TL;DR
A guide from The ReadME Project argues that making your work public raises the odds of unexpected positive outcomes by increasing what it calls your 'Luck Surface Area.' The piece recommends doing tangible work, sharing it widely, and treating publishing as a learnable skill.
What happened
The ReadME Project published guidance urging creators and developers to publish their work as a practical way to invite more serendipity. Aaron Francis, writing for the project, frames 'luck' as unexpected, beneficial events and points to the concept of a 'Luck Surface Area' — an idea credited to Jason Roberts — which multiplies the volume of work you do by the number of people you tell. The article breaks the process into two halves: produce work (projects at home or learnings at work) and publish it (blogs, GitHub, newsletters, social platforms, podcasts, etc.). It also addresses common barriers — perfectionism, fear of judgment, and reluctance to “market” oneself — and encourages sharing progress as well as finished work. Publishing is presented not as a one-off tactic but as a skill to develop that increases the number of opportunities for positive, unplanned outcomes.
Why it matters
- Making work public can transform private effort into visible signals that attract opportunities such as invites, job leads, or community connections.
- Framing luck as something influenced by behavior (doing and telling) gives creators an actionable approach rather than leaving success to chance.
- Treating publishing as a skill reduces the psychological barriers that stop many people from sharing useful work and insights.
- Sharing incremental progress as well as finished projects broadens what counts as publishable and can sustain audience engagement.
Key facts
- The guidance appears on The ReadME Project and is authored by Aaron Francis.
- The article defines luck simply as 'something unexpected and good' and lists examples relevant to open source and creative work.
- It cites Jason Roberts' concept of 'Luck Surface Area' and restates the informal formula: Luck = Doing Things * Telling People.
- Two common reasons people don't publish are: they assume their work isn't worth sharing, or they haven't started at all.
- Suggested publishing venues include GitHub, personal blogs, newsletters, podcasts, Twitter, forums, and YouTube.
- If workplace specifics are confidential, the piece recommends sharing concepts, lessons, and takeaways instead.
- The author recommends starting with the smallest possible step to overcome inertia and build momentum.
- Publishing is described as a learnable skill; authors should share wins, failures, and thinking processes rather than waiting for perfection.
- The ReadME Project describes itself as amplifying voices in the open source community.
What to watch next
- Whether regular publishing leads to measurable career outcomes for an individual (not confirmed in the source).
- The impact of different publishing platforms or formats on the size of one's Luck Surface Area (not confirmed in the source).
- How publishing cadence or content depth affects the quality and frequency of opportunities that arise (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Luck Surface Area: A concept that describes how the amount of serendipity you experience grows with the volume of work you do and the number of people you tell about it.
- Publishing: Making work or ideas publicly accessible through channels such as blogs, repositories, social media, newsletters, podcasts, or video platforms.
- Open source software (OSS): Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance, often shared on platforms like GitHub.
- Doing Things: The practical act of building, experimenting, writing, or solving problems that produces material you can share.
Reader FAQ
Does publishing guarantee success?
No. The source frames publishing as a way to increase odds of positive, unexpected outcomes, not as a guarantee.
What counts as publishing?
Any public outlet beyond your local files counts: GitHub repos, blogs, newsletters, podcasts, social posts, forums, or video channels.
What if I can’t share specifics from my job?
The piece advises sharing concepts, lessons, and takeaways rather than confidential specifics.
Should I wait until my work is perfect before sharing?
No. The article encourages sharing progress, failures, and thought processes rather than waiting for a perfect final artifact.
Publishing your work increases your luck FOR EVERY SNARKY COMMENT, THERE ARE 10X AS MANY PEOPLE ADMIRING YOUR WORK. Artwork: Ariel Davis Aaron Francis // MARKETING ENGINEER, TUPLE The ReadME…
Sources
- Publishing your work increases your luck
- 7 Strategies Writers Can Use to Increase Their “Luck …
- Just start: Increasing your luck surface area
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