Napoleon knew what others have noted — on a rapidly changing battlefield, there are the things you know you know, the things you know you don’t know, and the things you don’t know you don’t know. It’s in this last category that fortunes are so often made or broken.

And so it is in our careers. The big events that matter most are often those that we can least predict. You take a course in college that inspires you to change your major. You get a new job after a friend of a friend refers you to a company you’d never heard of before. You propose a process innovation that occurs to you in the shower while thinking about building a tree house for your daughter.

Serendipity is the ability to take a chance occurrence — a surprising idea, person or event — and make creative use of it. Yet serendipity can be exceedingly difficult to pull off in the midst of our busy work lives.

Why? Because we are psychologically wired to find the things that match our expectations and discount what doesn’t. For most of us, our education and work environments only reinforce this behavior. We are tunnel-visioned. Yet the benefits of having a robust peripheral vision are overwhelming. Besides being responsible for so much of our innovation, peripheral vision is how we discover new opportunities and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Find the people that matter

In business we are often at the mercy of chance to locate the people that we should be working with. There was no matchmaking service that brought together Lennon and McCartney, Jobs and Wozniak, or Ben and Jerry. Each of these people put themselves in motion — they escaped their isolated environments or routines long enough to bump into others. Circumstance brought these personalities together, but to achieve success they had to connect, see something in each other and ultimately take the initiative in pursuing the partnership

How many collaborators, new hires and customer prospects do we miss because we aren’t looking for them when they appear in our lives? If the answer is “more than a few,” it’s a good time to develop your skill of motion.

Get out of the cubicle, and work for a few hours in the lobby, cafe or cafeteria where visitors are coming in and out all day. You might also attend local meetups or conferences, but rather than targeting other people based on where they work or their job title, avoid looking at nametags altogether. The people who seem least likely to be able to help you (e.g. that crazy guy in the tie-dye t-shirt) might just be the most helpful of all.

Use surprise events

When 29-year old Howard Schultz was sent to Milan on a business trip his bosses gave him a very focused goal — buy wholesale beans for the coffee-bean shop he worked for. Yet he found something that deeply surprised him. On every corner of the city there were espresso bars that both served amazing coffee drinks and acted as social meeting places.

He had never seen anything like it before, and he suddenly knew in his bones that this concept could be huge in America. He pitched his bosses on the idea, but they rejected him out of hand. They had no interest in becoming a “restaurant” business. Instead he pursued the idea on his own, ultimately creating the global phenomenon known as Starbucks.

Schultz was able to see beyond the task he’d been assigned and imagined a future where the coffee-bar phenomenon had transformed the entire industry. Like Schultz, we must foster our peripheral vision to rise above our to-do lists and be ready when a surprise event occurs. Dedicating time to non work-related interests helps us distance ourselves from our primary tasks. This distance allows us to make the connections across domains that lead to insights and innovations.

Solve problems based on unexpected sources

In 1979 Sir James Dyson was obsessed with the idea of building a better vacuum cleaner, but it wasn’t until he stumbled on an industrial cyclone at the local sawmill that he came up with an idea for how to solve the technical problem.

Having an overriding purpose affects how we see the world. Dyson was committed to improving on the vacuum design, and this gave him eyes to see the solution embedded in the cyclone machine. Another engineer without this obsession never would have connected the cyclone to a consumer vacuum. By developing a strong perspective we increase the likelihood we’ll run into the very things that will be most helpful to us, wherever they emerge from.

Put simply, we can learn to harness serendipity as a rigorous business practice. The most successful entrepreneurs and business generally do, allowing chance to intervene in their routinized work lives, recognizing the most promising opportunities, and taking action on them, even if they challenge their best laid plans. Or, perhaps, precisely because they challenge them.

Right so people are always saying and thinkng  that because you have a disability, you cant do anything for yourself. I have a physical disability which affects me walking. This means i can’t walk for very long and i have a possibility of collapsing.

People are always saying to me “you are strong just keep fighting”. What they don’t get it I don’t have an illness, it’s a disability!  I cant fight it because im not going to win. Whatever I do it is here to stay. I hope that one day I can get a little better but then that is setting myself up for a fall. Just because im not fighting it doesn’t mean im just giving in. I am my own person and I want to find my way by myself, not others telling me what I can and can’t do. That actually makes me laugh you have a disability and people tell you this, yet they have nothing wrong with them. How do you know I  cant do something until I try.  Yes i do need a little extra support at time but that doesnt mean i cant work or do anything myself.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Iam one of the lucky ones because there is worse things out there. For those that talk to us who have something wrong with us, please dont talk down to us as it is very offensive. To those that have an open mind thankyou .

