Luck Is No Accident: Making the Most of Happenstance in Your Life and Career [2 ed.] 188623003X, 9781886230033

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LUCK /^ACCIDENT Making in

the

Most of Happenstance

Your

Life

and Career

John D« Krumboltz, Ph.D.

LUCK /p&ACCIDENT Making in

the

Most of Happenstance

Your

Life

and Career

John D. Krumboltz, Ph.D. Al

S, Levin,

Impact

EcLD.

Publishers

ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA

Copyright © 2004

by John D. Krumboltz and Al All rights reserved

S.

Levin

under international and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No

part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without express written permission of the author or publisher, except for brief quotations in critical reviews.

ATTENTION ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATIONS: This book is available at quantity discounts on bulk purchases

for educational,

business, or sales promotional use. For further information, please contact Impact

Box 6016, Atascadero,

Publishers, P.O.

California 93423-6016.

Phone 805-466-

5917, e-mail: [email protected]

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Krumboltz, John D.

Luck

is

no accident

:

making the most

career /John D. Krumboltz, Al p.

S.

of happenstance in your

life

and

Levin,

cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 1-886230-53-6 Vocational guidance.

2.

Chance.

I.

Levin, Al S.

II.

Title.

HF5381 .K743 2002

2002038756

650.1-dc21

Impact Publishers and colophon are registered trademarks of Impact Publishers,

Cover design by White Design, San Luis Obispo, California the United States of America on acid-free, recycled paper. Published by K.A.

Printed in

Impact

£^

Publishers®

POST OFFICE BOX 6016 ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA 93423-6016 www.impactpublishers.com

Inc.

Contents Acknowledgements

vii

Introduction

1

1

Make

2

Always keep your options open

3

Wake up

4

Try

5

Go ahead and make mistakes

6

Take action to create your

7

Go

8

Enjoy yourself

9

Overcome

10

it

the

most

unplanned events

3

21

— before your dream comes true!

33

— even without knowing the outcome

for the job

Remember

—

of

own

— then learn the

— the good

73

is

89

luck

107

skills

life is

a balanced

self-sabotage

that luck

53

no accident

life

121

135

143

important lessons about creating luck

Annotated Bibliography

147

Index

151

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://archive.org/details/luckisnoaccidentOOjohn

Acknowledgements

We

wish

to gratefully

acknowledge the work of

brought the three of us together to discuss

Dr.

who

Mitchell of City College of San Francisco

Kathleen initially

how unplanned

are influential in everyone's career. Dr. Mitchell

is

to

events

be credited

for

the term and the career counseling theory, Planned Happenstance.

The three of us shared ideas and opinions

in

frequent meetings over

three years. Kathleen convinced us of the necessity to change the

current paradigm of career counseling to better

meet the needs

of

today's workplace. The three of us collaborated in presenting

symposia and workshops Mitchell details

is

the

first

at career

author of an

from our deliberations and

We

development conferences. Dr. which we spelled out the

article in

their implications for counselors.

are also indebted to Diane Byster

detailed feedback

on preliminary

contributing stories of

how

and Anne Chan

drafts of the

their careers

were

for their

manuscript and

for

also influenced

by

unplanned events.

Hundreds of people have contributed

their

own

personal stories

which have helped us to crystallize our ideas of how creating luck actually works in practice. While we were not able to include all these stories in the book, the stories. to

We

we have

benefited from the

wisdom

in all

to many who were willing we have occasionally taken

have promised anonymity

have their stories published, and

literary license to

modify names and places

to disguise the identity

of contributors. Al for

would

like to

thank his wife and daughter, Eileen and Rachel,

always keeping an eye out for good happenstance

John

is

grateful to his wife, Betty,

Shauna and Scott helped

and

for living lives filled

to inspire this

to his children,

illustrations.

Ann, Jenny,

with multiple stories which

book.

vn

Introduction

There

are a

number

of

books that deal with

happenstance. This book

is

different.

We

and

luck, chance,

believe that "luck

is

no accident." Each and every person plays a key role in creating his or her own unexpected career- and life-enhancing events and transforming

them ways

Although

into real opportunities.

you can enhance your

that

ideas apply to other facets of your

You

this

convinced that these

as well, even your love

life

life!

will find here

•

Real-life stories that illustrate that luck is

•

Specific advice

apply to your •

book concentrates on

career, we're

based on these

own

life;

no accident;

stories that

you

will

be able

to

and

Thought-provoking and action-oriented exercises that you

can use

right

now.

