It’s lame conduct to pick a single phrase out of a much longer comment, wrap that phrase in a new sentence to make it mean something entirely different to what was originally written, then deride that as “absurd”.

Luck is not objectively definable or measurable, and is highly contextual. Was the pandemic bad luck or good luck for Airbnb? It instantly caused hundreds of millions of dollars of lost bookings, forcing staff layoffs and requiring an emergency $1b loan to keep the company alive. But now it’s reported their bookings are stronger than ever, due to people’s different living/working arrangements in response to the pandemic. Maybe it would look like terrible luck if the company/founders hadn’t been formidable and skilled enough to navigate through the initial shock in March-April, leading to the company collapsing. Thanks to getting through to the point where they now have higher-than-ever bookings, it looks like great luck.

Anyway, clearly the point of my sentence about luck was that good luck is necessary but not sufficient; any amount of luck, however you define/measure it, is worthless without strong founders who can take full advantage of it.

If you are successful, it's gratifying to think that your circumstances are as much about things inside of your control as outside. If you are not, the opposite is a comfort. I find myself to be moderately successful due to a hearty helping of merit with an enormous mountain of luck.

I totally agree with this. In terms of academic achievement, it's more of "where you were" at the time and overall competency, but reality is much more brutal. The luck factor is well-known in financial circles and business circles alike (those two are tied to the hip). This is why the adages "Control what you can" and "Control your destiny" are still hold true today. As arrogant as they sound, at least they emphasize pushing towards making choice in the face of adversity. Accepting luck is an important piece of humility.