Research says that 95% of people in the United States has some form of superstition.  I used to work with a woman that would take those off as personal days because she was so scared.

The number 13 and Friday repeatedly are spoken of in mythology and some religions.

Christians note that 13 people attended the Last Supper, with Jesus before Judas (one of his disciples) betrayed him.  Jesus death was also on a Friday.

Even though he was not a religion or mythical, rapper Tupac Shakur died on Friday, Sept. 13, 1996, after being shot days before.

Powering this fear are the Friday the 13th movie series.  All about some very unlucky events.

Some hotels and high rise buildings skip having a 13th floor entirely.

How was your Friday the 13th?

If you have food in your stomach you are lucky. There’s many people out there who can not afford food. There are people that don’t know where there next meal is coming from. Even kids are going hungry because there families can not afford food. So think next time you take food for granted.

If you have a roof over you head you are lucky. There are alot of homeless people out there that would love to have a roof over their heads even some children are homeless. Not everyone that is homeless have addictions problems either some are just unlucky in finding jobs to support their families. Its hard to pay for rent since its so expensive. The average price for rent is $3,331 in Manhattan. That is really expensive considering the economy and most people of today cant even find a job. So if you have a roof over your head don’t take it for granted you are lucky to have the roof over your head.

These are just some of the few things people take for granted every day that shouldn’t be taken for granted. There’s some people not as lucky as others and do not even have the bare necessities to living. If you have a job be grateful and stop complaining because your not making what you should be making. Be grateful that you have a job and are able to support your families.

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According to Feng Shui, when harmony prevails, all aspects of good fortune manifests: health, wealth and happiness. Lucky objects are beneficial to have, but knowing where and how to place them is even more beneficial.

There are many lucky objects that can be used to attract positive Chi energy and deflect negative Chi energy. Following are examples of some well known lucky objects used in Feng Shui and where and how to place them for most benefit.

DRAGON

The dragon is regarded as the most auspicious symbol of good fortune. It signifies the power of authority. Place it so that it does not look like it is heading towards a door or window.

PHOENIX

The phoenix is a symbol of renewal. It brings opportunities, fame and recognition. Place it so that it is not flying towards a door.

TURTLE

A turtle symbolizes longevity and constancy but as they are slow moving creatures they are not considered suitable for a work environment.

TIGER

A tiger represents bravery and strength. It is best placed in a den or an office. It should not look like it is ready to pounce or have its mouth open.

HORSE

The horse symbolizes power and movement. It is often used by people who would like to travel. It should not look like it is heading for a door or window.

ELEPHANT

Elephants should always have their trunks turned upward, as if trumpeting, to herald good news. They can be placed in the entrance hall, but not directly facing the door.

FORTUNE FROG

The frog (actually a three-legged toad) holds a coin in its mouth and has strings of coins around its feet. It should be placed facing the door to catch the money of passers-by or near a cash register.

LAUGHING BUDDHA

This is a symbol of prosperity and joy. He is usually prominently placed in the living room, dining room or family hall.

AQUARIUM

An aquarium is considered lucky and can bring prosperity into the house. Place your aquarium in areas of your house or room that require activity. Fish can also absorb negative Chi, particularly the Blackmoor variety, which is very sensitive.

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© Copyright J M Lennox. All Rights Reserved.

I don’t care what you think of me.

I do care but I’m gonna act like I don’t care.

You are not smarter than me but I’m not smarter than you.

You are probably thinking the same thing as me but you just don’t want to admit it because you wanna try to be better than me.

In my opinion no one is better than me.

I can get along with anybody’s different opinions because opinions are like assholes everybody’s got one.

Life is just a dream mixed with a shot of reality!

I don’t know everything in this world and I’m not going to act like I know everything in this world.

I’ve just got to grow up and be a man.

I’m not a little kid any more.

It’s been a long time since I was a little kid.

I’m getting used to being alone in this house but it still feels weird without my father being here.

I’ve got to try harder than what I’m trying.

I know I can do better.

I’m not gonna let someone tell me that I won’t get no better.

I should be lucky that I’m not on the street.

I don’t care if I’m nothing to no one.

I am too liberal I don’t even know if I know what that means.

I’m tired but I just don’t want to go to bed yet.

I’ve got so much stuff in my head.

