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PARETO RULE AND SERENDIPITY AMPLIFY EACH OTHER
Posted in Business, Creativity, existentialism, Law of Attraction, Mind - Body, serendipity, Uncategorized
Tagged Pareto Principle, serendipity
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THE PARETO PRINCIPLE ENHANCES SERENDIPITY
Pareto Rules Serendipity.
Serendipity is the fortunate discovery of something valuable or fortunate that you weren’t actively seeking. While it is unpredictable there are ways to nudge yourself in the direction of more frequent and impactful happy occurrences.
Here is how I use the Pareto Principle to invoke Engineered Serendipity encounters.
The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, states that roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Stated otherwise, 80% of results come from 20% of the efforts. The 20% are known as the “vital Few”. Hence, I apply this principle to identify areas of my life where a little effort (20%) can yield a high chance (80%) of serendipitous encounters and outcomes.
Eighty percent of our achievements come from 20% of our time.
The 80/20 rule is regarded as a general framework, and the specific applications may vary (70/30 or 90/10) depending on any person’s areas of interests and goals.
Engineered Serendipity is the concept of creating circumstances that increase the likelihood of encountering fortunate discoveries or happy accidents. For example, you, a literary type, go out for a walk, not looking for anything, when you stumble on a hidden gem of a bookstore you never knew existed. That’s kind of the vibe of engineered serendipity.
The key is to identify areas where a small investment of effort (“vital few”), can yield a high chance of serendipity encounter. By being intentionally expectant, open, and persistent, we significantly increase the likelihood of encountering positive surprises and unexpected fortunate opportunities in our life.
Serendipity is a mindset.
&
The three top promising areas in our lives that are conducive to valuable serendipity encounters are:
1) Social Interactions and Social Networking.
The quality of our lives comes down to the quality of the people and experiences that fill it.
- The 20% Effort. In my social life I focus on developing relationships with a curated group (- the vital few) – 20% of friends, colleagues, acquaintances who teach me, challenge me and inspire me. I attend events they recommend, introduce them to my networks, and schedule more one-on-one time with them for lunch or coffee.
- The 80% Serendipitous outcomes. This focused effort with a select smaller group of people amplifies the chance of unexpected new social connections, project collaborators, or enhanced new introductions to added new people within their circles of friends and colleagues.
Most everything comes to us from other people.
2) Open Mind for Continuous Learning and Study:
- The 20% Effort: I identify and focus on one or two topics that truly pique my curiosity and enhance my professional skills. I try to continuously upgrade my insights in life and my sagacity talents. I expand my knowledge by reading books and learning a second language. Attending public talks, seminars, or joining online communities and classes are common modes of continuing education.
- My 80% Serendipity Gain: By immersing myself in the areas of my interest, I’ve encountered related content, events, and teachers I may have otherwise missed. This leads to unexpected learning opportunities or collaborations. I acquire new skills, participate in projects all of which scales and enhance the quality of my serendipity encounters.
Life is a continuous education program.
3) Adventurism and Exposure to New Environments:
- The 20% Effort: I dedicate fraction of my time to exploring new places (museums, parks, workshops). Try new and different activities (volunteering, joining a club).
I travel to foreign countries. I always ensure that my passport is updated and valid.
- The 80% Serendipitous Rewards: Stepping outside my local Comfort Zone increases my chance of encountering unexpected new people, ideas, and opportunities that may not have come my way otherwise.
Say it Again – the quality of my life comes down to the quality of people and experiences that I surround myself.
&
INSIGHTS INTO LIFE VALUABLE SERENDIPITY ENCOUNTERS
Notes of Personal Habits, Activities and Methods to Experience Serendipity.
My Advice – Become a Curator of Your Time:
The most precious asset we have is the time of our life.
The challenge is productive use of Our time.
Shift your thinking – 80% of our results and enjoyment of life comes from 20% of the time we used. Twenty percent (20%) is the flashing moment of inspired sagacity – when we recognize the serendipitous encounter for what it is – Serendipity.
The first step is to become aware of how we spend our time currently. Track your activities for a week to identify areas where you can free up even a small amount of time (the vital 20%) for centered engineered serendipity efforts. This doesn’t have to be a drastic change; even a reallocation of an hour a week can make a significant difference.
Ingenious – there is no shortage of time when we use our time productively.
I Set Loose Intentions:
I do it before venturing into a new environment or activity. I carry a loose intention in my mind. This can be something as simple as “meet someone new in this field” or “learn something unexpected today.”