The story behind the title of this book is an illustration of the fact is no accident." Surprisingly, one of the most difficult tasks

that "luck

a book

coming up with a good title. The title needs to capture the main theme of the book in just a few words, and it must in writing

is

be understandable and, preferably, catchy as

many months

with different

our

Bob

editor, Dr.

Alberti,

with a hint of desperation:

My

"I

We

struggled for

As we were about

final title idea,

think this might be

he said

number

about

wife Eileen, our daughter Rachel,

and

I

to tell to us

63!"

how the title of this book came good example of why "Luck is No Accident."

Al Levin's true story

provides a

possibilities.

about our

well.

to

be

decided to go to dinner at a

we frequent. When we arrived we were greeted by the us would be five minutes or so before we could be

local restaurant that

hostess,

seated.

who

As we

told

it

waited, Eileen glanced up on the wall and noticed a plaque

with the inscription "Success

She immediately turned

to

is

No

Accident: Safety

me and

said

First

Award

—

"How about something

2001

like

."

that

1

LUCK

2

as a

IS

NO ACCIDENT

for

title

your book? You know, 'Luck

is

No

Accident.'"

loved

I

it

immediately.

Some look at led to a

from

it

people would simply quite differently. There

new

this

were actions

that everyone liked.

title

We

incident "pure luck."

call this

were taken that What wisdom can we glean that

example of "luck?"

Be aware of your surroundings •

Eileen

even

had her eyes open

in a place as

to the

mundane

environment around

her,

as a frequently visited

restaurant.

Take a •

risk,

even with rejection as a possible outcome

Despite the fact that he had rejected other

title

ideas she had

proposed, Eileen told Al about her discovery.

Be adaptable and open-minded •

Eileen adapted the inscription to better

match the concept

of

the book. •

The co-authors and publisher were open-minded about the new title idea, although it was getting late in the game.

now because you have

a

Unhappy with your job? Don't have

a

You're probably reading this book

problem you wish

to solve.

job? Facing a difficult career or

break"? This book

and benefit from You will read everyday people

will

life

teach you

decision? Wishing for that "lucky

how you can

stories

own

luck

who

about well-known people as well as average

own

is no accident. We Our wish for you is to be after you finish this book.

provide proof that luck

believe everyone has a similar story to

able to write your

create your

it.

good-luck story

tell.

Chapter

1

Make the Most of Unplanned Events Things turn out best for people

who make

the best of the

way

things turn out.

— Art Linkletter None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months or a few years to change all

the tenor of our

lives.

— Kathleen N orris

you ever noticed that unplanned events — chance occurrences — more often determine your life and career choices than all the careful planning you do? A chance meeting, a

Have

broken appointment, a spontaneous vacation

newly discovered hobby happenstances

—

trip,

a

"fill-in"

job, a

these are the kinds of experiences

— that lead to unexpected

life

directions

—

and career

choices.

book we're encouraging you to take actions to open up opportunities even when you don't know the outcomes, to take advantage of chance events, to keep your options open, and to make the most of what life offers. We are not opposed to planning, but we don't think you should stick with a plan that is not working for you In this

anymore.

How event?

If

often have your plans changed because of an unexpected

you

really stop to think

about

it,

you

will

recognize that

4

LUCK

IS

NO ACCIDENT

unexpected events occur quite frequently. Some are wonderful surprises, such as finding out that your

you can

really talk to, or that

new boss

is

your favorite team just

someone

won

the

that

NCAA

championship. At the other extreme are unexpected events that

may be

considered disasters.

When

a terrible storm hits your town,

The unexpected disaster America faced on and after 2001 affected lives around the entire world. There are also many unexpected events that have both positive and it's

a

crisis.

September

11,

negative consequences.

Blondie By Young & Drake I

HAVE A REAL HANKERING

FOR A CRUNCHY CANDY BAR

IN THAT CASE, I'LL HAVE A

BEEF 5CORNED SANDWICH

THAT'S WHAT MAKES

ME SO EASY TO

LIVE WITH, I'M

ADAPTABLE,

Reprinted with Special Permission of King Features Syndicate

Make

the most of your present situation.

Make

the Most of Unplanned Events

Unexpected events take place throughout our events that affect

your

born. For example, you

life

had no

role in

language, ethnicity, or birthplace.

choosing your

first

be

in

Many

you were

choosing your parents, native

How much

control did

you have in You

school, your classmates, your teachers?

might think that you had the opportunity

when

lives.

actually took place long before

5

choose your

to

friends,

most people become friends when they happen to close proximity of one another through a neighborhood,

in actuality

school, work, or family connections.

