Right Place at the Right Time

Have you ever experienced being in the right place at the right time? Was it instantaneous? Did it require you actively seeking it out? You probably didn’t think so, right? Maybe even thought it was just plain luck? Serendipity usually happens on it’s own without much help from us. It strikes unexpectedly and without foreshadowing.

I once was interviewing for a job in California with a law office. I wanted this job very much. It was a small 3 man office and the office building was built around a two story garden. The people I would be working with seemed kind, intelligent and humorous. I thought we would make a good fit. It also was paying what I was looking for in the way of salary.

My headhunter had sent me and one other woman for the same job interview at this location. We both interviewed on the same day. I sort of got to know this other girl because we had meetings scheduled back to back. I liked her. She was nice. However, I was heartbroken when I found out she had been offered the job and not me. I had no idea what made her more attractive, but I was deeply saddened my job hunt would not end here.

So, I decided, spontaneously, to write the owner of the firm a letter expressing my gratitude for the interview and stated how badly I wanted to work for them. I said, if anything ever happened, or if another position became available, I would greatly appreciate being considered in the future. I do not recall if it was me or my head hunter who had suggested I write the letter, but it felt right and I think somehow I knew it would be well received.

To my astonishment, I got a call within a couple days offering me the job! The woman they had hired did not show up the first day of work, so I got the job!!! I was in the right place at the right time even though the road was paved with extenuating circumstances. In hindsight, many years later, I would look back on this position as one of my favorite jobs of my entire career. And, I have told the story of the woman not showing up for her first day of work to many people over in the ensuring years, especially my children.

Being in the right place at the right time, honestly doesn’t happen overnight. One can prepare for certain events all their life for that one moment. That grand slam, that full ride scholarship, that job that you wanted more than anything. Sometimes luck has nothing to do with it and everything to do with preparation, tenacity and hard work.

It also requires patience and sometimes training. I was the right person for that first job I wanted so badly. I had all the skills. I’ll never know why they offered it to the other person, but I do know, that I am the one who had fire in my belly for that position and it won me the right to work there full time!

So if you are waiting for the right time to come along, don’t get discouraged when obstacles are placed in your path. Find a way to go up and over, around and behind those obstacles so that when your moment of serendipity calls, you will be ready!