A brief quote from an old podcast interview of Kurt Elling by Elysabeth Alfano.
KE: My luck has come from a lot of hard work, and a lot of desire, and wanting it more. You have to want it more. And you have to work for it harder.
EA: More than other people?
KE: Than anybody you meet. You have to work harder, you have to be more disciplined, you have to be smarter, you have to have more heart, you have to be able to take it on the chin and keep going, and you have to, you know, figure it out.
All things being equal, you make your own luck, and you make it by hustling.
Watch a longer portion of the interview here, or listen to the entire conversation on your favorite podcast app by searching for The Dinner Party.