Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.

Host: The soft glow of the café's lamps illuminated the table where Jack and Jeeny sat, each with a mug of coffee between them. The quiet chatter of other patrons blended into the background, but the conversation between the two of them had taken a deeper turn. Jack sat back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the side of his cup, a look of contemplation on his face.

Host: Finally, Jack broke the silence, his voice thoughtful and a little heavier than usual.

Jack: “I came across a quote today by Earl Wilson. He said, ‘Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.’ It made me pause. I’ve heard people say that success is a combination of hard work, skill, and timing. But Wilson’s quote makes it sound like luck is the biggest factor. It made me wonder — if success really is just luck, does it mean all our hard work doesn’t matter?”

Jeeny’s eyes softened, and she leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. Her voice, when it came, was calm but full of understanding.

Jeeny: “I think luck certainly plays a role, but I don’t think it’s the whole story. The way Wilson puts it — like asking a failure about luck — speaks to the idea that people who succeed often credit luck, while those who fail feel like it’s out of their control. The truth is, success and failure are rarely purely about luck. Hard work, persistence, and timing — those matter, too. But luck does have a way of tipping the scales, sometimes.”

Host: Jack nodded slowly, clearly absorbing her words. The quiet in the café seemed to deepen, as though they were both trying to untangle the implications of the quote.

Jack: “But what about when it feels like you’ve done everything right — put in the work, the effort, and still, things don’t go your way? It’s frustrating when you see people around you succeeding, and it feels like their success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”

Jeeny’s gaze remained steady, and she offered a gentle smile, her voice soft but resolute.

Jeeny: “I get that frustration. But even in those moments, luck isn’t everything. The work you’ve put in, the lessons you’ve learned along the way — those things shape you for the future. You might not succeed this time, but the experience you gain through failure builds something deeper in you. It prepares you for the moments when luck does swing your way. Success isn’t just about timing — it’s about resilience, too.”

Host: Jack’s fingers stilled on his cup, and he let her words settle in. There was a quiet realization on his face, as though he was beginning to see success and failure in a new light. The sound of spoons clinking softly against saucers, the murmurs of the café, felt like a distant background as their conversation deepened.

Jack: “So, it’s not just about the outcome. It’s about how you handle those moments, how you keep going even when things aren’t falling into place. I guess success isn’t just defined by winning — it’s about how you grow from the setbacks, too.”

Jeeny smiled warmly, her voice soft but confident.

Jeeny: “Exactly. You can’t control when luck happens, but you can control how you respond to it. The people who succeed aren’t just lucky — they’re prepared. They’ve worked for it, and when the right opportunity comes, they’re ready to take it.”

Host: Jack leaned back, a slight smile playing on his lips as the weight of the conversation settled in. The café around them, once busy, now felt still, as if the world outside had quieted down just for a moment. His earlier tension had eased, and the idea that success wasn’t purely about luck, but about resilience and preparation, was beginning to resonate.

Jack: “So maybe the trick is to stay ready. To keep working, even when it feels like success is slipping away. Luck may play a part, but it’s our ability to keep moving forward that makes the difference.”

Jeeny nodded, her eyes bright with encouragement.

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about being prepared to seize the opportunity when it arrives. You never know when luck might turn in your favor, but the more you’ve put into the process, the more likely you’ll be ready when it does.”

Host: The conversation lingered between them, a quiet understanding settling into the room. Jack’s expression had softened, his thoughts shifting from frustration to something more grounded — the realization that success is a combination of effort, timing, and the ability to adapt, no matter what life throws at you. The world outside continued on, but inside the café, there was a new sense of clarity between them. Success, it seemed, was as much about the work you put in as it was about being ready when the right moment arrived.