Having a hovering guiding principle helps me, flexibly, to be open to relevant opportunities while remaining adaptable and receptive of the unexpected.
I Embrace the Power of an Open Mind:
An open mind runs at a higher gear.
I keep an open mind more than I ever did before. The key ingredient to engineered serendipity is a mindset of receptivity. I’m willing to try new things. Being mindful of the present keeps me open to unexpected conversations, invitations, flirtations or detours from my original routines. Sometimes, the most serendipitous encounters happen when we least expect them.
Strike up a conversation with folks who appear interesting. Explore unexpected exhibits at the trade show, museum, and public fairground.
I’m the first to introduce yourself to new people. It was hard for me to break out of my incarcerating Discomfort Zone. However now I’m the first to introduce myself and shake hands with everyone seated around my lunch table.
I introduce myself using the James Bond style: “Lender. Mandy Lender.” As I project this confident self-introductory style, the other party is left to wonder: ‘How did I miss him until now?’
Expect hidden connections or opportunities that might arise. They always do!
Nurturing the Seeds of Serendipity.
Having been introduced I don’t let chance encounters fizzle out. I exchange contact information with people I meet. I hand out a gratis copy of my hard-cover book: ‘The Vision of Habakkuk. The Law of Attraction in the Holy Bible.’ I use the hard cover print version of the book in lieu of a business card. People toss business cards but they’re less like to toss a book.
I follow up on interesting discussions and take initiative to nurture on the new connections. This involves attendance at social, cultural and commercial events that others recommend. I may simply send a follow-up email to express your continued interest.
Have you read the ‘Never Eat Alone’ text by Keith Ferrazzi? Go study it!
Problem-Solving and Creativity.
Master Core Creativity Techniques (investing 20% effort). This will equip you with a solid toolkit of problem-solving frameworks, and tools of brainstorming techniques. Having a strong foundation in these core methods allows me to approach challenges strategically. Doing that yields 80% of solutions to later challenges.
Let Your Mind Wander (that is yielding 80% Serendipity). Sometimes the best solutions come when we step away from the problem entirely. I take breaks to recharge, engage in hobbies that stimulate different parts of my brain. I do yard work around my farmhouse. I do physical work around my farmhouse and spend time outside in nature. I take a refreshing nap if I feel like it. This downtime allows our subconscious to make unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, fostering a creative breakthrough when we least expect it.
By taking these steps, we increase the likelihood of serendipitous encounters to blossom into long-term friendships, friendly collaborations, or perceive new career opportunities.
The ideal balance between focused effort and serendipitous exploration varies depending on your specific goals and personality.
&
Learning and Exploration:
Focus on High-Quality Resources (20% Effort). I dedicate time to curate a select group of reliable sources (books, master classes, courses, podcasts, AI agents) tailored to my interests. This intellectual core collection provides a strong foundation of knowledge and sagacity.
I rely on and trust on the Power of Randomness (that 80% Serendipity). Here’s where the magic happens. I step outside my Comfort Zone and actively seek out experiences that expose me to a wider range of ideas and people. I attend conferences on unfamiliar topics, join online communities with diverse perspectives, or participate in workshops that pique my curiosity. Maven.com is one example. This deliberate “randomness” can spark unexpected connections between seemingly disparate concepts, igniting a spark of creativity or leading me down a fascinating intellectual rabbit hole.
Networks and Relationships
I Cultivate Meaningful Connections (20% Effort). I invest time, money and energy in building strong relationships with select groups of individuals who inspire and support me. These core connections provide a foundation of trust and reciprocity.
I Expand My Rewarding Serendipity Returns (80% Serendipity). For that purpose I put myself in situations where I can meet new people from various backgrounds. I seek to attend events with a diverse guest list, such as charity dinners, business lunch meetings, and strike up conversations with strangers at gatherings. I’m a member of Toastmasters, my local chamber of commerce, etc.
I consider volunteering for causes I care about (for example medical/health foundations). These interactions lead me to serendipitous connections and collaborations I never anticipated. Doors open to new opportunities or simply enrich my life with fresh perspectives.
Adventurism and Exposure to New Environments.
I travel to foreign countries. (a 20% effort). I always ensure that my passport is updated and valid. I’ve done approximately 2,200 commercial airplane boardings in my lifetime. An international airport is the best place to watch different people and learn about different cultures (20%).
The 80% Serendipitous Rewards: Stepping outside my local, provincial comfort ‘hood’ increases my chance encountering unexpected new people, knowledge, ideas, and opportunities that may not have come my way otherwise.
