It’s Not Luck. It’s Legacy.

By Dr. Tomi Mitchell

I don’t believe in luck.

I know—that’s not exactly the feel-good mantra of the moment. In a world that clings to the myth of the “overnight success” and doles out praise like, “Wow, you’re so lucky!”, it might seem almost cynical to challenge that narrative.

But let’s set the record straight.

What appears to be luck is often just invisible labour. The kind that doesn’t photograph well. The kind you can’t hashtag or turn into a trending soundbite. It’s the sweat behind closed doors. It’s what happens when no one is clapping and you choose to keep going anyway.

If you’ve ever looked at someone’s success and whispered to yourself, “They’re just lucky,”—I want you to pause and look again. Because chances are, you’re not seeing the whole picture. You’re only catching the harvest, not the years of seed-planting and soil tilling that came before.

I say that with conviction because I’ve been on the receiving end of those kinds of comments.

“You’re so lucky to have your own business.”

“Must be nice to have so many opportunities.”

“Things always seem to work out for you, don’t they?”

But here’s the truth: it’s not luck. It’s legacy.

It’s the quiet decision to keep going. It’s being faithful when no one is watching. It’s choosing growth, choosing preparation, choosing to become—when your life feels more like a question mark than an exclamation point.

And if I can be vulnerable with you for a moment, let me pull back the curtain and show you what that really looked like for me.

The Myth of Timing

We’ve all heard the saying: “Success is about being in the right place at the right time.”

Wrong.

Success, I’ve learned, is about being the right person—no matter the place, no matter the time. Because when you become that person, the kind of person who is ready, does the work, carries the calling, opportunities don’t just show up. They recognize you.

You don’t rise to the occasion. You fall to the level of your training.

That’s a principle I’ve carried with me in every chapter—whether I’m in a white coat diagnosing a patient, in heels speaking on a stage, or in sweats answering my daughter’s tough bedtime questions. Whether it was in medicine, motherhood, or my business, I prepared even when there was no audience, even when I had no idea what, exactly, I was preparing for.

There were late nights when I read chapters that didn’t pertain to my specialty. Weekends spent at conferences where I paid my own way, quietly hoping the investment would make sense later. I studied. I practiced. I invested in tools, coaches, and skills long before any return on investment showed up on paper.

People called it extra. Obsessive. Some even said it was a waste of time.

But then the doors started opening.

When Opportunity Knocked, I’d Already Turned the Handle

Some of the most transformative opportunities in my life didn’t come because I was out chasing them. They came seemingly out of nowhere. A phone call. An email. An invitation.

But I wasn’t stumbling into them unthinkingly. I wasn’t crossing my fingers or hoping I could fake it.

I was ready.

And that readiness? That’s not something you can fabricate in the moment. That’s not something you scramble to find when the spotlight lands on you. That’s cultivated. Slowly. Silently. With intention.

Still, when people saw the outcome, they called it luck.

Let me be clear: I am covered by grace. I do not for a second discount divine favour. But even grace, I believe, has a dance partner—and her name is preparation.

Grace opens the door. Preparation is what allows you to walk through it without tripping over your own doubt.

Stop Hiding Your Gifts

We’ve been taught to shrink.

Be humble. Wait for your turn. Don’t shine too bright.

I say—shine anyway.

That passage in scripture asks, “Do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl?” Of course not. They placed it on a stand, where it illuminates the whole room.

So why are so many of us walking around with lit torches, hiding them under baskets woven from fear, self-doubt, and the need to please people who were never meant to understand us?

Let me say this gently but clearly: you are too much for the wrong people. That’s not a defect. That’s discernment.

I’ve had to relearn this lesson many times. I wasn’t given these gifts, passions, or this voice to hoard them in silence. I wasn’t meant to water myself down to make it easier for others to digest my brilliance.

When I began to share my voice fully—even when it was shaky, even when it felt “too soon”—things changed. Not overnight. But steadily. I began to attract alignment. Purpose. People. Yes, and more opportunities, too.

Of course, people started calling me “lucky.”

Let them.

Choose Excellence Over Approval

It’s easier to call someone lucky than to acknowledge the discipline, the grit, the self-leadership it takes to show up with excellence when nobody’s watching.

But I’ll tell you a secret: approval will never pay off the way excellence will.

Dare to commit to your own development:

• Study when there’s no test.

• Practice when no one’s watching.

• Speak before you feel fully ready.

• Walk into rooms like you belong there—because you do.

I’ve walked into rooms where I was not the most “qualified” on paper. I’ve stood on stages with people whose bios were ten times longer than mine. And yet—I was ready because I’d done the work before the opportunity showed up. Because I didn’t wait for a formal invitation to start becoming the person I knew I was meant to be.

They’ll Call You Lucky—Let Them

People don’t see the tears you cried on your steering wheel. They don’t know about the opportunities you turned down because they didn’t align with your values. They don’t witness the hours you poured into mastering something only to feel ignored.

They see the fruit, not the fight.

Let them call it luck.

Because we know the truth: it’s legacy.

It’s years of micro-decisions. It’s faithfulness in small things. It’s believing in yourself long enough for the rest of the world to catch up.

Excellence Isn’t a Title—It’s a Lifestyle

You don’t need a fancy title to walk in excellence. You don’t need a specific income bracket, or a verified checkmark, or letters after your name.

You just need to start living like the future version of you already exists.

Speak with clarity, even if you're still learning the language of your industry.Show up like someone who belongs, even if you’re still carving out your space.Dress like the room matters—even if it's just you at your kitchen table writing your dreams down.

Because energy doesn’t lie, when you walk in that kind of self-respect, the world adjusts accordingly.

Legacy Leaves Clues

So, what does legacy actually look like?

• It’s the kindness you extend when no one’s watching.

• The course you take during your lunch hour matters to you because your growth matters to you.

• The late-night journaling session where you sort through the noise and find your truth.

• The message you send to a mentee to remind them they’re not invisible.

• The repeated decision to get back up after every setback.

Legacy is built in silence, in solitude, in intention. It is slow. And holy. And often misunderstood.

If you’re waiting for your moment, I’ll lovingly challenge you: stop waiting.

Your moment begins the moment you decide it already belongs to you.

Final Thoughts: Dare to Be Misunderstood

Some people will only see your harvest. They’ll assume you’ve never struggled, never doubted, never wanted to walk away.

They won’t see the full cost—and honestly, they don’t need to.

You didn’t show up for applause. You showed up because something deeper within you whispered,

“This is who you are.”

So stop waiting for permission. Stop calling it luck.

Call it preparation.

Call it vision.

Call it faith in action.

Because the world doesn’t need more lucky people, it needs more people who were willing to prepare—quietly, consistently, intentionally.

It needs you.

So show up. Shine. Speak. Serve. Even if your voice shakes.

Because your legacy?

It was never about luck.

It was always on purpose.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider for guidance on your health.

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