the definition of luck i like to use is "when hard work and opportunity meet". there has been a lot of both but i can't stress how much opportunity has presented itself.
i don't believe i deserve 10x the income that many people earn. i do believe i can create 10x the value...but it doesn't seem right that the correlation of rewards should be so drastic. i couldn't be a ceo of a large company but i don't think they deserve 10x my income either.
I spent those late teens to mid thirties actively trying to have significant impact.
The most relevant example I can provide is that I was a very strong advocate for racial equality since my teens. Recently after George Floyd's death and the mainstreaming of Black Lives Matter, I told my wife that I don't have the energy to get involved - though I did participate in several marches with my kids (more for them than me or black people - because I'm convinced of the impact). I applaud those doing impactful work .... and perhaps my focus on making an impact had impact which I did not see. I hope it did.
The average relative to wherever you live. Doesn't really matter since the question applies equally anywhere there is financial inequality. Which likely covers much of the world at this point.
I make way more than average - $500k/year. It used to bother me but it bothers me less nowadays. My late teens through my mid thirties were spent being relatively very generous to worthy causes and people I would meet who were down on their luck. I gave a close family member doing charity work in Africa $80,000 so they could stay there and give their kids a good education.
Looking back - I don't think any of it made much difference - though I have no regrets.
Now that I'm in my early 40s I've sort of lost the energy to care so much. I empathize with people struggling but sort of throw my hands up in the air.
I've shifted my focus toward my family and I feel pretty good about that.
It feels like I'm having A LOT more impact by investing time and money into my family than I was able to by investing in others and their families.