Say that again – the quality of my life comes down to the quality of people and experiences that I surround myself.
&
Why these areas?
The areas described above are fertile ground for Engineered Serendipity because they all share a common thread: They thrive on a delicate balance between intentionality and openness to chance encounters.
By focusing our initial effort on building a solid social foundation (a 20% investment) – we free up mental space (an 80% result) to be receptive to the unexpected opportunities that serendipity encounters brings. The “80% Serendipity” activities in turn open a larger pool of potential connections and ideas, increasing the likelihood of a surprising and positive outcome.
&
Bonus Tool. Track your serendipitous experiences! Keep a journal or use a note-taking app to jot down unexpected encounters, interesting ideas, or helpful connections. Reviewing these notes regularly helps us identify patterns and refine your approach to engineered serendipity over time. By consciously creating opportunities for serendipity encounters and reflecting on the results, you significantly increase the likelihood of experiencing those fortunate moments where surprise and inspiration collide.
Richard Koch who re-invented the 21st century 80/20 principle says that ”successful people typically don’t plan their success. Instead, they develop a unique philosophy or attitude that works for them. They stumble across strategies which are shortcuts to success, and latch onto them. Events hand them opportunities they could not have anticipated.” This last statement is another way of defining Engineered Serendipity.
Photo credit – Richard Koch back cover book.
© Mandy Lender MD
http://www.mandylender.com www.mandylender.net www.attractome.com http://www.lendercombinations.com www.visionofhabakkuk.com
Tags: #serendipity #80/20rule #engineeredserendipity #paretoprinciple #sagacity #adventurism #socialnetworking #continuingeducation
Posted in Business, Creativity, existentialism, Law of Attraction, serendipity, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged 80/20 rule, adventurism, continuing education, engineered serendipity, Keith Ferrazzi, life, Pareto Principle, productivity, Richard Koch, sagacity, serendipity, social networking
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WHO’S AFRAID OF RFK Jr?
WHO RUNS FEARFUL OF RFK Jr?
The short answer is – the Democratic National Committee is running scared of RFK Jr.
The Democratic National Committee called Kennedy a “useful idiot”.
Calling a political opponent by vulgar language does not attract votes.
It really doesn’t matter how many convictions Biden’s main opponent is charged with. What matters is that the DNC has ill-treated and lost the only Kennedy Family member who counts politically.
The DNC lost its historic sparkle and dash. The DNC used to be so much cooler, but now it’s kinda dull.
On next Election Day, the DNC will have lost a traditional democrats’ vote-getter. Missing those democrats’ votes will tip the scale in favor of the other opposing party presidential candidate.
Simple Math. Duh.
Photo by Gage Skidmore.
The Biden trial started Monday, June 3, 2024 in a Delaware court.
www.mandylender.com www.mandylender.net www.attractome.com www.lendercombinations.com
#RobertFKennedyJr #RFKJr2024 #juristocracy
Posted in Business, Uncategorized
Tagged Joe Biden, juristocracy, news, politics, rfk-jr, RFKJr2024, Robert F Kennedy Jr.
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SYNDICATE YOUR POSTS ON MANDY’S SIX BLOG SITES
Publish or Perish – may the forces of the Blog posts be with you.
My blog posts are syndicated on my six (6) different blog sites.
Content creation is the way of future intellectual survival.
All the six blog sites are sooner or later indexed by the major search engines. Search engines such as Google (91%), Bing, Yahoo, and li’l others.
Because of the growing ubiquity of AI, search engines sooner or later copy each other’s contents.
If you want to be noticed on the top of the search engine results page your internet occurrence need to be… noticed by the search engines.
The more – The merrier.
Below are my current running blog sites.
https://www.mandylender.net/blog
https://themasterattractor.com/
https://mandylender.substack.com/
https://medium.com/@mandy_42813
http://www.themasterattractor.com/ This blog is the pearl in the oyster. Why? Because it is hosted by Google’s Blogger. The posts are indexed by… Google’s very own. Duh.
https://www.tumblr.com/mandylender Over 100 million bloggers.
Notes: The top 5 blog sites are for a fee that I pay annually.
Every blogging site requires different formatting in order to publish. It is not a one click and Publish.
