Many people believe success depends on luck. They think hard work without luck is useless. This belief makes people lazy and passive. When things go wrong, they blame luck or pray for divine help—much like the character in Bruce Almighty.
There is nothing wrong with having faith in gods or spirits. However, when we attribute everything to them, we shut down self-improvement. Hard work alone may not guarantee success, but it prepares us for opportunity. Opportunity without preparation is meaningless.
Imagine a company announces a managerial position you desperately want. You can only seize that opportunity if you are qualified—and only hard work provides that qualification.
Japan is known for its hardworking people. After World War II, the country rose from devastation to become one of the world’s most successful nations. If the Japanese had blamed fate instead of working relentlessly, this transformation would never have happened.
We must switch our mindset to “work mode.” Comfort is the enemy of success. Not everyone who works hard will succeed, because success is not a simple formula. It requires sustained effort in the right direction.
The world would be a better place if we relied less on luck. Climate change, for example, is often blamed on deities, but it is largely the result of human actions. When we accept responsibility, we are more willing to change our behavior and work toward a better future.