1 min read Principles

The Fine Art of Opportunism

Opportunism is about working with and manipulating luck, not waiting for it. It is about engineering your path through life in such a way that the probability of disproportionate-returns events in your life is increased.
The Fine Art of Opportunism

Check out this brilliant article by Venkatesh Rao of Ribbonfarm.

Quick Summary:

What is Opportunism?

Opportunism is about working with and manipulating luck, not waiting for it. It is about engineering your path through life in such a way that the probability of disproportionate-returns events in your life is increased. You actually navigate by steering towards uncertainty and positive disruption because you know that your life is otherwise headed for ordinary outcomes.

Or in other words: “Luck favors the prepared mind.” The prepared mind sooner or later finds something important and does it. So yes, it is luck. The particular thing you do is luck, but that you do something is not.

How to be more opportunistic:

  1. Daydream more about stuff.
  2. Focus on areas that are intersections of things you are good at.
  3. When you find an interesting rabbit hole, go really deep.
  4. When you realize it is high leverage, you have to go all in.

I have grossly shortened and summarized these steps, please go read the whole article, it'll be worth it!

→ The Fine Art of Opportunism

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