools. They will recommend books. They will share opportunities. They will push you towards growth, even when you are too frustrated to see clearly. And that is another form of luck, too. Having people in your life who desire your expansion.

The more I read this book, the more I realize that financial wisdom is not only about money. It is also about mindset. About discipline. About understanding that opportunities are constantly passing by, but only a prepared mind can truly recognize them for what they are.

Because truthfully, when preparation and opportunity finally collide, it almost looks supernatural from the outside. People will call you lucky because they did not see the quiet positioning, the consistent learning, the failed attempts, the discipline, the prayers, the risk, the showing up when nobody was clapping for you yet.

And maybe that is the secret after all.

Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunities.