#390: How to Find Serendipity on the Road to Your Goals

Introduction

In today's "People Skills" newsletter, we're doing a "Read, View, Do" approach to the topic of "Serendipity".

The meaning of "serendipity" is good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, for example, finding a pencil at an empty desk just as you walk into an exam and realizing that you forgot yours.

Many significant discoveries in history were serendipitous, including Post-it notes, Viagra, and the microwave, arising from unforeseen circumstances that were then recognized and capitalized upon.

Perhaps the most famous of all serendipitous discoveries was in 1928 when Alexander Fleming returned from a holiday to find mould growing on a Petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria. He noticed the mould seemed to be preventing the bacteria around it from growing. He soon identified that the mould produced a self-defence chemical that could kill bacteria and, from this, he developed the antibiotic, penicillin.

Here are our "Read" features on the topic of Serendipity...

01. Serendipity

Serendipity is the stumbling on unexpected discoveries while we are looking for something else. It is the discovery of a cure for one disease while engaged on research for an unrelated one.

The word "serendipity" comes from "Serendip", a former name for Sri Lanka or Ceylon. Some people explain that Sri Lanka was first discovered by chance by explorers whose main goal was the spice-rich coasts of India.

A more probable origin of the word lies in Horace Walpole's fairy-tale, "The Three Princes of Serendip", whose heroes were always making discoveries by accident and wisdom, of "things they were not in quest of".

02. Happy Chance Findings

While they were researching the effect of pollution on marine life, scientists at Reading University in Berkshire made the chance discovery that when crab dung is mixed with salt water it hardens into a bone-like substance, ideal for knitting together broken bones.

The substance is rich in calcium phosphates as are human bones and therefore actually encourages bone growth.

The chance discovery is set to replace current methods of mending limbs such as metal or plastic inserts and may even extend to hip replacement operations.

03. The Unknown Soldier

The "Prayer of an Unknown Soldier" is a well-known prayer found on the body of an anonymous Confederate solider during the American Civil War. It is a prayer where a man recognizes that he has asked for wealth and riches, but instead God gives him the opposite for his own benefit. It is an example of serendipity and goes like this...

"I asked God for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing I wanted - but everything I asked for;

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered;

I am among all men most richly blessed."

04. Video: "What is Serendipity?" from The Productivity Guy

Serendipity is the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. In the simplest sense, we can say that serendipity is simply luck. Something positive happens without you expecting it.

03. Worksheet: "The Route to a Goal"

The route to achieving a much-desired goal is rarely smooth. We encounter heartache and disappointment; failure and setback. But we need to keep going. Think about any time that you set yourself a challenging goal. Jot down what it felt like at each of the stages from initial blip to success. Finally, consider what serendipitous findings you made on the journey.

What Next?

If you have found this article useful, you now have a great resource to add to your e-learning store.

And, with this as your starting point, you can now move ahead by using the learning resources on Manage Train Learn to develop your knowledge and skills.

With over 22,000 learning resources on our 6 websites, with 2 sites offering free downloads, you can now take charge of your own learning.

Simply commit yourself each day to learning something new from MTL and then, - when you fully understand it, - reflect upon it, practise it, apply it, and review it, and in no time at all, you will have mastered the skill with confidence.

Thanks for reading this edition of the "People Skills" newsletter and good luck with your ongoing learning.

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