One of the most powerful forces in shaping your life isn't talent, or money, or connections, but simply showing up.
By "showing up," I mean putting yourself in situations where interesting things can happen, even—or especially—when you're not explicitly invited.
Most people don't do this. They wait for invitations, for permission, for someone to tell them it's okay to be somewhere or do something. But if you look at the lives of successful people, you'll often find a pattern of them not waiting for permission.
The world tends to reward those who show up. So much of life—opportunities, relationships, insights—comes from being in the right place at the right time. And you can radically increase your odds of this happening by simply showing up more often.
There are a few reasons why this works:
It puts you in the path of serendipity. If you're not there, nothing can happen to you.
It signals seriousness. Showing up says "I care about this" in a way that mere words can't.
It creates its own luck. The more you show up, the more chances you have for something good to happen.
It builds momentum. Each time you show up, it gets easier to do it again.
Now, I'm not suggesting you disregard all social norms. That's not showing up; that's being a nuisance. The art is in recognizing opportunities that are technically open but that most people are too timid to seize.
For example, many events like conferences or hackathons aren't open to the public, but by showing up, you might meet someone who could help you gain access to that or a future one.
Or even job applications. Anyone can apply online. But by creating a product with the company's tech, or cold reaching out to an executive, you could stand out and probably get a direct interview.
The beauty of this approach is that it's accessible to anyone. You don't need special talents or resources to show up. You just need courage and persistence.
Of course, showing up isn't always comfortable. It often means putting yourself in situations where you feel out of place or underqualified. But that discomfort is often a sign that you're in a place where you can grow.
So next time you hear about an interesting event, or have an idea for a project, or see a problem you think you might be able to solve, don't wait for an invitation.
Show up.