What I Wish I Knew about Luck: A Crash Course on Turning Aspirations Into Achievements

By Tina Seelig

The bestselling author of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20's engaging and practical guide to how to become lucky, based on her classes at Stanford University and her popular TED talk.

Much of what we call luck is the result of deliberate actions and consistent efforts. As Tina Seelig shared in her popular TED Talk, luck is like the wind, constantly blowing, often unpredictable, and always in motion. To catch the winds of luck, you need to construct your sail by doing the internal work that sets the stage for success; recruit your crew by bringing others along; and hoist your sail by acting in ways that lead you closer to your goals. With these practical tools in hand, the winds of luck carry you toward the future you dream to live.
What I Wish I Knew About Luck is filled with memorable examples, personal anecdotes, and behavioral science research. You will learn:

how to stay steady in turbulent watershow to sail past your limitshow to see problems as opportunitieshow to build ladders to larger winshow to clear clutter on your path to successhow to turn setbacks into stepping stoneshow luck is amplified over the course of a lifetime

As a professor at Stanford University, with expertise on leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation, Dr. Seelig teaches her students how to see and seize opportunities, especially those hidden in plain sight. Opportunities are everywhere, waiting to be discovered

PRAISE FOR TINA SEELIG

"A mega-classic...Whether you're starting your career or are in the thick of it, the bold ideas in this book will steel your spine and fire your imagination." - Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive
"Tina is doing us all a big favor by giving us a roadmap to life "-- Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Alltop and author of Think Remarkable
"Seelig is a sharp observer and a gentle and thoughtful writer. Recollections of her own circuitous career path, along with observations of behavior of friends, family, students and colleagues are fertile ground for her." -- Miami Herald
"It's almost impossible to read the first line of Tina Seelig's book and not grab pen and paper to jot down a river of pent-up ideas and possibilities . . . A galvanizing document, it] gives us -- more than anything else -- permission to develop our dreams."-- Santa Cruz Sentinel
"Tina Seelig is one of the most creative and inspiring teachers at Stanford. Her book ought to be required reading."-- Robert Sutton, Stanford University Professor and author The No-Asshole Rule
"Few people have done as much to champion innovative thinking as Tina Seelig. The principles in her book will surely spark new ideas. It is a must-read for the next generation of entrepreneurs and seasoned veterans alike."-- David Kelley, Founder IDEO
"Tina is the most inspirational creativity voice I know. Her book is much better than a whack on the side of your head. It's a whack on the side of your soul " -- Geoffrey Moore, author of Zone to Win
"Anybody who wants to live an entrepreneurial life filled with purpose and passion needs to read this book. It's chockfull of practical tools and tips to bring out the best in each of us." -- Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and author of The Rise of the Rest
"This is a great guide to moving in more exciting, creative, and fulfilling directions, written by a person who is an expert at doing so. But if Tina Seelig had known any more when she was 20, the world probably could not now contain her. "-- Jim Adams, author of Conceptual Blockbusting
"Wise, witty and packed with stories of those who are making a difference and some who are making a fortune...The only trouble is that you will need two dozen copies to give to everyone." -- Patricia Ryan Madson, author of Improv Wisdom

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0063471361
• ISBN13: 9780063471368
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.