If you asked me what shaped my biggest decisions, I wouldn’t say luck or chance. I’d say the number 3.

For some, it’s a lucky number scribbled on a charm bracelet. For others, it’s a birth date, an anniversary, or a number on a jersey.

For me, it's number 3.

Not in a lucky charm or numerology kind of way. I don’t believe the number 3 has mystical powers to shape my destiny. But I do believe in patterns. I think our minds catch patterns before we even say them out loud. For me, the number 3 has appeared so often in my life and work that I can’t overlook it anymore.

It’s not superstition. Its structure. A way of working. A system that has both guided me and grounded me.

Where the Number 3 First Showed Up

Looking back, my first real encounter with the power of 3 came from failure.

1. My first startup: My first startup was just me with an investor abroad. No team to share ideas, no co-founder to lean on, no support system. I carried the vision by myself, but it failed without others to help.
2. My second attempt: A team of three. We were different in skills and perspectives, but aligned in vision. That balance between leadership, execution, and strategy turned out to be the magic formula. That venture has been scaling successfully for over a decade now.

That’s when I realised 3 creates balance. One person is too lonely. Two can create friction or a stalemate. But 3? It opens the door for diversity without chaos.

The Everyday Power of 3

The number kept appearing in subtle ways outside of work as well.

Every car I’ve owned since has had a license plate ending with 3. At first, it felt like a coincidence. Now, it feels like a reminder that some things are worth repeating.

My best decisions, whether business-related or personal, come after I run them past 3 people I trust. Not ten advisors, not a random poll, not my own echo chamber. Just 3 people who balance perspective with honesty.

Before I start any new project, I make sure I have 3 non-negotiables in place:

• Clarity – What’s the purpose of this?
• Intent – Why am I doing it?
• Patience – Am I willing to give it time to grow?

Without these three anchors, I’ve learned that even the best ideas can wobble and lose direction.

Why 3 Works

So why does 3 feel so powerful?

I think it’s because 3 naturally creates structure. Think about it:

• A story has a beginning, middle, and end.
• A chair with three legs can still stand firmly.
• A pitch is best delivered in three crisp points, not five scattered arguments.
• Even our brains love triads: “stop, look, and listen” sticks better than a long list of instructions.

There’s something universal about the rhythm of three. It’s enough to provide diversity, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

In leadership and team-building, 3 creates a kind of dynamic equilibrium. One person drives, another challenges, and the third balances. Together, they keep momentum without tipping into extremes.

Not Luck. Not Superstition. A Practical System.

Let me be clear, I’m not saying the number 3 is lucky. I’m not suggesting that your success depends on buying a car with a plate ending in 3 or making sure your team is always exactly three people.

What I am saying is this: if you notice a pattern showing up in your life again and again, don’t ignore it.

For me, it’s 3. For you, it might be 5. Or 7. Or even 1. Maybe it’s not a number at all, maybe it’s a phrase, a colour, a ritual, or a habit. But if your subconscious keeps highlighting it, there’s probably something there.

Patterns aren’t accidents. They’re signals. They’re your mind’s way of telling you where you thrive and how you work best. And once you see the pattern, you can build with it on purpose.

Structure With Soul

At the end of the day, the number 3 has become more than just a coincidence in my life. It’s a quiet guide. A reminder to keep things balanced. A way to structure decisions, projects, and even relationships.

It’s not superstition, it’s structure with soul. A framework that helps me make sense of the chaos and find rhythm in the noise.

So here’s to the power of 3. And here’s to whatever your “number 3” is: the pattern, ritual, or structure that keeps showing up in your life.

Because when you start noticing these signals and applying them with intention, you’re not just building systems. You’re building meaning.

Now, I’ll turn the question to you: Is there a number you keep noticing in your path?

What keeps showing up in your journey, again and again, nudging you toward balance, growth, or success?