mrpink essays

The Land of False Prophets

Many key decisions seem planned, but they’re often intuition and serendipity at work. Listen to others — but remember, the important decisions will always be yours.

Let me start by apologizing to every founder who asks me specific questions and ends up getting incomplete answers.
The truth is that every case is unique, and it’s impossible to offer a response that captures all variables.
And there’s one factor most people underestimate — yet it plays a crucial role in our lives and startups: luck.

We often hear phrases like “luck is for the mediocre” or “you make your own luck.”But that’s an illusion.There are forces outside our control: random events, unexpected circumstances, and probabilities that shape our destiny more than we’d like to admit.Luck isn’t something we manufacture; it simply happens.

Of course, we can increase our odds of success by exposing ourselves to opportunities — but luck, at its core, is what lies beyond our control and still affects us.Many successful people have been lucky, though they may not always acknowledge it.And yes, they knew how to seize that luck when it came.

When we look back, we tend to rationalize our decisions and tell the story in a more flattering light. It’s almost instinctive: we convince ourselves we succeeded because we were visionary, or because we followed a perfect plan.In reality, most of our actions are intuitive — almost random.

And when someone asks how we did it, we respond with the most logical and heroic version we can construct.It’s not malice; it’s human nature.We’re wired to tell stories. Narratives give meaning to our existence and define who we are.But that also means we don’t always understand what truly led to success. We underestimate luck, external factors, and unique circumstances.

Think about this: for every great startup you see, there were two or three others with similar ideas, resources, and talent, competing at the same time.The difference between success and failure often comes down to a couple of lucky breaks — or simply being in the right place, with the right people, at the right time.

What to Do in a World Full of False Prophets

Here’s what I tell founders: listen, learn — but focus more on the process than on universal truths.There are no absolute rules.The success stories you hear, the advice from those who’ve “been there,” the supposed formulas that guarantee results — none of them necessarily apply to your case.

Every startup is unique, because every context is unique.What worked for one founder in another industry, at another time, doesn’t guarantee it will work for you now.

Trust your instinct.

Listen to the prophets — but filter them. Take little, act more. Focus on what really matters: the problem you chose to solve with your startup.
That reason why you invest your time, capital, and emotional energy into this journey.

Remember: this is your movie. You’re the lead actor. Don’t just copy someone else’s script. Write your own.

A Final Reminder

The entrepreneurial path is lonely and complex.You’ll be surrounded by good advice, fascinating stories, and rules that seem absolute.But in the end, what truly matters is your ability to adapt, to learn, and to trust yourself enough to keep moving forward.

Make less external noise and more internal listening.Pay attention to what’s happening around you, experiment with your ideas, and move with confidence.

Luck may not always be on your side — but at least you’ll know the decisions were yours.

After all, this is your story. Write it however you want — but live it with authenticity.