Lately, my luck seems to be on the upswing, so I decided to read one more book while I was at it. The author’s profound insights into destiny and explanations about the ‘connections’ we encounter in life offered teachings that were universally applicable, transcending Eastern and Western religions and cultures.

First, upon seeing the interpretation that ‘운(運)’ in destiny signifies movement while ‘명(命)’ denotes something predetermined, I looked into how this might differ in English. Destiny and Fate came to mind. Examining the nuance difference between the two words, Destiny felt closer to the ‘destination’ guided by fate, while Fate carried a stronger sense of an ‘inevitable outcome’. In other words, I wondered if Destiny represents the moving ‘운’, and Fate the predetermined ‘명’ from birth.

If one’s innate country, family, and personality are the accumulated records of the past related to ‘destiny’, then the ‘luck’ that shapes the future self depends on which path one walks and whom one meets. The author emphasizes the importance of this very ‘connection’. The tips on how to distinguish and deal with the benefactors who lead one to a good path and the ill-fated connections that lead one astray were immensely helpful. It also made me think that perhaps ‘indirect encounters’—like reading about great books or historical figures—can be just as important as direct face-to-face meetings.

The author identifies ‘direction’ and ‘timing’ as key elements for creating good fortune. Just as a farmer’s choice of seeds (direction) and when to plant them (timing) determines the harvest, the same applies to investing. Buying real estate at its peak and hoping for good results is like sowing seeds in midsummer and expecting a bountiful autumn harvest. This is something I’ve felt keenly while investing in stocks. Buying stocks with low growth potential at their most expensive price and hoping for luck is essentially choosing the wrong direction and timing. (I recall recently investing in gold; the direction was right, but the timing was a bit off.)

That’s why, even today, to create my own luck, I diligently save and study, investing even small amounts to prepare for the impending financial crisis. I do so with the constant awareness that a real estate bubble, a prolonged real economy downturn, and the resulting bubble collapse and stagnation could strike at any moment.