Professor: More 'collisions' with strangers creates luck

Your luck might not be as random as you think, and changing it could be simpler than you ever imagined.

Professor Sean Johnson recently shared findings from clinical neurologist James Austin's book on luck that have people rethinking how opportunity works. Austin identified four types of luck, but one stands out as something we can actually control: luck from motion.

The concept, called "The Kettering Principle," suggests that chance favors people who keep moving. The more you interact with new ideas, people, and experiences, the more opportunities you create for positive outcomes. It's not magic or wishful thinking. It's math.

"When you're stationary, your probability of luck is limited to people you already know," Johnson explains in his viral Facebook post. "But when you increase your movement, your collision rate with people will increase."

The science backs this up. Psychologist Richard Wiseman spent ten years tracking people who described themselves as lucky versus unlucky. His surprising finding? Lucky people talked to strangers more often and were willing to change their routines and accept invitations.

Inventor Charles F. Kettering put it perfectly: "You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere."

Johnson offers concrete ways to create more collisions. Attend conferences and networking events. Share your ideas on social media platforms. Host dinners for six to eight people. Say yes to coffee meetings. Send thoughtful emails to people you admire but don't know yet.

He acknowledges the discomfort. After years of pandemic isolation, we've become "resting bodies" who need to overcome serious inertia. Leaving your comfort zone feels hard because it is hard.

Why This Inspires

This research transforms how we think about opportunity and control. Instead of waiting for luck to find us, we can actively create the conditions where good things become more likely. Every conversation with a stranger, every event we attend, every invitation we accept becomes a potential turning point.

The approach works whether you're building a business, looking for love, or simply hoping to stumble onto something new and exciting. Movement multiplies possibilities.

Some commenters pushed back, noting that introverts might find success differently or that more collisions could also mean more bad luck. They're not wrong. But the core insight remains powerful: you can't stumble onto anything while sitting down.

The prescription is clear: leave your house, vary your routine, talk to strangers, and create more collisions with the world around you.