Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

-Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Game changers do happen in one’s career. Be it a promotion, a new job that pays a 6-figure salary, or a new business capital raised from one’s lottery winnings, its frequency varies from person to person. Even Aristotle admitted that some people are born lucky. Nevertheless, one needs to be in a constant lookout for such things, for when they go, they may be gone for good.

I, for one, turned down a number of opportunities when I was younger. They could have influenced what I am today. There were some decisions that could have changed the entire course of my life. I am sure each of us has a fair share of such an experience. The reality is we cannot turn back time. Those missed opportunities may not return. Some may be luckier to have second chances, but life is indeed a box that may not always be filled with sweet, good-quality chocolates (to put a pun on what Forrest Gump said).

What then is the point of moving forward? What is the point of pursuing a degree, of learning a new skill, or on working hard on achieving our dreams if all of life is but a game of chance – a couple of few windfalls enjoyed only by a chosen (lucky) few?

There is hope; there is a sense of purpose. Now that we have established that life is filled with occasional game changers, preparation is key. One can never go wrong with preparation. Opportunities do come and go. I would rather be prepared when I am lucky than be lucky yet unprepared. This fine demarcation is what distinguishes successful people from the rest. They work hard so that when an opportunity opens, they catapult themselves to their goals. Game changers are catalysts in that they can fast forward events to help us reach our goals faster. Success is, therefore, not merely all about luck. It is a combination of luck and hard work.

We may not have any control as to when game changers present themselves in the course of our career. However, we do have control over our decisions. It is either we wait for life to throw lemons at us or we have baskets ready to catch them!

At some point in my career I thought I became stagnant. I thought I reached a plateau in terms of career growth. I believed there was no chance for me to be greater than where I was. Until one day, one company – one whose offer I rejected twice – contacted me and “gave me another job offer I could not refuse”. It showed me some figures I never anticipated early on in my corporate career. Not only that, they were even willing to wait for me for 2 months before I could go on board with them. I always work hard to be good at my craft, but I never expected that an opportunity would present itself to help me get to my goal faster. It was my game changer.

I eventually signed up and am now a part of this new company. I made the right decision and I am happy with where I am now. This new company values me for what I can do. It never fails to let me feel that I am part of something big. I am proud to be part of a team that plays a crucial role in meeting the company’s goals and objectives. For me, this is the very definition of preparation meeting opportunity. It changed everything – it changed my plans, the direction of my career, my ambitions. Am I lucky? I say I am prepared for such an opportunity.

We may feel like we are working hard only for naught. We need to change our mindset. It is completely fine to work hard, just do not do it blindly. Work hard and at the same time be vigilant of game changers.