Your cost is – 0
Follow me and Contact me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mandy.lender.3

www.mandylender.net www.attractome.com www.lendercombinations.com
www.mandylender.com www.visionofhabakkuk.com
Tags: #blogsyndication #blogpublishing #contentcreation
The Fragile Tapestry of Democracy: Mending the Tears
The Fragile Tapestry of Democracy: Mending the Tears
Philosophical musing on strained democracy and practical solutions.
The specter of democratic decline hangs heavy in the air. The politician and historian Lord Paul Tyler, (though the veracity of his claim is contested), advanced a troubling pattern:
“Democracies historically crumble after roughly 200 years, often succumbing to economic hardship and ultimately, dictatorship”.
This observation may not be exactly accurate. Nonetheless, it compels us to confront a chilling question: are the recent fissures on our college campuses a symptom of a more pervasive societal rot, or merely a fraying thread in the very tapestry of American democracy?
The rise of anti-Semitism phenomena on college campuses serves as a forceful reminder of history’s capacity for grim repetition. The unchecked prejudice that culminated in the horrors of 1938 Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany remains standing as a stark testament to the potential consequences of societal complacency. Similar intolerance on the American campuses, if left unchecked, could be a harbinger of a future far more perilous than we dare imagine.
These disturbing incidents are but a single facet of larger, concerning trends of various forms of inequality, a chasm that seems to widen with each passing year, breeding resentment and fueling distrust in our institutions. The political polarization turned into a landscape painted in stark reds and blues, and leaves little room for compromise or even civil discourse. A decline in civic engagement by a citizenry disconnected from the very processes that govern them, weakens the democratic principles of the one nation.
When a significant portion of the population feels unheard, disenfranchised, or threatened, the social grounds become fertile for demagogues and extremist ideologies to flourish.
Unlike the seemingly inevitable decline observed by Tyler, our fate is not carved in stone. The strength of a democracy lies not just in the imposing marble facades of its buildings, but in the peaceful participation of its citizens in the process of governance.
We must, require, and obligated to remain vigilant against social prejudice in all its forms, calling out bigotry and hate speech wherever it arises.
Holding our leaders accountable, regardless of party affiliation, is overriding any and all activities.
Cleaning the education systems from bigotry at all levels is every citizen’s duty in parallel to holding the political leadership accountable. The various Boards of Education, at all levels, hold prime responsibility to support democracy in all forms of governing.
Importantly, we are all, obligated to engage in civil discourse, even with those we vehemently disagree with. Open dialogue, a marketplace of ideas where diverse perspectives are heard and respected, is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
www.mandylender.com www.mandylender.net www.attractome.com
Tags: #antisemitism #Krystallnacht #civildiscourse #democracy #education
Posted in existentialism, Uncategorized
Tagged Antisemitism, civil discourse, culture, democracy, education, Krystallnacht, news, politics
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SERENDIPITOUS THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Ongoing continuous engineered serendipity isn’t a one-time event.
It is a continuous practice – a way of life. It requires conscious effort and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
By cultivating these three dimensions – open-mindedness, adventurousness, and connectedness – we weave a richer tapestry of experiences. We become the existentialist serendipitous architects of our life.
Surprise by actively shaping our encounters with the world around us. This, in turn, opens doors to unforeseen connections, delightful detours, and extraordinary possibilities that propel us forward on a journey filled with wonder, health, wealth and endless potential.
WWW.MANDYLENDER.COM WWW.MANDYLENDER.NET WWW.ATTRACTOME.COM WWW.VISIONOFHABAKKUK.COM WWW.LENDERCOMBINATIONS.COM
Tags: #serendipity #engineeredserendipity #existentialism
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY TURKEY
The Muslim Ottoman Empire, under the control of the Young Turks government, conducted a systematic genocide against the Armenian people. The Armenians are Christians.
When: The genocide unfolded primarily between 1915 and 1916, coinciding with World War I.
Who: The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the ruling party of the Ottoman Empire, spearheaded the genocide. This nationalist party held deep suspicion of the Armenian population, particularly fearing their potential allegiance with the Ottoman Empire’s enemies during WWI.
Why: The CUP’s motives were complex and intertwined. They desired to eliminate a significant Armenian presence in the eastern Ottoman of Turkish territories, fostering a more homogenous Turkish state.
Additionally, wartime anxieties and rampant Islam nationalism contributed to the dehumanization of Armenians, making them easy targets for extermination.
How Many: The exact number of Armenians who perished remains a subject of intense debate. Scholarly estimates range from a minimum of 664,000 to a staggering 1.2 million people.
Many Armenians were massacred outright, while countless others died from starvation, exposure, and disease during forced marches through harsh environments.
Islamization of Christian Armenians: The Islamization of Armenians, carried out as a systematic state policy involving the bureaucracy, police, judiciary, and clergy, was a major structural component of the genocide. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Armenians were Islamized, and it is estimated that as many as two million Turkish citizens in the early 21st century may have at least one Armenian grandparent.
Legacy: The Armenian Genocide is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked nationalism and ethnic hatred. It is recognized as a pivotal event that shaped the understanding of genocide in the 20th century. The international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the event, with many countries formally recognizing it as genocide.
SOURCES:
Armenian Genocide and how it happened.
United States Armenian Holocaust Memorial Museum: The Armenian Genocide (1915-16): Overview: Provides a concise yet informative overview.
Wikipedia: Armenian Genocide List of Memorials and Museums: Offers a detailed exploration of the event’s causes, events, and aftermath.
Henry Morgenthau – Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story Doubleday, Page p314,
http://www.mandylender.net http://www.mandylender.com http://www.minnarozen.com
#ArmenianGenocide #IslamizationofChristiansArmenians
PATHWAYS IN FINANCIAL SERENDIPITY
Miriam Adelson was born in Israel. She attended the Hebrew Reali School for 12 years in Haifa. She served mandatory army service as a medical officer at Ness Ziona. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she earned a medical degree from Tel Aviv University School of Medicine.
Adelson became a physician and eventually the chief internist in an emergency room at Tel Aviv’s Rokach (Hadassah) Hospital. After divorcing her first husband, she joined Rockefeller University in 1986 as an associate physician specializing in drug addiction. While there she went on a blind date with a businessman -Sheldon Adelson. They later married in 1991. Her Husband passed in 2021 and Miriam inherited his businesses and estate. Miriam Adelson is today the majority owner of Las Vegas Sands casino and in the process of acquiring the Dallas Mavericks franchise from Mark Cuban. Forbes estimates her as the 42nd richest person in the world.
The point is – it all started with a blind date.
Looking for another interesting romantic story? Here we go.
Julia Flesher Koch met David Koch on a blind date in January 1991. In 1998, Koch told The New York Times that she didn’t immediately hit it off with him; but that she was glad she met him because she knew she wouldn’t want to go out with him again. However, the two met again at a party later that year and started dating. Julia Flesher Koch’s fortune comes from inheriting her late husband’s 42% stake in Koch Industries, a closely held industrial conglomerate. As of April 2023, Forbes ranked her second among the richest women in the world with a fortune of $59 billion. Not bad for a reluctant blind date.
Dude! Financial Serendipity is real!
You gotta be willing to go out and meet the unknown. Nothing is promised to us in life. Nothing is promised to them who stay home.
# # #
FINANCIAL SERENDIPITY
Financial Serendipity refers to the occurrence of unexpected beneficial events that lead to financial gain or improved financial well-being. These are basically random appearing “happy accidents” in the financial world that benefit us. The element of surprise and lack of intentional planning are key aspects of financial serendipity. The fortunate encounters are recognizable through personal sagacity.
So. You have to use your individual sagacity in order to encounter a serendipitous fortune.
Jerry Selbee of Evart MI had an undergraduate degree in Math and an MBA. Jerry owned a convenience store – the Corner Store in Evart. Among other merchandise sold in the store were Michigan lottery tickets. Some tickets were “winners” – winning tickets. Years later he explained: “People have been conditioned to think it is luck. They don’t look at the structure of games”.
In 2003 Jerry Selbee saw a brochure of a new Michigan lottery game. He read the T&C and realized that statistically a $1 lottery ticket was worth more than $1 on a certain week (known as “roll-down week”). He decided that if he buys a sufficient number of tickets to play, the law of probability will work favorably for him. It wasn’t the first time he purchased a ticket. Odds are odds. Odds are not a guarantee.
Jerry relied on his knowledge and wisdom – that was his sagacity.
Before the next lottery cycle he purchased 3,400 Winfall tickets for $3,400. After counting the winnings his tickets grossed $6,300. That’s a 46% profit margin. Next cycle he bought lottery tickets for $8,000 and grossed $15,700. (49% profit margin). Is that good? Yes? Or yes?
The rest is history. The full story was written and then scripted and made into the movie Jerry & Marge Go Large, released by Paramount, 2022. Jerry and Marge and their off-springs became millionaires. My point is – Jerry had the sagacity – knowledge in math and stats. With this knowledge he played the odds – purchased enough tickets (enough winning tickets to win lol) – and overcame the lottery odds. In other words was there “luck”? No. It was not coincidence. It was Engineered Serendipity! That’s what I call it.