How major

about your career? Have unexpected events affected your

field in school,

your occupation, your employers, your co-

workers, your supervisors?

We

all

like to believe that

we

freely

chose our occupations, but think about all the events and circumstances that exposed us to a limited set of alternatives. Did you choose your employer, or did your employer choose you? Few people have the opportunity to choose their

own

co-workers or

supervisors.

You may be wondering if there really is anything you can The good news is that you can control the actions that you take and how you react to positive and negative experiences. And control.

those are powerful factors in determining the directions your

life

takes.

Some books promise

that

if

you can

just identify

your

life's

passion, state a career goal, determine your personality type, or

you will find the key to the perfect job, career, lifestyle, or mate. Those books don't account for the unpredictability of life. You will continue to be influenced by the people and events that you encounter, often by chance, including your family, friends, the economy, and changes in technology. No one can predict the future. Unexpected events are inevitable. But if you are alert, you can make the most of them when they happen. You have control over your own actions and how you think even consider your astrological

sign,

about the events that impact your

life.

None

of us can control the

outcomes, but your actions can increase the probability that desired

outcomes guarantee

will occur. is

There are no guarantees

that doing nothing will get

in

you nowhere.

life.

The only

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

6

Take Advantage of Unexpected Disappointments Unplanned events are sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Both positive and negative events offer opportunities. Here we see how Claire capitalized on a disappointment.

Bumped I

was working

was

bored,

vacation.

in

San Francisco

and

ticket

and was

my plane, was bumped I

Into

was time

It

anywhere,

all

I

my

I

annual

gave

airline

one

for

disappointed that

me

credit for

Instead of going

year.

stayed home.

I

About a year

off.

anymore.

set to go. While at the airport, I

was good anywhere

later,

to expire. Aha, this

time

me

to take

my flight. was

off of

vacation plans had been disrupted, but the

another ticket that

a Career

that didn't interest

and needed a change.

tired,

bought a plane

I

waiting for

my

a job

at

—

Off a Flight

I

remembered

my airplane ticket credit was about quit my job and take some

that

would be a good time to

had always wanted to

the Boston area, especially Harvard.

visit

During

my

to

a few academic departments to learn about research opportunities.

visit

trip

was even

I

able to drop

departments. in

Spanish.

I

interested

in all

Was

I

was

this a

also

UC

able to explain

two hours.

in

the Harvard

campus when decided I

on the department chair

was

had a

car,

immigration policy.

I

this to the professor

offered

someone who

looking for

Berkeley,

was

had

available

all

and my

and accepted the

in

one

of

learned that he needed a research assistant

He

California near

was

was walking around

I

of these

who was fluent

lived in

Northern

the mornings, and

of those requirements. brief drop-in visit

I

was

turned into

position that day.

coincidence? Divine intervention?

Who

knows?

It

has

been a perfect match and couldn't be happier. Had come one week earlier or one week later, the opportunity wouldn't have been available. The fact that Claire was bumped from her flight was a chance event that interrupted her plans. There was no way she could have I

predicted the consequences a year

later.

Note, however, that she

making the desirable consequences happen: She used the compensatory airline ticket to visit the Harvard

played a major role •

I

in

campus. •

She used her time there contacting professors interest.

in

her

field of

Make

When

•

the Most of Unplanned Events

7

she found an opportunity, she sold the professor on

her qualifications and interest.

have spent the time shopping,

Claire could

museums

visiting

or

sleeping in her hotel room. Instead, she took constructive steps to

convert an aborted airline

a fascinating job opportunity.

flight into

many

Terrible catastrophes affect

—

lives

often in unexpected

become

ways. Even in the worst of conditions there are ways to

engaged

own

in constructive activities. Let's

had gone

be a foreign

I

affairs

I

ended up I

Italy

in

so could further

career up to that time.

person

Moment

to graduate school

international issues

to

Elena created her

opportunities.

At the Worst I

how

see

Life...

my knowledge

to improve

my career in

television

news.

I

In Italy,

I

was

in

of

wanted

producer and had been completely focused on

my

a very bad accident and nearly died.

the hospital for surgery.

in

My

of

My

day

first

met who spoke English was a Bosnian

the hospital the

in

soldier

first

who had been

in the war in Bosnia. We were the same age, and there, at the moment of my life, met someone who was so much worse off that was no way for me not to survive my ordeal with courage. stayed in

injured

worst there Italy I

I

I

and lost

finished school.

track of him

the American I

realized

and

in

the hospital, but three years later traced him through I

Red Cross (where had volunteered I

my true

his family

desire

was to

and raised a few thousand

Gradually since then,

do something refugees)

is

help refugees.

I

I

have evolved

my

relief

group that does work

organizing a fund-raiser for

been taking

When

film

in

after

graduate school) and

started a fund-raiser for him

dollars that

I

sent directly to him.

into thinking that the best

love (producing film/video) for a

to volunteer

cause that

an area

them

to

go

way

to

love (helping

I

time for non-profit groups and

promotional films to further their cause.

a

I

make

have since become involved with

I

I

really believe in,

to refugees

in

and

Kosovo.

have been

I

I

have also

classes and meeting independent filmmakers.

comparison

to that of a

seriously injured Bosnian soldier, she realized that she

had a great

Elena thought about her

deal to be thankful for

own

actions:

life in

and could use the experience

to inspire

her

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

8

•

She finished school.

•

She traced the soldier through the Red Cross.

•

She started a fundraiser

•

She volunteered

•

She

•

She took additional film

•

She continued networking with other independent

to

for

work

made promotional

him.

for non-profit refugee organizations.

films.

classes.

filmmakers.

Be Open to Changing Locations and Occupations

Some people

feel that

because they have in

they are stuck

remain

Good

type of industry.

needed

to

an unsatisfactory job and in the same

in

same

in the

location

interpersonal and communication

almost every type of work. Other technical

skills

skills

are

can be

learned on the job. You don't need to restrict yourself to one location or occupation just because that

your experience so

is

far.

Consider

Dianna's case.

Can Do

"I

worked

I

in

That!"

Old

was extremely

We discussed

I

was going places

it

and decided

to go.

moving across the country

job. After

New

Industry

at

a young age. However,

stressed out and overworked by the age of 25.

Then my husband had an opportunity job.

a

Skills Fit

the entertainment industry and had what most people

considered a very good job. I

-

I

to left

I

move

to another city with his

an upwardly mobile job

looked for another job

for

no

the

in

entertainment industry for several months without any success.

Then one day my husband brought home a job description in

of

a position

the training department of his information technology company.

required

many

of the

same

skills

that

had been

I

using.

I

didn't

know much

me

to prepare

about information technology, but the job required curriculum materials

was

like

them

acting a

that

I

(it

role).

The job

was like writing a script) and teach new workers was a completely different job, but persuaded

(it

It

I

could learn whatever else

I

needed

to know.

was hired. has turned out to be very rewarding. am much happier and much less stressed out. like what do very much. I

applied and

It

I

I

I

Make

9

the Most of Unplanned Events

Dianna gave up her job to accompany her husband across the country. She tried to find another job in the same industry she had left without success. Then she took some major actions: • She responded to a job announcement in an unrelated industry. •

She saw how the

•

skills

she had developed previously could

new job.

apply to the

She convinced the employer that she could learn whatever else she needed

to learn.

Share Your Interests and Experiences with People You Meet to discover how many people actually want to help you know something about you. Don't be bashful about sharing your desires, concerns and experiences with others. You may find It is

if

amazing

they

valuable contacts in the least expected spots as Alysha discovered.

Roommate Wanted — Job Found Soon

after arriving in

Chicago,

was

I

answering "roommate wanted" ads.

was placed by a French French, she told

me that

teacher.

I

looking for a place to

responded to one

Upon

learning that

of the I

live

by

ads which

had majored

in

she was vacating a position as a summer school

was

teacher of French and that the position

still

open.

I

contacted the

school, interviewed, and got the job.

When the me that the

regular teacher returned at the

applied and

was

called

on a frequent

another school that had a vacancy

and although

end

of the

summer, she

told

school where she taught previously needed substitutes.

I

didn't

get one, which

I

in

have a credential,

basis. While there,

I

learned of

the French Department. I

I

I

applied

got the job on the condition that

I

did.

Alysha was not bashful about sharing her experiences and desires

with others. She took concrete actions to uncover opportunities:

roommate

•

She responded

•

She conducted an informal information interview with the

roommate.

to a

ad.

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

1

•

She learned about a job opening, applied, interviewed and got the job.

•

When

that job ended, she did substitute teaching

where she

learned of another vacancy. •

She applied without the required credential.

•

She got the job

and then obtained the

first

credential.

Convert Frustrations into Opportunities Life rarely flows

smoothly.

facing frustrations of

It is

some

rare for

would probably not be much fun success

illustrates that

how you respond

in

to

child,

my

my

In

if

I

I

was

I

I

my

Italian

for years

neighborhood.

just

I

was

I

books.

My

parents broke us up and shipped

me

off to

prep

heartbroken.

eventually admitted to

tried out for the

for the

an

I

Without the distraction, however,

was

in

I,

was getting poor grades. knew why and so did my was spending more time studying my fourteen-year-old girl

I

friend than

school.

might be fun to bring up their kids

it

fit in.

high school

parents.

you could. The story of Karl adversity you face, but

if

language was German, which

first

growing up, resented because didn't feel as

life

Misfit Fits In

parents decided

speaking German. So

and

time,

it.

A As a

without

to live for long

how much

not in

is

anyone

No one can win every

type.

one

started to

I

work on my studies and

of the top universities

school newspaper but

drama club but never got

the United States.

in

was turned down.

called.

I

tried out

These were two more

big

disappointments. I

then tried out for the college radio workshop,

radio plays that I

and presented them on

a group was

became

trying to start

local

whose members wrote

area radio stations.

a college radio

station,

I

When

finally

I

heard

got involved.

the station's program director as a sophomore,

its

general

manager as a junior. After getting

my degree

in 1

program. However, the medical

me as 4F,

943,

exam

unfit for military service.

I

wanted

to join an officer's training

revealed a heart problem that classified

This

was another

great disappointment.

Make

I

decided to volunteer

for the Office of

there were current openings

and a knowledge

in

London

German

of

the Most of Unplanned Events

for

War

1

1

Information and learned

people with radio experience

(two qualifications

had not

I

initially

wanted).

Over the years a long series of other disappointments followed by unexpected successes have

led

me

to

my

present position as the owner

of three radio stations.

how

Note

Karl converted each frustration into a positive

opportunity: •

He was

frustrated about fitting into his

because he

initially

was crucial He was frustrated

ability •

spoke German, but

in

He was

German language

his

landing a key job.

in losing his

high school sweetheart, but

he reacted by concentrating on •

neighborhood

his studies.

frustrated in gaining admission to the school's

newspaper

and drama

staff

club,

but he persisted by getting

involved with the school's radio station. •

He was

frustrated in his desire to join the military service

because of

his heart condition, but

contribute to the

war

Losing your job

is

more than

devastating. Suddenly your

Here

is

the story of

security,

how Francesca

—

frustrating

whole security blanket lost

is

it

can

feel

jerked out from

no income and no

status.

her security blanket and

it.

A Truant Child Leads to I

to

effort.

under you. You have no work, no

what she did about

he found another way

a Great Job

for just a year when the bad was undergoing a severe budget crisis, and

had been employed as a school counselor

news

hit.

The school

district

it

had been decided that personnel cuts were necessary. Under the union contract those with the least seniority would be cut.

was

cut late at night, about 2:30 A.M. on a Friday.

cut because

I

loved

my work

I

I

got the word that

was

as a counselor and knew

I

I

sick about being

had been making

in the lives of my students. my future employability enrolled in a program at the some fifty miles away. The program was designed to

a big difference To improve university

I

state train

1

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

2

teachers of emotionally impaired children. with friends

and

friends of friends.

I

also continued to "network"

approached a

I

the County Office of Education and asked about options field.

me

make

periodic

were looking

someone

for

because was desperate.

the counseling

it.

fill

I

immediately applied for the job

Because

did have a reasonable salary attached.

experience and current training half-time position, but

was

I

worked

I

friend informed

had been created and that they

had absolutely no desire to be a truant

I

I

it

to

one day my

visits. Finally

that a half-time truant officer position

but

in

at

There were none.

continued to

I

who worked

friend

given the appointment.

full

time at

it

of It

while at the

officer,

my

was

prior

only a

same

time

carrying a full-time course load at the University. In April

duty,

I

on an afternoon when was supposed to be

of that year, late

went

to

Rafael, a child

visit

I

who had been

habitually truant from school. In the

counselor position but had not yet

level,

I

knew

was chosen had ever had. And

applied and

job

I

school that day,

Was

it

I

that this

was

for the job. it

made a

Though my

at the opportunity.

high school

was

course

mentioned that they were creating a

of the discussion the Principal

jumped

off

administrators at the Eastern Elementary School about

all

It

prior

formal job announcement.

