--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People talk about getting lucky breaks in…" description: "\"People talk about getting lucky breaks in their careers. I'm living proof that the 'lucky breaks' theory is simply wrong. You get to make your own luck..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/steve-blank-24385_break_people-talk-about-getting-lucky-breaks-i_3184283.jpg" --- # People talk about getting lucky breaks in their careers… ![“People talk about getting lucky breaks in their careers. I'm living proof that the 'lucky breaks' theory is simply wrong. You get to make your own luck. ... The world is run by those who show up...not those who wait to be asked.” quote by Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/steve-blank-24385_break_people-talk-about-getting-lucky-breaks-i_3184283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/steve-blank-24385_break_people-talk-about-getting-lucky-breaks-i_3184283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/steve-blank-24385_break_people-talk-about-getting-lucky-breaks-i_3184283.jpg) > “People talk about getting lucky breaks in their careers. I'm living proof that the 'lucky breaks' theory is simply wrong. You get to make your own luck. ... The world is run by those who show up...not those who wait to be asked.” [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from proactive effort and visibility, not passive waiting; creating opportunities requires showing up and taking initiative. **In simple terms:** Luck is made by showing up and acting. Key Takeaway Take initiative to shape your own opportunities. Themes initiative entrepreneurship agency Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - job hunting - startup founding - project leadership - personal branding Key Concepts opportunity creation networking career development Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today to increase visibility? - How do you balance persistence with realistic expectations? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on personal effort may overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Living proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-proof/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Lucky breaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky-breaks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Those who wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those-who-wait/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The world is run by those who show up not those who wait to be asked,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/the-world-is-run-by-those-who-show-up-not-those-who-wait-to-be-asked/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [I don't believe in getting lucky, I never have - luck is actually being ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it arises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-scott/i-don-t-believe-in-getting-lucky-i-never-have-luck-is-actually-being/) [Drew Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-scott/) > [“getting old means getting lucky sometimes means sometimes you learn & along with other sweeter acquisitions you learn that nine tenths of what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thomas-idlet-john-thomas/getting-old-means-getting-lucky-sometimes-means-sometimes-you-learn/) John Thomas Idlet (John Thomas > [“Dude you say the best stuff. You're so getting lucky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dude-you-say-the-best-stuff-you-re-so-getting-lucky/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At my age getting lucky is finding your car in the parking lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-bui/at-my-age-getting-lucky-is-finding-your-car-in-the-parking-lot/) [Jay Bui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-bui/) > [Guys I think I'm getting lucky tonight. The girl in the ice cream store just asked me if I wanna spoon. I guess she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/guys-i-think-i-m-getting-lucky-tonight-the-girl-in-the-ice-cream/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“The (Complete) Formula for Getting Lucky: Preparation (personal growth) + Attitude (belief/mindset) + Opportunity (a good thing coming your way) + Action (doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/the-complete-formula-for-getting-lucky-preparation-personal-growth/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [I don't really care about getting lucky...I'm up all night because I have insomnia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley/i-don-t-really-care-about-getting-lucky-i-m-up-all-night-because-i/) [Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley/) > [Chemistry is all about getting lucky...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-curl/chemistry-is-all-about-getting-lucky/) Robert Curl > [That I should turn up at the precise moment was one of those extraordinarily lucky breaks which we all need at some time or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cushing/that-i-should-turn-up-at-the-precise-moment-was-one-of-those/) [Peter Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cushing/) > [Hard work and a proper frame of mind prepare you for the lucky breaks that come along -- or don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/hard-work-and-a-proper-frame-of-mind-prepare-you-for-the-lucky-breaks/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/all-the-breaks-you-need-in-life-wait-within-your-imagination/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Opportunity is sometimes hard to recognize if you're only looking for a lucky break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/opportunity-is-sometimes-hard-to-recognize-if-you-re-only-looking-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would not have succeeded as a comedian had I not had some hugely lucky breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-would-not-have-succeeded-as-a-comedian-had-i-not-had-some-hugely/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [The problem was that Panama technically belonged to Colombia, which refused to sign a treaty leasing it to the United States. So Roosevelt sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-problem-was-that-panama-technically-belonged-to-colombia-which/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More by Steve Blank > [There are no facts inside the building so get the hell outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/there-are-no-facts-inside-the-building-so-get-the-hell-outside/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [You need to ask yourself, ‘Where do you want to work: startups, mid-size or large companies?’ If you find yourself debating the ‘startup versus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/you-need-to-ask-yourself-where-do-you-want-to-work-startups-mid-size/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [A business model describes how your company creates, delivers and captures value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/a-business-model-describes-how-your-company-creates-delivers-and/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [We now know that something between 85 and 90 percent of most software product features are unwanted and unneeded by customers. That is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/we-now-know-that-something-between-85-and-90-percent-of-most-software/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [“The first customer ship date does not mean the company understands its customers or how to market or sell to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/the-first-customer-ship-date-does-not-mean-the-company-understands/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [The core tenant of what I teach is there are no facts inside the building. When we come up with a new idea, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/the-core-tenant-of-what-i-teach-is-there-are-no-facts-inside-the/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [For students to understand what the future of journalism is going to be, they're going to have to invent it. It's a big idea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/for-students-to-understand-what-the-future-of-journalism-is-going-to/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [When you're gone would you rather have your gravestone say, 'He never missed a meeting.' Or one that said, 'He was a great father.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/when-you-re-gone-would-you-rather-have-your-gravestone-say-he-never/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [No Plan Survives First Contact With Customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/no-plan-survives-first-contact-with-customers/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [Unless you have tested the assumptions in your business model first, outside the building, your business plan is just creative writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/unless-you-have-tested-the-assumptions-in-your-business-model-first/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [Startups don’t fail because they lack a product; they fail because they lack customers and a profitable business model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/startups-don-t-fail-because-they-lack-a-product-they-fail-because/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [The company that consistently makes and implements decisions rapidly gains a tremendous, often decisive, competitive advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/the-company-that-consistently-makes-and-implements-decisions-rapidly/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [Business plans are the tool existing companies use for execution. They are the wrong tool to search for a business model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/business-plans-are-the-tool-existing-companies-use-for-execution-they/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [Disruption on the first day always looks like a toy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/disruption-on-the-first-day-always-looks-like-a-toy/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [Startups are painful, stressful and at times demoralizing. You need to be a true believer in the vision of what you are doing. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/startups-are-painful-stressful-and-at-times-demoralizing-you-need-to/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) [Explore all 24 Steve Blank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. 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