Engineered Serendipity is the intentional design of environments or systems to escalate the likelihood of serendipitous encounters. It involves creating the conditions that foster unexpected connections and exploration. Brainstorming sessions are most used for serendipity encounters.
Hold it. I must read this last para again. To live by it!
Good Luck? What good luck?
Christian Bush says in his book, The Serendipity Mindset: “Good luck isn’t just chance – it can be learned and leveraged, and the serendipity mindset explains how you can use serendipity to make your life better at work and at home – everywhere.”
Invoking serendipity requires sagacity. Sagacity is the ability to think and act while using prior acquired knowledge and experience, there is hardly no serendipity without some sagacity.
There’s Engineered Serendipity in any Financial Serendipity.
# # #
SERENDIPITY IS SMART
Ethan Zuckerman, a director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, defines engineered serendipity as the idea “…that we can help people come across unexpected but helpful connections at a better than random rate. And in some ways, it’s based on trying to reassess this notion of serendipitous as lucky — to think of serendipitous as smart.”
# # #
FINANCIAL SERENDIPITY IS THE LAW OF THE LAND
THE MAKING OF THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD
At its height, in 1911, Standard Oil Co. was the largest petroleum company in the world, and its success made its co-founder and chairman – John D. Rockefeller – among the wealthiest Americans of all time. Rockefeller ran the company as chairman, until his retirement in 1897. Then he remained the major shareholder.
On May 15, 1911, the US Supreme Court upheld the lower court judgment and declared the Standard Oil group to be an “unreasonable” monopoly under the Sherman Antitrust Act, Section II. It ordered Standard Oil to break up into 34 independent companies with different boards of directors. The biggest two of the companies were Standard Oil of New Jersey (which became Exxon) and Standard Oil of New York (which became Mobil).
Standard’s president, John D. Rockefeller, owned a quarter of the shares of the resultant companies, and those shares’ values soon doubled in value. Standard Oil, before its breakup due to anti-monopolistic legal reasons was worth at least $1 trillion. Rockefeller emerged from the dissolution as the richest man in the world. The dissolution of Standard had propelled Rockefeller’s personal wealth.
By the time of his death in 1937, Rockefeller’s remaining fortune, largely tied up in permanent family trusts, – was estimated at $1.4 billion, while the total national GDP was $92 billion (1.5% of GDP). According to some methods of wealth calculation, Rockefeller’s net worth over the last decades of his life would easily place him as the wealthiest known person in recent history. As a percentage of the United States’ GDP, no other American fortune—including those of Bill Gates or Elon Musk —would even come close.
Get this – Rockefeller was serendipitously enriched in 1911, by political and legal actions outside himself, outside of his company, and against his choice.
Before I leave Rockefeller, here a the question: is Financial Serendipity the reason that causes the rich to get richer?
# # #
There are many other, unrelated historical examples that illustrate different ways financial serendipity played out:
Windfalls and Discoveries:
- The California Gold Rush (1848-1855): James Marshall’s accidental discovery of gold while building a sawmill sparked a massive migration and economic boom in California. James Wilson Marshall (1810 – 1885) was an American carpenter and a sawmill operator, who on January 24, 1848, reported the finding of gold at Coloma, California, a small settlement on the American River, about 36 miles northeast of Sacramento. His discovery was the impetus for the California Gold Rush. The mill property was owned by John Sutter who employed Marshall to build his mill. The wave of gold seekers turned everyone’s attention away from the mill which eventually fell into disrepair and was never used as intended. Neither Marshall nor Sutter ever profited from the gold find.
But this discovery sparked the California Gold Rush, transforming the state’s economy and creating immense wealth for miners, merchants, and even those who sold shovels and picks.
Unforeseen Market Shifts:
- The Dot-com Bubble (1995-2001): While many businesses during the dot-com boom went bust, early investors in internet companies like Google and Amazon reaped immense returns on their initial investments due to the unexpected and rapid growth of the internet.
- The COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2023): While the pandemic caused widespread economic hardship, some industries like the big pharma industry, the online streaming services, e-commerce as Amazon, and software companies like Zoom experienced unexpected growth due to changes in consumer behavior during lockdowns. Early investors in these sectors benefited financially.
A Saga in Omaha
The Warren Buffett’s “Mistake” (1962). Warren Buffett is known as the “Sage of Omaha”.
