Fortune has always favored the bold, but the bold also always has a plan. There is nothing like being at the right place at the right time. Except you have to plan to be at that place at that time with a snazzy work appropriate outfit and a business card! You can let fate carry you anywhere it wants to, or you can give fate a hand to re-direct that river of success in your direction!

Fortuitous Encounters.
That shooting star called Serendipity can take off anywhere and any time! Make sure you’re ready to grab hold of it with both hands. If you’re out and about, you are more likely to have a fortuitous encounter if you’re at a place where you can encounter people. Take up macrame, go to a free seminar held at your local school, or check out the Chambers of Commerce. They are always holding events that let you get out and meet people. You can meet anyone there such as CEO’s, managers, supervisors, your next baby sitter who happens to have a Ph.D. It does not matter! But you wouldn’t have met any of these people if you’re sitting at home. Get out and encounter!

Don’t Ignore Oddities.
So you’re sitting on a bench at the park and a guy wearing overalls and a straw hat with muddy accessories sits down. He introduces himself and holds out his hand to shake. You’re wearing a suit or a dress and you’re hesitant to breath the same air, let alone touch his hand. Get over it and yourself! That man may be the one giving you your next interview. That man may be the father of your supervisor. That man could be the missing link between you and your next pay check. It can happen!

Happenstance can happen anywhere.
Your job is to make sure it happens when you’re ready. Going to a seminar? Research the company that’s sponsoring it. Look at your goals and see how that company could  fit into it. When you prepare for a conversation, it makes it easier to engage. Going to a knitting circle? Talk a little about what you do. Someone may know someone else who needs what you’re offering. There are always ways to spin any situation to your advantage. Be inquisitive!!

Take a Chance.
Is your comfort zone getting you that job? Try something new! You can accomplish all three of the above by going somewhere you’ve never been. You don’t know what is going to give you that “Aha” moment! You just have to be open to new things. If you’re knitting a rug sitting at the park, you may see people walking their dogs, people jogging, and maybe even a clown creating balloon animals. Someone who isn’t open is seeing: dog walkers, joggers, and a clown. The person who is open is seeing sees: a new love interest, a new work out buddy, and an entertainer at their kids’ birthday party. It doesn’t cost anything to take a chance.

Remain Flexible.
Your boss has given you a lot of work to do over the weekend. But there is nothing that says you can’t take your work to a restaurant and do it there. There was no stipulation that you couldn’t go to an internet cafe and sit with others, busy typing away to get your work done. As long as you’re getting your work done, there is nothing that says you can’t be where the action is and where your next opportunity might be!

Know What You Want.
The biggest mistake that people make when staring luck in the face is not knowing exactly what they want. You are being given the chance to have it all, however, you don’t know what it is that you want. By knowing what you’re looking for, you’ll know what to look for. You volunteered to knit for a charity. Someone bought your creation and now they want you to make sweaters exclusively for their store. You have always wanted to design clothing, but since it’s just sweaters, you said no.  You could have made those sweaters, used the store in your portfolio, handed out your card and a brochure to let others know you do more then sweaters, and set up a web space that would get you noticed. But you missed your chance by trying to get the big picture instead of the small opportunity to get you there.

There are little moments in time when you look back and think “Why didn’t I do that?” or “If I had just said this,” and you didn’t. There are days you’ll cringe at some of the things you’ve done and wish you could have had another chance. Luck is a tricky task master, but if you prepare yourself, you can make your luck work on your schedule!