Why Luck Won’t Take You Very Far

In 2021, nineteen-year-old Emma Raducanu was crowned the U.S. Open Women’s Tennis Champion. While it’s not unusual for someone so young to win the prestigious tournament, what makes her victory unique is the way she did it.

The 150th-ranked tennis player in the world at the time, Raducanu didn’t receive automatic entry into the contest. She had to play three qualifying rounds just to get into the main draw. Then she had to play, and win, seven matches against the best tennis professionals in the world. No easy feat. And something that’s never been done before.

After 14 days of battle, and much to everyone’s surprise, the unknown teen was the one hoisting the trophy as confetti rained down on the stadium floor.

Many people believed that following her run in New York she would be the next big thing in tennis. They were wrong.

Since winning in 2021, Raducanu has failed to live up to the hype. She’s been plagued by injury, which has caused her to miss or withdraw from tournaments. When she has played, she’s been quickly escorted to the exit after one or two rounds.

With such miserable results, one might question her U.S. Open win. Was she really that good or was she just lucky?

The verdict is still out on Radacanu, but her story can teach us all valuable lessons.

Luck Won’t Take You Very Far

When we hear of magical tales like Radacanu’s, it gives us hope, especially if we’ve been toiling in the trenches waiting for our big break. Certainly, if it can happen to someone like her, then it could happen to us too, right?

And yes, it most definitely could. But her story also reminds us that lucky breaks usually don’t have sustainable success. While it’s nice at the moment, luck won’t take you very far.

If you’re a writer waiting for that elusive book contract or an author selling and marketing your books, hoping for fortune to fall your way with a stroke of luck is fruitless. If you want your writing or your efforts to go the distance, then you need to stop wishing and start working.

There’s really no other way around it.

Anyone who has gone on to be the best in their field (writer, athlete, actor) will tell you that it was diligent effort, day after day, that allowed them to make it to the top. They studied their craft, practiced nonstop, and didn’t quit in the face of adversity. In addition, they spent money as needed, delegated tasks, and got creative in order to focus on their work.

And because they did all that, they’ve managed to make a name for themselves and build a long-lasting career doing what they love. Luck had nothing to do with it.

So rather than searching for a four-leaf clover to help you rise to the top, spend your time doing what the best writers do and emulate that formula. Then, and only then, will you find success.