The secret to life

When generals plan battles, they try to plan for every contingency. Every bump in the road. They want to be ready for any curve the enemy throws at them.

But you can't place for dumb luck. Or serendipity.

Let's take an example. You're from, say, Queens, New York, and you're on your way to Australia. You stop in San Francisco for a long layover, and need something to do. Hey, there's a baseball game, and hey, Barry Bonds is going for the all-time home run record. You score a ducat, maybe thinking you'll witness history from the bleachers. The game rolls on, then, in the fifth inning, it happens. 3-2 pitch, and Bonds cranks it. 756. But wait, the ball's heading your way. And it leads near you, setting off a scrum that would frighten sharks. And there in you are, in the pile, scrambling for history, and a payday. Moments later, as the police sort out the mass of humanity, they pull you out. With the ball. They escort you away to safely. And toward 15 minutes of fame.

Think it can't happen? Ask Matt Murphy. When he gets back from Australia.

As much as you plan, you better be ready for serendipity when it falls out of the sky.