I used to think I was lucky. And in a way, I am. But not in the scratch-a-ticket, win-the-jackpot kind of way.

I’ve always believed the best kind of luck is relationship luck, the people you meet who open a door or nudge you in the right direction. The kind you make by showing up, staying consistent, and treating people well.

It turns out, that kind of "luck" is really just positioning, persistence, and people skills.

 When I was in school trying to break into the games industry, my plan was basically to move to LA and hope something worked out. I got rejection after rejection. Most places didn’t even respond.

But instead of giving up, I kept going. I kept refining my work, improving my demo reel, applying again and again.

Eventually, someone pointed me toward a small local studio. I didn’t get the job I applied for. I was their second pick. But I stayed in touch. Kept moving forward.

A few months later, they called back and offered me a different role — one they weren’t even hiring for before. And even then, it almost didn’t happen. I showed up for my interview and the building was locked. I thought I blew it. Turns out, it was a holiday.

They gave me another shot. I nailed the interview. And that first job launched my career.

Was that luck? Maybe.

But luck didn’t build my portfolio. Luck didn’t keep me learning new tools. Luck didn’t write the follow-up email or knock on the door again.

That was consistency.

That was choosing a direction and sticking with it, even when it was hard.

The longer I’ve been around, the more I see the same pattern: Success doesn’t come from picking the right lottery numbers. It comes from doing the right things repeatedly, even when no one is watching. It comes from narrowing your focus instead of casting a wide net. From getting really good at one thing before trying to master ten. It comes from being the kind of person others want to work with, learn from, and take a chance on.