Fortuitous. Some people are it to the nth degree.
Before they were born, random circumstances conspired to ensure that they would be born healthy, and to intelligent, well-off, competent and capable parents who wanted them, who had set out specifically to bring forth their life into this world.
Further, they won the genetic lottery and came into this world predetermined to not only conform to society's norms regarding physical appearance and intelligence, but to exceed them in a way that secured them a means to make a living - i.e., excellent eye/hand coordination, the ability to solve problems or readily recognize patterns, perfect pitch, a pleasant personality, natural grace or athleticism - and then were encouraged to develop or indulge such.
The road map they were handed at birth was devoid of detours. None of the roads they needed to follow were under construction, all the bridges they had to cross were strong and secure. It was just a matter of moving forward.
Of course, some of those people do fall off track, indulge in ultra-hedonistic lifestyles, become addicted to drugs or alcohol, somehow lose their grip on sanity - golden children such as John Eleuthere du Pont, Syd Barrett, or Casey Johnson.
Then there are people who did not have life handed to them on a silver platter, but instead had to overcome terrible odds to make life at least tolerable.
Those are the ones who understand that, in reality, fortune favors the prepared. They are the ones who leave as little to chance as possible, possessors of what can only be called smart luck.
The best of the possessors of mere smart luck can be found in the historical record. Men and women who were not born into the best of circumstances or even very healthy, the Helen Kellers, Christy Browns, and Ed Roberts of the world.
All of them overcame disabilities or extremely difficult circumstances to become leaders in their communities or fields of endeavor.
They pressed on when the odds were not just stacked against them - the odds were actually knocking them back with regularity.
The example those people set, that of creating your own luck through hard work, dedication, and good old fashioned persistence, is inspirational.
Sheer dumb luck grants a number of people opportunities that millions will never have. However, the opportunities mere smart luck provides are available to one and all, it's just a matter of application.
Of course I suppose one would need to be lucky enough to be aware of that in order to actually do it...huh. Guess that requires a little bit of sheer dumb luck.
Okay, I'll concede that - but then it's all up to you and the mere smart luck of work, dedication, and persistence.
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