Coincidentally I was catching up with my pile o' magazines (yes I still like the print version) and found Inc Magazine's

"Rules for Success."  What was fascinating to me in the context of the football analogy was the combination of both bring prepared and allowing serendipity to happen.

• Rule #10:  Don't discount the role of luck. 
• Rule #2:  Embrace Accidents. 
• Rule #7:  Emphasize steady progress.  
• Etc.

There are 11 in all from top business minds....but what I took away is that it isn't just ONE thing.  It isn't just one person.  It's a combination of factors that may just need to happen the right way.  ( didn't it look like the 49'ers would come back after that strange 34 minute power outage---who could have predicted that?)

I have one client who has worked with me on and off for almost a year.  She calls me her "good luck charm," because whenever we work on her business, something great happens---seemingly out of the blue.  A headhunter calls or a big consulting project drops out of the sky.  I contend that when she decides to "get serious" and work on her business that she makes her own luck---people notice, they reach out to her and good outcomes appear. 

Frequently I'll do a coaching exploration call and the person gets so much good karma out of the freebie meeting that they then have a positive trajectory, improved focus and things get better without even working with me!  Is that luck or....am I just a catalyst to get them moving in a positive direction?  And does it really matter?