LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO...

It is said, or at least quoted, that, “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity”? The quote is attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca. The quote suggests we make our own luck.? Furthermore there are mantras regarding Luck such as:?

Lucky people generate their own good fortune via four basic principles.?

1.They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities.?

2. Make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition.?

3. Create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations.

4. Adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.

While this is all fine and perhaps a good philosophy to embrace, the part of the equation that escapes the argument is that Luck is random, as random as black jack or roulette or being born on a Saturday or finding money hidden in the walls of your house.? There really is no skill to luck, it’s just as the dictionary suggests, good fortune, advantageousness (yeah that’s a word) fluke, fortune, serendipity…you get the picture.? But more so, not to harp on the randomness of luck, I really wanted to ponder Opportunity, heck I even made a meme about it a while back, with Luke Skywalker, I’ll share it again.? If we analyze the now mythical character, Luke Skywalker, we can assess, there was nothing Luke did proactively to meet Obie Wan and fulfill his destiny. He was a chosen one and perhaps his path was set forth in the stars no matter what he did, that is of course, if he was real.? I guess as I look at it, his name is Luke, not too different than Luck…Hmm.? Anyway, and much like Harry Potter their future was written, literally, but also as a metaphor perhaps, that the anointed ones shall be lucky and if our luck isn’t then same, well then, umm… ?

But what of opportunity: as defined, ‘a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something’? the first synonym is Chance, a possibility of something happening, and while these all have their own place in the dictionary, it turns out that Luck and Opportunity are as random as gambling, birthdays and treasures. Seems there isn’t much one could really do to tip the scales completely in ones favor of luck and opportunity, so aside from those two, Preparation is really the only proactive plan we can partake in. ?

Now in my head I can hear the arguments, but what if we do nothing? Then you will get nothing, although we have seen those who do ‘nothing’ who get luck and opportunity, but one would never rely on such circumstance, I hope.? Doing nothing is not preparation, so it’s a voided argument. There are a million possibilities as to how to manifest Luck and Opportunity none of which are certain by any measure…ever. But it’s what dreamers hold on to.? For some it’s all they/we have and so we prepare, prepare, prepare and prepare some more.? Personally I find it to be a fun mysterious challenge, I guess in general that is my life, always prepared. No that doesn’t make me a ‘prepper’, or at least I hope not, it’s just, I guess I have acquired enough skills and experiences and continue to add new ones to just be prepared for ‘things’. ?

So where was I…and how did this all start? And I walk this next paragraph cautiously so not to sound like a whiner.? I have seen, heard and read it said, that ‘if you are good, you will be discovered’? 'if your idea is right, you will attract the right people’ and so forth.? But that broad statement is to suggest that only the best and the brightest people and ideas are recognized?? Seriously? I don’t think I need to go into that.? It’s more that I felt an urge to get that out and share empathy with my fellow humans who feel the sting of such statements, to share my empathy.? The truth is, that these factoids hold no value, they are offered as comfort food to the dedicated and yet less opportune and lucky To, I guess feed their drive, however I feel it is and can be defeating.? I know of too many gifted people left behind and perhaps too many mediocre’s succeed to believe for one second such a rash speculation.? So I guess where I went with all of this is; To my fellow dreamers, entrepreneurs and ‘Preppers’, all we can do is ignore such drivel and continue to be prepared for that Opportunity to rain down! Followed by sprinkles of Luck. ?

Good luck for opportunity to give presence to all your preparations.