I

experience had been at the

the chance

I

had been waiting

for.

I

turned out to be the most satisfying

due

to luck.

If

Rafael had not skipped

would never have known about the opportunity.

really luck? Let's look at the actions

Francesca took after

she had been laid off from her high school job: •

She enrolled

in

a training program for teachers of

emotionally impaired children. •

She kept

in periodic

contact with friends

who might know

about job openings. •

She accepted a half-time job as truant

officer that

she did not

enjoy. •

She nevertheless worked

•

When she should have been child who was truant.

•

She allowed the conversation with the Principal topics other than

•

one truant

She expressed strong position

full-time

and got the

on the job.

off duty,

she followed up on a

to

veer onto

child.

interest in the soon-to-be-opened

job.

Make

Unplanned Events

the Most of

work enabled her

Francesca's persistent actions and hard

wanted

the kind of job she

—

1

now

even though she

attributes

3

find all

it

to luck.

Unplanned Events Result More Unplanned Events

Realize that

in

Francesca's story illustrates that multiple unplanned events

combined before something planned nor

be

to

laid off, to

to find out

better appears. Francesca

be a truant

officer, to

had not

have Rafael skip school

about a future job opening.

Each event has multiple consequences others.

may be

Each event

sets the stage for

how

predict in advance

— for you as well as for

subsequent events. No one can

a string of unplanned events might affect

anyone's career. John's story

illustrates the effects of

an unending

sequence of interrelated but unpredictable events.

"Can I

grew up playing a

who

Alan,

I

Major

in

Tennis,

variety of competitive

Coach?"

games

with

my

kindergarten together, then Alan changed schools and

a while.

We

reconnected a few years

my

neighborhood on

was

playing alone

around age twelve

in

bike,

and happened

the front yard.

we

later

when

I

high school

team.

My

new birthday gift game, and became skilled enough to

teams

tennis

Our coach,

—

sometimes

team would

Dr. Wallar,

and

five

in

and returning home I

received a be. I

I

ventured into a

in

Alan's

play

new

house while he

rackets).

and

basement

We

to

taught

on our respective

of us

made

the varsity tennis

travel to other colleges for

team matches.

players would ride together, leaving early on

that evening.

approached the end letter

started

contact for

competition with each other.

where each

a Saturday morning, playing tennis

When

We

lost

to play ping pong,

"graduated" from ping-pong

We went to different colleges,

we

to ride past his

He taught me

tennis (borrowing his sister's ourselves the

childhood friend,

another part of our small Midwestern town.

lived in

all

afternoon, enjoying a steak dinner,

got to

I

of

know and

like Dr. Wallar.

my sophomore

year

from the Registrar's Office asking what

had no idea and so threw the

letter in

received a follow-up letter that

I

in

college,

I

my major would A month later

the wastebasket.

disposed of

similarly.

How was

I

1

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

4

supposed

to

choose a major?

which stated:

letter

"If

you do

I

had no

idea. Finally

I

received the third

not report to the Registrar's Office to declare

a major by 5

PM

"Hmmmm,"

thought, "These guys are serious." But what

I

one had ever

on

May

Friday,

26, your registration

was

I

to

do? No

on how to choose a major.

offered any advice or instruction

me? The only faculty member felt comfortable talking with was our tennis coach, Dr. Wallar, so made an appointment to see him at 4 PM on Friday, May 26. should mention that at the small college attended faculty members were often called upon to do double duty. Dr. Wallar was not only the tennis coach, he was the one and only professor of psychology. When saw him, Maybe

I

ought to ask

for help.

But

who

be terminated."

will

could help

I

I

I

I

I

I

wasted no time on I

polite chit-chat. "Dr. Wallar,"

have to declare a major or

think

I

my

I

said, "Within the next

be terminated. What do you

registration will

should major in?" Quick as a wink he replied, "Psychology, of course."

"OK, thanks,"

I

called out over

my

shoulder as

ran to the Registrar's office, arrived

in

I

dashed toward the

office with

a sigh of

relief.