I hope I’m a good guy in other people’s eyes.

Well I’m gonna let you go for now but I hope ya’ll have sweet dreams!

But did you know that some common good luck charms have pretty weird origins?

Take one of the all time favorites – the rabbit’s foot.  Any rabbit will tell you THEY don’t think there’s anything lucky about having their feet summarily cut off, but the origins of the appendage as a symbol of good fortune may make you think twice about rubbing it to gain a little luck of your own.  Early cave drawings suggest that our ancestors thought of the rabbit’s foot as a phallic symbol!  So much for rubbing that thing, right?  A more benign view of the foot’s value was that of the Celts, who believed that because the rabbit spent so much time underground, it must be in secret communication with the under world and therefore knew a whole lot more about what was going on than humans did.  That doesn’t seem to work well for ostrich’s digging their heads in the ground, but the Celts were a long way from Australia.

Ok, so you’ve dropped the old rabbit’s foot and are looking for something with less of a sexual history.  There’s the horseshoe of course and although it doesn’t portend to have any gender-specific background to its claim of good fortune, it does have a devilish story to tell.  It seems that around 959 A.D., the gentleman who would become the Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Dunstan by name, was a blacksmith by trade.  One day a guy with strange feet approaches him; feet that were cloven (hint, hint).  Dunstan was quick to realize whom he was dealing with.  When his visitor asked him to put horseshoes on his weird feet, Dunstan came up with a plan.  He agreed, but proceeded to make the procedure as painful as he could, even getting the fellow to agree to being tied up during the process.  While in that vulnerable position Dunstan got the devil to agree never to enter a home that had a horseshoe above the door.  Perhaps the devil could have used a rabbit’s foot that day.

For the Greeks, on the other hand, the horseshoe was thought to be magical because it was made of iron, an element they believed could fend off evil.  And, during the Middle Ages, it was believed that witches traveled on brooms because they were afraid of horses with horseshoes – to them it was the same as a crucifix in the face of Count Dracula.

Still not happy with your good luck choices?  Well, there’s always the wishbone – or maybe not.  Using a wishbone to make a wish goes back in time about two and a half thousand years.  It originated with the Etruscans (Italy) who believed chickens could predict the future.  I guess those birds never heard of Colonel Sanders and couldn’t predict his arrival.  But, the Etruscans thought that since the hens told of their own eggs’ arrival by squawking that was good enough.  For roosters, they announced that dawn was arriving so that apparently was enough for the Etruscans to believe the roosters were in the know.  When the birds were killed (so much for being in the know), their collarbone was put in the sun to dry, later to be picked up and wished upon (but not broken – that was a ritual later added by the Romans).

How about a charm that comes with the luck of the Irish – the four-leaf clover?  Well, it has a somewhat grisly history that originated with the Druids who would gather in the forest several times a year to make sacrifices (yes, human) and settle disputes.  At the end of their ceremonies they would gather mistletoe and clover, which they believed, could maintain harmony among their families.  Apparently, those who were sacrificed were excluded from good luck or familial harmony four-leaf clover or not.

So, we’ve run the gamut of good luck charms and their less-than-luck-filled histories.  Isn’t there anything that isn’t drenched in a history of blood, sex or the devil?  Sure there is.  Try crossing your fingers.  Although it emanates from a pagan belief that a cross was a symbol of unity and that good spirits dwelled in the intersection of the two fingers, at least no animals (or humans) were harmed in the making of this legend.  I guess that’s a PG rating in the good luck charm business.

 I own met innumerable mortals over the last unit of elderliness connections my field line of donkeywork, stammering cognition, and have heard a couple of remarkable stories of how they narrowly avoided a terrorist rush. 

The key was a man who was effect Unused York at the spell of the outbreak on the twin towers. He and his friends from England had been drag Untouched York for around a month and were due to fly back internal on September 11th. On the tenth of September they decided to drive to the twin towers, firstly to keep a glom and secondly to proceeds some photos from the top. 

They had to wait a spread out day until material was their turn to purchase their tickets. The man who was practical delayed the unrelated asked the a problem: ” Are you here to booty photographs lads, or uncolored a general keeping watch around? If you are here to gate photographs firm might epitomize worth waiting until tommorrow, over firm is completely cloudy up slick today. I charge sell you the tickets today, thence when you show tommorrow you make ready not have to wait etc. “ 

They agreed this was a admirable notion and planned to return early direction the morning. 

 ” What shall we pull off pdq whence ” verbal one of the association of lads. 

