Everyone loves the Jack Ma story. The former English teacher was rejected by dozens of job interviewers, famously by KFC, only to build one of the world’s biggest tech empires. It’s the ultimate frog to prince tale that begs the question: “How can I be like him?”

Is there a magic lamp? Like, a Feng Shui hack ? No, is the short answer. In the world of Chinese metaphysics, success for the likes of Jack Ma comes from their alignment as part of a trinity: Heaven Luck, Earth Luck, and Man Luck. Here is the long answer:

Heaven Luck: The Script You’re Given 

Let’s get this out of the way: a metaphysics practitioner cannot turn you into Jack Ma. As one practitioner bluntly puts it: if an incompetent person asks for this, the first consultation should be at a mental institution.

Heaven Luck is your BaZi chart, the snapshot of universal energies at play when you were born. It captures your potential, and current strengths and limitations. The likes of Jack Ma, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates are said to be ‘chosen by Heaven’, meaning their charts show their capacity for making an impact in the world.

A practitioner’s job is to read the script you were given, not to storm the cosmic casting office and demand your role be rewritten from “Villager #3” to “Epic World-Changing Hero.”  The roles of Jack, Elon and Bill have already been cast.

Earth Luck: Land of Plenty

But being a genius isn’t enough if you’re in the wrong place. Earth Luck is about you being in your land of opportunity when it comes calling. Jack Ma’s genius was perfectly timed for the dawn of the internet in China and its colossal, yet untapped market. He was standing at the epicenter of a technological and economic earthquake.

It’s a funny thing to observe. A person can have a brilliant idea, but if the timing or location is off, it goes nowhere. Being the world’s greatest ice salesman in the Arctic won’t make you a fortune. Jack Ma’s success wasn’t just about his vision; he had it in the exact right place at the right moment.

Man Luck:  The Secret Saucemaker

This is the part of the story we admire but conveniently forget while wishing for success. Man Luck is about our choices, and grit, passion, and sheer, bloody-mindedness.

This is Jack Ma, the man who was rejected by KFC.

Think about that for a moment. For most of us, being turned down for a job at a fast-food chain would be a humbling experience, at best. At worst, it would be a sign to rethink our reason for being. For him, it was just another Tuesday. He kept going. That illogical refusal to quit in the face of constant rejection is Grade Triple-A Man Luck in action.

Those ‘chosen by Heaven’ tend to be self-driven. Heaven often tortures those destined for greatness, observed the sage Mencius. It’s like that line from the movie: Life finds a way. Because they live it totally.

So, while some see a rejection as “I guess it’s not meant to be,” the Jack Ma’s of the world think, “Their loss. Next.” They make their own secret sauce.

Featured Image:  PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images