And

becoming a psychologist. events worked out so

convinced

it

well.

that's

how

I

started

I

stumbled

into

all

left

the

the path toward

these unplanned

for

me.

unplanned events

that influenced

John's decision to major in psychology: •

•

•

There was no necessary reason

•

why

the tennis coach should

also have been a professor of psychology. He might have been an economist, or a chemist or a sociologist. Could that coincidence have affected John's career? Even though Dr. Wallar was a professor of psychology, he might not have recommended psychology as a major for John. He might have said, "You look like an English major to me." Would that response have affected John's career? Suppose Alan's sister had been given a bag of golf clubs instead of tennis rackets for her birthday. Would that gift

up golf instead of tennis? Suppose Alan had a photography lab instead of a ping-pong table in the basement. Would that difference in the availability of physical equipment have affected John's career? have influenced John

to take

I

becoming a psychologist, and

has been the best possible career

Let's think of the multiple

my name and

down

feel infinitely lucky that

I

door.

plenty of time (30 minutes to spare),

wrote "psychology" on the appropriate form, signed

I'm

hour

Make

the Most of Unplanned Events

1

5

Suppose Alan had not been out in his front yard by himself when John cruised by on his bike. Would meeting someone

•

other than Alan have affected the course of John's career?

No one can ever know what would have happened on the path it seems reasonable to assume that John's career was

not taken. But

by a whole host of unplanned events.

significantly influenced

John's actions enabled these events to happen. career then totally due to these unplanned events? Just an accident? What

role did

Was

Was it

John's

just luck?

John himself play in creating his

own

career?

John was an active participant what John did: • • • • • •

He He He He He He

in all the events. Let's

see exactly

went exploring on his bicycle. stopped and chatted when he saw a familiar face. agreed to play ping pong even though he didn't know how. agreed

to play tennis

even though he didn't know how.

practiced and improved his tennis game.

volunteered for the varsity tennis teams

in

both high

school and college.

•

He He

•

Later, of course,

•

finally

asked

for help in

followed the advice he

John took

him

that enabled

choosing a college major.

was

given.

many

eventually to

other constructive actions

become

a psychologist (and

to co-author this book).

Make the Job There are ways

Fit to

make almost any job more

sometimes easier pays

to exert

approach

some

to the

You

to quit

and

find another job. However,

effort in trying to

Putting Myself

knocked around Europe,

wanted

to do.

A

in

it.

Monique

often

it

decided to go to work.

former classmate asked

is

a case in point.

Charge

degree and not using I

it

is

it

modify the job or modify your

job before giving up on

After getting a master's

pleasant. Granted,

if

I'd like

for four I

years while

had no idea what

to

be a consultant.

I

I

I

1

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

6

didn't

know what

called,

I

that was, but

I

said yes.

visited the consulting firm. During the interview

I

answers to a dozen questions. position.

She gave me a number

wanted a

I

No one everything

full-time

did.

was

permanent

me how

offered to teach I

I

Four months

later

I

just

to

call.

made up

offered a part-time temporary

position, but

to

I

said

OK.

be a consultant.

they gave

me

notice that

I

I

invented

had been

demanded a reversal. won. Three years later, having worked nights, days and weekends supporting coworkers who did very little, spun off as an "independent consultant" starting my own business. am now in my 24th year of this improbable gig. I'm nationally known and laid off.

I

I

I

I

solvent too!

Monique

certainly took charge of her

into a job she

knew nothing

own. She overturned her

own

She talked herself

how to do it on her And she gained enough

about. She learned

lay-off notice.

experience that she was able

life.

to

launch her

own

consulting business.

Monique did not fit the job. Monique made the job fit her. As you try to make the most of unplanned events, remember these points: •

Take advantage of unexpected disappointments;

•

Be open

•

Share your interests and experiences with interesting people

changing locations and occupations;

to

you meet; •

Convert frustrations into opportunities;

•

Realize that unplanned events result in events;

•

Make

An Easy We

more unplanned

and

the job

fit

you.

Exercise for Your

have been

telling

you

Own

stories

Life

about other people, but you can

most from applying these ideas to your own life. The following is a starting point to get you thinking about your early aspirations and the unplanned events that have affected you. We want you to see that you are perfectly normal to have been influenced by unplanned events. We also want you to see that your own actions enabled unplanned events to happen and that your own actions capitalized on these events for your own benefit. learn

exercise

Make

the Most of

Unplanned Events

Your ideas about what you find satisfying continue throughout your necessarily

life.

fulfilled,

Just as your childhood aspirations

so your present plans

may

to

1

7

change

were not

not necessarily lead

what you want either. Unexpected events are happening all some of them because of actions you are taking. Some the time of them can have a big impact on your career.

you

to

—

1

.