They discussed the options and decided to vitality to a bar and to have a few drinks. A few drinks turned into a lot of drinks. In the morning they all slept in to recover from the alcohol and when they awoke they quickly heard the news. 

Alcohol had possibly saved their lives. 

I met another man who had been in Bali on the night of the terrorist attack there. He and his girlfriend had planned to meet another couple in one of the bars which was eventually bombed. 

Earlier in the day the couple had phoned to cancel as one of them was ill. Another lucky escape!

The superstition of friday the 13th has spread so much that some cities do not have a 13th street. The Turks were one of the few that despised the number 13, they didn’t even record it as part of their vocabulary! At one time, it was said, that some buildings did not have a 13th floor! 

Unlike these myths, the chinese and pharaoh’s in ancient Egypt considered 13 a lucky number. 

Here are some things that have happened on Friday the 13th (www.hauntedbay.com):

- 1951- In July, there was a massive flood in Kansa that destroyed millions of acres of farm land, killed 24 people, and did over $750 million worth in damage. 

- Tupac Shakur, a famous rapper, was shot and murdered on Friday the 13th in Las Vegas.

- Al Capone, a well known figure, was sent to prison on Friday the 13th.

- 1964- On good Friday, there was one of the largest earthquakes that ever took place in North America. It killed over 130 people.

- 1992- in March there was a huge earthquake in Turkey that killed over 2000 people and left around or maybe more than 50,000 homeless.

- Also known as “the king of swing”, Benny Goodman passed away on Friday the 13th.

- The 38th vice president of the Unites States, Hubert Humphrey died on Friday the 13th. 

Here are some of the many superstitions:

- If 13 people ever sit and have dinner together, at least one will die before the end of that year. My question is that, lets say that 13 people have dinner together on December 31 at 11:55 pm, does that mean that one of the 13 people might die in 5 minutes.

- If you have 13 letters in your name, first and last name combined, you are said to have “Devil’s luck”.

- There is said to be 13 steps leading to a gallows, where people are hanged. 

- Formula 1 racing, encountered several car crash deaths in cars numbered 13 and therefore no car is numbered 13 in Formula 1 racing.

- Many people known as vicious  murders today had thirteen letters in their name: Saddam Hussein, Charles Mason, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and more.

There are many more superstitions and interesting things but most of the myths are too unreal which is why I will not write them. DO YOU THINK FRIDAY THE 13TH is UNLUCKY? Comment below and tell me why.

LIKE and COMMENT, give me feedback, it really helps me out. Tell me in a comment below if you would like me to post more on any relating topic and I would be happy to. 

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It’s Friday the 13th. Let’s talk about some scary things linked to this “scary” day. Before that, let me first tell you one observation you may not be aware of. From 2006 to 2015, the average number of occurrences of Friday the 13th is 2. This day appears 1 – 3 times a year. This year, Friday the 13th happens on May and by year 2012, there will be 3 Friday the 13th‘s. What is so big deal of this day? Oh, it is such a BIG deal that “Friday the 13th“became one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. This movie became a pop culture. The fear of this day became literally popular that it got its own phobia called friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Friday alone is believed to be unlucky while the number 13 alone is believed to be a devil’s number. Even in modern days, people especially businessmen tend to treat this number differently. Buildings mostly don’t have 13th floor and room number 13. It may just be a superstition but history shows a lot of incidents that linked to Friday the 13th as an unlucky day. For Christians, Jesus died on Friday and during Jesus’ last supper, there were 13 people around the table.

The following are some superstition related to Friday, 13 and Friday the 13th I used to hear from my old folks:

1. Bathing on Friday is prohibited. If you bath on Friday, especially on the 13th of the month, you’ll get sick. The evil force is at its strongest force on during this day. Oh, I feel sick if I don’t bath. Perhaps the devil gives me an exception.

2. Cutting fingernails on Friday brings bad luck to your health.

3. Cutting hair on Friday is like a curse to your family. It will result to the death of a member of the family. Does this mean, barbershop and parlor shops have to be close on Fridays?

4. Trips should not start on Friday. It will result misfortune. What about those out-of-town seminars on weekend? Does it mean I need to rush on the day itself?

5. No business shall be opened on Friday or else it will surely fail.

It is for you to believe if this day is indeed an unlucky day. I believe everyday is a lucky day. Luck is not something that simply happens due to what other matters dictate. It is something that should emanate from each person. I know I can be lucky if I feel lucky. You must feel that too.