Stop Waiting for Luck to Find You


Hey Reader,

Have you ever make a connection so crazy it can’t be a coincidence?

As you know, I’ve been on a Friend Quest in London, pushing myself to do things I wouldn’t normally do to spark real connection.

Back in Paris, we met a group of Brits and traded emails (the kind you assume you’ll never use). Weeks later, we realized we were on the wrong train...not literally, but in life. We were in the wrong city for us. And the longer you stay on the wrong train, the more costly every stop becomes. So we cut the trip short and headed to London.

On a whim, I messaged those Brits: “Surprise, we’re in your city. Invite us somewhere.” I admit it's a slightly aggressive move, but that's the mindset I am in. And you know, they did. Shabbat dinner.

It was fun, warm, easy. Friend Quest: VICTORY. My toddler even managed to spill wine on their couch, so we’re basically family now.

But then something bigger happened.

Our hosts and our only other friend in London had actually met years ago, bonding while their mothers were in hospice...then lost touch. When we mentioned her name and FaceTimed her, the room went quiet, then tears.

It was one of the truly rare moments in life where everyone was like "how is this real?"

Now they’re reconnected. A new circle opened for her, not me.

“Serendipity isn’t about chance encounters. It’s about creating encounters that have a chance."

Was it a higher power? Was it luck? Or what I call serendipity—the ripple effects of putting yourself out there in a positive way.

👉 Watch the full Friend Quest clip to have your mind blown on IG


👥 The Friend
“Google didn’t start with a business plan...it started with two people willing to argue long enough to find common ground.”

In 1995, Larry Page almost didn’t tour Stanford. Sergey Brin almost didn’t volunteer to show him around. They both said yes anyway.

The tour was combative: eye-rolls, pushback, sparks. Most people bail at that kind of discomfort. But they kept engaging. That “random” afternoon turned into a collaboration, then a research paper, then a search engine that changed the world.

From the outside, it looks like chance. Look closer and you see two micro-choices: show up where you didn’t have to, and lean in when it would be easier to drift away.


🛠️ The Fix
Do one thing this week you wouldn’t normally do: the small, slightly awkward, “am I really sending this?” move:

  • “Invite me somewhere.”
  • “Who else should I meet?”
  • “Mind if I pull up one more chair?”

Serendipity isn’t luck. It’s the interest you earn on boldness. And the best part? The benefits don’t always land on you...they ripple to the people around you.


📚 The Reco
Book: Accidental Presidents by Jared Cohen

On the surface, it’s about eight vice presidents who suddenly became president. Read it and you’ll see a different story: none of them were “accidental.” They were already doing the unglamorous work: building relationships, staying close to the action, saying yes to hard assignments. So when history knocked, they were ready.

The lesson: luck isn’t given, it’s prepared for.

Buy the book on Amazon 👉[here]


Stop waiting for luck to find you. Create it.

Remember: What feels like chance is usually friendship doing its quiet work.

👉 Ever had a “how is this real?” moment of your own? Reply and tell me — I might share a few in a future issue.

See you next Wednesday,
Matt


PS: We just passed 5,000 subscribers in a few short months. I can’t thank you enough for being part of this. Every time you forward this to a friend, you help grow a movement built on one simple truth: friendship is the original life hack.

The Friendship Habit

Helping busy adults build better friendships — one small move at a time. From Matt Ritter, co-host of Man of the Year, the #1 podcast on adult friendship. Start the seven day challenge today— and make connection a habit. 🎧 Then download my bestselling Audible Original, The Buddy System, and start leveling up your friendships today.

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