List

three occupations to which you aspired at

some time during

your childhood.

2.

Have you ever actually been employed

in

any of these

occupations?

No

Yes 3.

If

"yes" to #2,

how

childhood image of

was the

reality of the

job to your

it?

Somewhat

Similar 4.

similar

What unexpected event

Very different

different

contributed most to your getting your

present (or most recent) employment?

5.

What to

6.

be

What

actions

had you taken

in a position to

actions

prior to that event that enabled

experience

had you taken

it?

after the event that

take advantage of the opportunities

7.

How

satisfied are

Partially satisfied

_ Dissatisfied

it

presented?

you with your present

Very satisfied

you

life?

enabled you

to

1

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

8

8.

How

might you adapt some of the actions that you took

Questions 5 and 6 satisfying

life

to

in

begin moving you toward an even more

now?

Making the Most of Happenstance You have experienced some unplanned events in your life, and you've taken action to capitalize on at least one such experience. Now you know that you can create and benefit from unplanned events, and you're ready to learn how to apply this knowledge to whatever circumstances life brings you. The rest of this book will give you additional ideas and examples of how to do just that. You'll also find in these pages that we contradict most of the common myths that you've probably heard about life- and careerplanning. Consider this

Common

list:

Myths About Planning Your

Life

and Career Don't

let

unexpected events disrupt your plans.

Choose a career goal as soon as possible. Do all you can to make your "dream" come true. Take action only when you are sure of the outcome. Avoid making mistakes. Wait for a lucky break.

Go

for a job only

Always hold on

to

Just to let

all

you have

first.

Believe that luck

is

if

Put your career

is

your just

all

the

skills.

beliefs.

an accident.

you anticipate how we

will

counter these myths, here

our actual advice in a nutshell, along with the chapters containing the details:

Make

Make

the Most of Unplanned Events

•

most of unplanned events. (Review Chapter Always keep your options open. (Read Chapter 2)

•

Wake up

•

Try

•

Go ahead and make mistakes. (Read Chapter 5) Take action to create your own luck. (Read Chapter

•

• • •

it

the

— before your "dream" comes

9

1)

(Read Chapter 3)

— even without knowing the outcome. (Read Chapter 4)

Go for the job — then learn the Enjoy yourself — the good

life is

•

Overcome

•

Remember

skills.

6)

(Read Chapter

a balanced

life.

7)

(Read Chapter

8)

self-sabotage. (Read Chapter 9)

that luck

is

no accident. (Read Chapter

With the many options and action ideas you'll

true.

1

be ready

to

design your

of happenstance in your

life.

own game

10)

you'll find in this

book,

plan for making the most

Chapter 2

Always Keep Your Options Open When you come

to a fork in the road, take

it.

— Yogi Berra The best way

to predict the future is to create

it.

— Peter Drucker

We

have spent

much

career decisions, but

decision again.

Why? A

of our lives helping people to

make

we

career

don't

want you ever

"career decision"

is

to

make a

usually interpreted as a

permanent commitment to one occupation. But it is nonsense to commit to a single path when both you and the world you live in are constantly changing. We have now seen the error of our ways and consider ourselves to be "recovering" career counselors. Instead of trying to decide your future today, you would be

much

open mind while actively exploring your A opportunities. single-minded focus on just one occupation better off keeping an

produces "career tunnel vision." In this chapter, we'll take a look at the

your choice of careers too careers, of course,

early.

may be

about the direction of your

dangers of narrowing

(The ideas we'll discuss

in

regard to

applied to most important decisions

life.)

Avoid Tunnel Vision most people, as a child you probably tired of answering the question, "What are you going to be when you grow up?" Few If

you are

like

21

LUCK IS NO ACCIDENT

22

enough

children are precocious

to

respond, "An adult." The question

assumes that a child can predict the future, ignoring the reality that even adults who are trained to predict the future (e.g., economists, stock brokers, meteorologists, political analysts) are frequently

wrong. No one can predict the future accurately. There are too

many unexpected

events

—

too

much happenstance

—

occurring

every day. In high school

and

college the pressure increases to get everyone

to declare a future occupation.

Some

students sensibly and honestly

much to the dismay of their and parents who then label these students as "undecided" or, even worse, "indecisive." The expectation is that you should commit to an occupation that you haven't even tried out yet. refuse to

commit

to a single occupation,

counselors, teachers

FRANK & ERNEST

By Bob Thaves

*#* MTtAfr Of a^L • ViC oc