Good luck is never accidental - Make the most of serendipitous events in your life and career development

Author: (USA) John D. Krupp, (USA) AIS. Levine / Country: United States
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Unexpected events and emergencies in life often have a greater impact on major decisions than the things we meticulously plan. A chance encounter, a missed appointment, an impromptu vacation, a backup job opening, a newly discovered personal hobby—these various experiences can shape the direction of our lives and career choices. This book aims to remind readers to prepare for the unexpected and seize every opportunity presented by chance events. It includes numerous vivid case studies and psychological tests. Real-life stories illustrate that luck is never accidental; the special advice derived from these stories can be applied to your own life; thought-provoking and actionable exercises that you can use immediately. All the stories in this book demonstrate the fact that "luck is never accidental." You will encounter many stories of famous figures and ordinary people in this book, whose shared experiences show that luck is no coincidence. We believe everyone has similar stories to share, and we look forward to hearing your own tales of good fortune after reading this book. events can sometimes be good for you and other times bad, but whether good or bad, these unexpected occurrences can provide opportunities. Here is an example of Claire's.
Cancelled flight—landed a job
I was working in San Francisco, but I was already bored with it. I was tired and wanted a change. My annual leave was coming up, so I bought a plane ticket and was all set to leave. While waiting for my flight at the airport, it was canceled. I was disappointed because my vacation plans were ruined. However, the airline gave me a travel voucher, allowing me to exchange it for a ticket to anywhere within a year. I didn’t go anywhere and stayed home. About a year later, I remembered that my travel voucher was about to expire. Ah, perfect timing—I could quit my job and take a break. I’d always wanted to visit Boston, especially Harvard University. During the trip, I decided to visit a few departments to inquire about research opportunities. I wandered around Harvard’s campus and ended up visiting a professor from one of the departments. I learned that he needed a research assistant who spoke fluent Spanish. He wanted someone who lived near the University of California, Berkeley in Northern California, had a car, was available in the morning, and was interested in immigration policies. I fit all his requirements. I told the professor this, and our brief stop turned into a two-hour conversation. That same day, I got the job. Was it just a coincidence? Or was it a miracle? Who knows? It was perfect timing—I was overjoyed. If I had arrived a week earlier or later, this opportunity might have been missed.
Claire’s canceled flight was an unexpected event that disrupted her plans. She couldn’t have foreseen the outcome a year later. However, note that she played a key role in creating the ideal outcome: she used the compensation voucher to visit Harvard’s campus, she took the time to contact a professor in her field of interest, and when she found an opportunity, she expressed her interest and convinced the professor of her abilities. Claire could have used that time to shop, visit museums, or sleep at a hotel, but she took proactive steps to turn a canceled flight into an attractive job opportunity.
Terrible disasters affect many people—often in unexpected ways. Even under the worst conditions, there are ways to take positive action. Let’s see how Elena created an opportunity. P004-005