You often wonder about people who are suddenly thrust to the pinnacle of their profession, a so-called overnight sensation, when just moments ago they were unknown. You often ask yourself, “How did they do it and who did they know?” Their qualifications and talents are excellent yet so are thousands of equally qualified and talent people. Assuming everything was legit, they took that quantum leap. They were the proverbial camel that passed through the eye of the needle.  Some call it luck, being in the right place at the right time.  Without a doubt luck played a role yet it may have been a smaller component that you imagine.

There are special unique moments – a flash – that opportunity or invitation to get on the express elevator to the penthouse. If you don’t follow your gut instinct and hesitate, you’ll have to take a local elevator in which someone has pressed all the buttons. Or you may just have to walk up the stairs, a time consuming, exhausting and arduous affair. While you’re huffing and puffing, someone else is already enjoying their martini “shaken, not stirred” lounging in a plush Art Deco leather chair taking in the stunning panoramic views of their success.

These moments occur more frequently than you can imagine yet we’re so caught up in our daily habits and rituals that we rarely recognize them. Maybe it’s the one time you didn’t greet or acknowledge an acquaintance in the elevator whose simple chit-chat would have contained critical info for what you desire most at the moment. Or the fascinating article provided by a friend that you never read. Or a co-worker whom you half listened to and never heard the all important ‘missing link’ to your dreams as you checked the messages on your mobile.

The universe is constantly leaking information specifically customized for you. We’re human so we’ll never bat 1.0000. In retelling an age-old baseball tale, there is a profound difference between batting .250 vs. .300.  The statistical difference between a .300 hitter and a .250 hitter is a mere one hit a week during the season. That one hit makes the .300 batter a star vs. and a .250 hitter merely average.  The difference between them is only one more hit every 7 days! Now just imagine the salary difference and potential future between those hitters.

Most recently this situation happened to me several months ago. I had time before an interior design reception and stopped by a nearby café. My briefcase was bulging with newspapers I hadn’t read yet and I was anxious to catch up on current events.  Seated nearby was an acquaintance who didn’t see me. I could have gone somewhere else in the café, kicked back and read the newspapers. Instead I greeted him and we engaged in conversation. From that conversation he provided invaluable information which I followed up on that gave me exceptional media exposure and prestige.

Based on that split-second decision, I got that extra hit that week based on a 30 minute conversation. Cocooning myself in my own world instead would have cost me far more in future opportunities that I could have realized.

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