Buffett’s purchase of Berkshire Hathaway (BH), initially intended to acquire an another undervalued company. It turned out to be one of his most successful investments as Berkshire diversified and grew beyond expectations.
Imagine buying a beat-up old car, thinking you could flip it for a quick buck. Turns out, the engine’s busted, and the whole thing’s barely hanging on. That’s kinda what happened to Warren Buffett with Berkshire Hathaway back in the day.
But here’s the twist: instead of ditching the junker, the ever-sagacious Buffett saw potential. He realized the car (or in this case, the BH company) had a cool frame and some decent parts. So, instead of selling it off, he started tinkering.
First, he ditched the busted engine (the failing textile business). Then, he used the car’s frame (BH) to build something new and awesome. He added all sorts of shiny upgrades: insurance companies, railroads, even candy companies!
Buffett figured out a neat trick with the insurance business. It basically generates a steady stream of cash, like having a built-in gas station for the car. This freed him up to focus on finding even more cool parts (businesses) to add to his collection.
By surrounding himself with smart people and letting them handle the day-to-day stuff, Buffett could focus on the big picture. He held onto his “upgraded” car for decades, letting it grow and compound like crazy.
In short, while buying Berkshire Hathaway was a bit of a stumble at first, Buffett’s willingness to adapt, his sagacious mind and eye saw an opportunity and turned HB into the ultimate investment success story. Who knew a “mistake” could become such a legendary ride?
Generational Shifts and Trends:
- The Rise of Social Media. The explosive growth of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter created new avenues for advertising and marketing, spawning entire industries and generating considerable wealth for individuals involved in their early development.
We need to differentiate between expected yet random financial events and completely unexpected – Black Swan occurrences.
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Financial Serendipity Requires Sagacity
Remember Warren Buffett the Sage of Omaha?
What is this sagacity?
Think of sagacity as being like your mental superpower. It’s that combo of sharp thinking, seeing things clearly, and making solid choices. You know, like the friend who always gives the best advice or the chess player who can predict your next move (but way cooler).
Serendipity Begets Serendipity.
Sagacity is about understanding stuff on a deeper level, not just the surface. You can sniff out good ideas from bad ones and spot trouble coming from a mile away, all while keeping your head cool and making smart decisions.
Basically, sagacity is what makes you a wise owl, not just a hoot. Carefully planned investments, sound financial management, and risk mitigation are crucial for long-term financial success. The key skill is to recognize the role of unexpected events and being prepared for them can sometimes help us take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
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Bond. James Bond. & The Broccolis
Forget martinis for a sec drink, let’s talk about how the Broccolis got their hands on James Bond! It wasn’t just about throwing money around; it was a tale of smarts, guts, and a serious case of Bond-mania.
Picture this: 1959, Albert Cubby Broccoli stumbles upon Ian Fleming’s “Casino Royale” and thinks, “Whoa, this would be one heck of a movie!” He convinces his buddy Harry Saltzman to team up, but studios weren’t exactly lining up to fund a secret agent flick.
Here’s where the Broccolis get clever: They offer Saltzman a half-share of the film rights in exchange for scoring a studio deal.
Talk about a win-win!
They land Sean Connery to play Bond, seal a million-dollar deal with United Artists, and Baam – “Dr. No” is born, paving the way for future 007 adventures.
Fast forward to today: The Broccolis (no relation to the veggie, by the way) are still very much in the Bond business, with Cubby’s daughter Barbara and stepson Michael G. Wilson keeping the franchise going strong.
And let’s talk moolah: the Bond films have raked in an estimated revenue of over $7 BILLION worldwide! Not bad for a gamble on a secret agent with a taste for fast cars and shaken, not stirred, martinis.
So, there you have it! The Broccolis didn’t just buy the Bond rights. Cubby Broccoli stumbled unexpectedly upon the novel Casino Royale. Some will call this stumble – coincidence or luck but you and I know better that there is a reason behind the stumble. Broccoli was interested in Ian Fleming’s novels.
Cubby Broccoli gambled. Sometime in life you’ve got to gamble. If you don’t gamble you can’t win.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to re-watch “Goldfinger”…
# # #
Financial Serendipity: A Black Swan Spawns Financial Opportunities
Financial Serendipity refers to the occurrence of unexpected positive events that significantly impact one’s financial situation. It’s the happy accident of the financial world, where a “random” stroke of “luck” leads to windfalls, opportunities, or breakthroughs. While not a dependable strategy, it’s a fascinating concept with real-life examples throughout history.
