Hi All,

As many of you know, every month I compose a list of tips on some aspect of doing a doctorate or your career. This month it was on a topic close to my heart: the career theory of planned happenstance: the idea of allowing luck to play a role in your career... without just sitting back and waiting for an opportunity to arise. So how can you increase the chance of being lucky? Read: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/1.PGR%20Tips%20issue%2041%20creating%20luck%20in%20your%20career.pdf
hope you enjoy it and find it useful
Tennie

haha, I give a lecture on this every year! I love planned happenstance!

cool! what is your research subject- anything to do with planned happenstance? I'd love to know whether you reckon I've got it right- expert opinion:-) (although very scary as I've already sent it out...)

My favourite quote on this type of thing is: 'There's no such thing as a career path. It's crazy paving and you have to lay it yourself'.

I heard this at a workshop on academic careers, and it has stuck with me ever since!

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Well I do lectures covering all the major career theories. Its loosely related to my research, which i do bring in, but not specifically.

I think you got it right - although I like to interpret it that although you can make your own luck, its also about just knowing what to do when those situations do just crop up out of the blue.

I do think its the best theory though, from personal experience.

ta Sneaks,
that is a really useful angle, about knowing how to make the most of opportunities too.... glad you were in agreement with most of it though.
Tennie

Hi TennieV,
I was unemployed for nearly 2 years after I completed my Masters degree, coz of the economic situation and Although I have just started with my PhD, I have been thinking of ways to improve my 'luck' after I complete my PhD.

Thanks, coz, now I have something to think about that could just be my Answer - Planned happenstance article! Its really got me thinking - in a good, less stressed way!

Thanks TennieV - this is really helpful.

I read it & agree with Sneaks - it sounds more like 'be pro-active and make your own luck'.

BTW Sneaks, your research sounds interesting. Have you come accross a book by S. Covey called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People? It's quite well known & I've just started reading it. Would you say it's any good?