Why Most Leaders Fail: They Confuse Luck with Preparation

Opportunities don't wait for the unprepared.

I've watched countless talented professionals miss career-defining moments—not because they lacked ability, but because they weren't ready when the moment arrived. There's a critical difference between a random chance and a genuine opportunity: your level of preparedness.

Here's the truth most leadership advice won't tell you: natural talent is overrated. Strategic preparation is everything.

The Preparation Paradox

In our instant-gratification culture, preparation feels outdated. Why invest months or years developing skills when you could be networking your way to the next opportunity? Because when that opportunity finally shows up, it will demand capabilities you can't fake, relationships you can't manufacture overnight, and judgment you can only develop through experience.

As leadership strategist Huni Hunfjord puts it: "Expecting results will inspire you to prepare for the situation that you are expecting. By preparing, you have already practiced what it will feel like when the situation arrives."

This is why some leaders thrive under pressure while others crumble. The difference isn't courage—it's preparation.

What Real Preparation Looks Like

Authentic preparation requires three non-negotiables:

Relentless Commitment to Growth

Average leaders prepare for the role they have. Exceptional leaders prepare for the role they want. This means continuously developing skills that seem irrelevant to your current position but essential for your next one.

Intentional Practice of Difficult Conversations

Leadership isn't about managing when everything goes right—it's about leading when everything goes wrong. Practice delivering difficult feedback, making unpopular decisions, and having uncomfortable conversations before you're forced to have them.

Strategic Self-Awareness

Know your limitations, and have a plan for addressing them. Preparation isn't about becoming perfect; it's about becoming ready. That means building teams that complement your weaknesses and systems that support your strengths.

The Long Game

Leadership preparation isn't a sprint—it's a career-long commitment to becoming the person your future opportunities will require. This means making sacrifices that others won't, studying when others are socializing, and investing in skills that won't pay off for years.

The moment you step into "real world", you're playing for keeps. There's no graceful exit from decisions that affect people's livelihoods, no do-overs on choices that shape organizational culture, no second chances to earn trust once you've lost it.

As author Idowu Koyenikan reminds us: "Opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared."

Your Preparation Strategy

The leaders who consistently capitalize on breakthrough opportunities are those who:

• Invest in capabilities before they need them

• Build relationships before they need them

• Develop judgment through deliberate practice

• Create systems that support consistent performance

• Maintain readiness as a daily discipline, not a last-minute scramble

The Bottom Line

Your legacy isn't determined by the opportunities that come your way—it's determined by how prepared you are when they arrive. While others are hoping for their big break, exceptional leaders are systematically building the capabilities that turn every opportunity into a breakthrough.

The question isn't whether opportunities will come. The question is whether you'll be ready when they do.

Stop waiting for permission to prepare for the leader you're becoming. Your future self is counting on the work you do today.