By Joe Byerly
When we attain power, we often see it through the protagonist’s lens: “This is my story. I climbed the ranks. I earned this.”
And while that may be partially true, it’s rarely the whole story. What’s often missing is the hand of Fortune—something earlier generations saw clearly, and we too often ignore.
Throughout Lives, Plutarch sees Fortune’s handiwork in the rise and fall of many men—both good and bad. In his accounts, Fortune shapes, gives, takes, and at times, works directly against them. As he points out, “Fortune is changeable, and as it changes it tempts men whose hostility is forever fuelled by hatred with fresh hopes of success and calls them to new ventures.”
Fortune feeds ambition, and often gives us the appearance that our accomplishments are the fruits of our own feats.
As Fortune presents us with success, we develop our myth. We replace humility with hubris, one of the greatest sins the ancient Greeks believed a person could commit. “To the Greeks hubris was a special kind of pride.” wrote Stephen Fry in his book Mythos, “It often led mortals to defy the gods, bringing about inevitable punishment of one kind or another.”
When we forget about Fortune, we:
Forget that we were born in the right place at the right time.
Forget the people who gave us a hand.
Forget we just happened to be available when the job opened up.
This amnesia matters—especially when Fortune gives us power.
Power granted by Fortune, and reinforced with hubris, becomes fragile. It blinds us. It isolates us. And it tempts us to look down on others—forgetting how easily the roles could be reversed.
And when that happens, Fortune may return—like a distracted parent suddenly catching their child with a hand in the cookie jar. Only this time, she turns the wheel in the other direction.
I looked Fortune in the eye so many times throughout my military career. Yes, I worked my butt off. Yes, I prepared myself for positions of greater responsibility. But more often than not, it was a chance meeting or a perfectly timed assignment that gave me the boost I needed most—things I didn’t plan, couldn’t predict, and certainly didn’t earn on my own. Yes, Fortune favors the prepared mind, but sometimes it doesn’t give a sh*t.
I also saw people fall based on Fortune’s whims. They worked for the wrong boss. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying we should sit on our hands and let life happen to us. But I am saying that by remembering Fortune’s role in our lives, we are less likely to become arrogant, less likely to beat ourselves up when we do everything right, but the outcome doesn’t pan out the way we wanted, and less likely to judge others when Fortune works against them.
By recognizing Fortune, we start seeing her handiwork everywhere.
And when we see it, we leave hubris behind and return to humility’s arms. We remain grateful for the boosts we didn’t earn. We extend compassion to those tripped up through no fault of their own. Instead of turning our backs or profiting from their fall, we help them up, dust off their jacket, and offer a word or two of encouragement. Because they may be the first ones on the scene when Fortune knocks us off the platform.
Remembering Fortune doesn’t make us weak—it makes us wise. It reminds us that power isn’t just a reward; it’s a responsibility. A chance to show grace. A chance to lift others up. A chance to work with Fortune in someone else’s story.
And we’d do well to remember: it can all be gone tomorrow.
Joe Byerly is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of service, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and command of a cavalry squadron in Europe. He earned numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Legion of Merits, Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. In 2013, Joe founded From the Green Notebook.
A passionate advocate for self-knowledge through reading and reflection, he authored The Leader’s 90-Day Notebook and co-authored My Green Notebook: “Know Thyself” Before Changing Jobs, a resource for leaders seeking greater self-awareness. If this post resonated with you or sparked any questions, feel free to reach out to him at Joe@fromthegreennotebook.com.
