By Michael Yardney May 29, 2025

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Your Greatest Asset Isn’t Property — It’s Perspective

Michael Yardney's Commentary
Your Greatest Asset Isn’t Property — It’s Perspective

Key takeaways

You’ve already beaten the odds — your existence is a 1 in 400 trillion miracle.

Being born in Australia gives you privileges many in the world can only dream of.

Gratitude is a superpower — recognising your luck builds resilience and opens doors.

Perspective is everything — success starts by realising how lucky you already are.

Now’s the time to act — the question isn’t if you’re lucky, it’s how you’ll use it.

Have you ever paused for a moment and truly considered the odds of you being here, right now?

I’m not talking about living in Australia, investing in property, or even your career path.

I mean the actual chance that you exist — that unique combination of DNA, personality, experience, and potential that makes you... you.

Because when you stop and think about it, your very existence is already a winning lottery ticket.

The ultimate lottery

Let’s take a step back.

Before you even had your first breath, you’d already won what Warren Buffett calls the “ovarian lottery.” And he’s not exaggerating.

Think about it: the odds of your parents meeting, falling in love, conceiving you, not just a child, but you specifically, are astronomical. Scientists have tried to quantify it, and while estimates vary, some suggest the chances are 1 in 400 trillion.

That’s 400,000,000,000,000!

Just to put that in perspective: that’s far less likely than winning the actual lottery... multiple times... while being struck by lightning.

And yet, here you are.

So, whether you feel lucky or not today, the math says you are.

Born into privilege (whether you see it or not)

Now, let’s layer on top of that the fact that you were born into a country like Australia.

No war-torn streets.

No widespread poverty.

Access to healthcare, education, clean water, safety, and freedom of choice.

You can own property, build a business, raise a family, travel the world, or reinvent yourself at any age.

Compared to much of the world’s population, that’s a form of privilege we often forget we have.

It’s easy to get caught up in what we don’t have — higher interest rates, rising living costs, or that property deal that slipped through your fingers — but if you zoom out, you start to see just how lucky we truly are.

We all have hurdles

Of course, none of this means life is easy.

Everyone faces setbacks.

Everyone has trauma, heartbreak, illness, or moments of deep doubt.

No one gets a perfectly smooth ride.

But knowing you’re lucky just to be here doesn’t downplay your struggles — it gives you perspective and fuel to move forward. It’s a reminder that if you’ve come this far, you’re capable of going further.

Luck vs. gratitude

There’s a powerful mindset shift that happens when you begin to recognise your luck.

It turns into gratitude.

And gratitude has a way of rewiring your thinking.

You start focusing less on what’s missing and more on what’s possible.

That’s when momentum kicks in.

This isn’t just positive thinking for the sake of it — studies have shown that people who actively practise gratitude are more resilient, healthier, and even more financially successful.

Why? Because gratitude gets your head in the right space to see opportunities and take action.

So... what will you do with your luck?

Here’s the big question: knowing you’ve already beaten the odds just to be alive, how will you use that gift?

Will you complain about the market, or will you learn how to play the game smarter?

Will you dwell on past mistakes, or will you build something better moving forward?

Will you consume more, or will you contribute something lasting to your family, your community, or your legacy?

The truth is, we’re all standing on a foundation of miraculous good fortune. Some of us just need to stop, notice it, and start acting like the luckiest people on earth — because, frankly, we are.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to envy others or feel behind. But when you realise that the greatest win has already happened — you’re here, breathing, thinking, with the freedom to shape your future — everything changes.

Don’t waste your win.

Use it.

About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.