This hidden determinant of success is much more important than many seem to think.

From the desk of Miles Everson:

Happy Friday!

I’m excited for today’s "Mindfulness by Miles."

In these articles, I talk about health, career longevity, AI, business, and the future of work. My goal is to equip you with the insights needed to navigate both your personal and professional life with greater clarity and energy.

Today, we’ll talk about one of the most underrated determinants of success.

Intrigued?

Continue reading below.

Warren Buffett, known as one of the world’s greatest investors, spent decades building Berkshire Hathaway into a global powerhouse.

The conglomerate, which Buffett transformed from a textile manufacturer in 1965, is one of Wall Street’s most watched companies, not only because of its ability to deliver strong returns and outsized gains but also because of its massive cash pile amounting to nearly USD 400 billion.

This massive cash pile enables Berkshire Hathaway to pounce on opportunities—something that most funds today don’t have the luxury of.

Going back to Buffett…

Though he stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO on December 31, 2025, he played a huge role in turning the conglomerate into the juggernaut it is today.

Buffett’s successful investing career has been the stuff of legend. Many have written about his career extensively, talking about his life and how he attained his success.

Among the most cited factors for his success is his adherence to value investing .

Value investing, a school of thought founded by Buffett’s mentor, Benjamin Graham, is an investing strategy that emphasizes the acquisition of equities based prices that don’t reflect their underlying worth.

While Buffett’s use of value investing tends to grab the most attention, did you know he actually credits his success to something else entirely?

It’s not ambition.

It’s not a deep knowledge of the financial markets.

It’s not even his penchant for investing—a trait he nurtured during his younger years.

So, what is it exactly?

LUCK.

Luck Plays an Important Role in Success

Photo from Unsplash

Buffet said “Out of eight billion people, I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world.”

Success, from Buffett’s point of view, doesn’t just boil down to talent nor skill. To him, circumstances can also determine a person’s ability to succeed.

This brings us to an important point.

Success is often attributed to traits like ambition, hard work, knowledge, and other positive traits. However, what’s often not taken into account is the role luck has to play.

Let’s take Buffett’s life for example: In a prior investor letter, he cited societal advantages such as his birthplace and background as some of the determinants to his success.

We’re not discrediting the importance of talent, wits, and hard work in attaining success. But we also want to remind just how crucial luck can be.

That said, let’s assume that you are lucky in one or many aspects of your life. What do you do with it?

The first step is being humble about it and acknowledging the role it plays in your life. Once you’ve done that, make the most out of the luck you’ve been given .

For Buffett, this meant working hard to accumulate the knowledge, connections, and other skills needed to become a successful investor.

… and for you, making the most out of your luck could involve doing something similar to what Buffett did

The bottom line here is to never take the luck you have for granted .

Acknowledge it, be grateful for it, and use it to make a positive impact in your life and that of others.

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