Dr. Morton Meyers wrote the book that reviewed serendipity in medical innovations up to 2011. Happy Accidents. Viagra was developed during experiments on medications designed to treat angina. Meyers has dozens of stories like this, in the areas of antibiotics, cancer treatments, cardiovascular therapy and antidepressants.
So what’s a Black Swan?
The black swan theory or theory of black swan events is a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. The term is based on an ancient saying that presumed black swans did not exist, until they were discovered in Australia in 1697, and it then became reinterpreted to mean an unforeseen and consequential event.
The year 2020 was the Black Swan year of a sweeping global pandemic.
Pfizer and Moderna – Post-Modern Example of Financial Serendipity
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the financial performance of big pharma, Pfizer and Moderna. Both companies have seen their stock prices rise significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, and they have generated billions of dollars in revenue from the sale of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the financial success of Pfizer and Moderna during the pandemic. One important factor is the high demand for COVID-19 vaccines. Governments around the world were willing to pay high prices for vaccines in order to protect their populations, and this has led to significant revenue for Pfizer and Moderna.
Another factor is the fact that Pfizer and Moderna were able to develop and manufacture their vaccines relatively quickly. This was due in part to the fact that they were able to leverage existing research on mRNA technology. As a result, they were able to get their vaccines to market ahead of many of their competitors, which gave them a first-mover advantage.
The government helps again. Just like in the case of Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. Pfizer and Moderna have been able to benefit from generous government funding for vaccine development and manufacturing. This funding has helped to reduce their costs and has also helped to mitigate the risks associated with developing new vaccines.
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the financial performance of Pfizer and Moderna. Both companies have seen their stock prices rise significantly because of the generated billions of dollars in revenue from the sales of their COVID-19 vaccines.
Pfizer alone generated $35 billion net profits on its COVID-19 related products during 2021 and 2022. BioNTech and Moderna made $20 billion each, while Sinovac pocketed $15 billion.
Dr. Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer net worth went up by $24 million in 2022.
Well, Albert Bourla is a sagacious man.
The financial success of Pfizer and Moderna during the pandemic has also been controversial, with many people arguing that the companies have been charging too much for their vaccines and have not done enough to make them available to people in low- and middle-income countries.
The Invention of Post-it Notes (1968). A classic story. Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M Company, developed a weak adhesive that wouldn’t damage paper. Despite its initial lack of commercial success, Arthur Fry, a colleague, discovered its usefulness for marking pages in his hymnal. This “happy accident” led to the creation of Post-it Notes, a multi-billion-dollar product that continues to bring revenue to 3M.
The Rise of Google (1998). While searching for information on the web, Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed a new algorithm that ranked websites based on their relevance. This algorithm, originally called BackRub, became the foundation for Google search engine. It transformed the way we access information and is still generating immense wealth for its founders and early sagacious investors.
The GameStop Short Squeeze (2021). A group of retail investors on Reddit, spurred by online discussions, bought shares of GameStop, a struggling video game retailer, heavily shorted by hedge funds. This unexpected buying pressure caused the stock price to skyrocket, leading to massive losses for hedge funds and windfalls for some retail investors. This was another case of gambling – financial gambling – some won, others lost.
There are more examples of how unexpected events can have a profound impact on the financial world. While financial serendipity can be a powerful force, it’s important to remember that it’s not a reliable strategy. Building wealth through sound financial planning, hard work, and sagacious investment decisions is the most sustainable path to success.
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JAMES MICHENER – THE SERENDIPITOUS AUTHOR
Financial Serendipity involves a combination of education, “chance” recognition, preparation, and sagacious appreciation when stumbling upon opportunity. Let’s look for a change in how wealth was made in the realms of authorship, book publishing, Broadway musicals and Hollywood production.
James Michener was an American author and historian. He wrote more than 40 books, many of which were long, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations, set geographic locales and incorporating detailed history.
Michener was born in 1907 in Pennsylvania. He later wrote that he did not know who his biological parents were, or exactly when or where he was born. He was raised as a Quaker by an adoptive mother, Mabel Michener.
Michener graduated from Doylestown High School. He attended Swarthmore College, where he played basketball and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After graduating in 1929, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history, he traveled and studied at the University of St Andrews in the medieval town of St. Andrews, Scotland, on the coast of the North Sea, for two years. He traveled in Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, and Holland. According to the back dust cover of his first book !947 edition), For the first time he held papers as an able-bodied seaman in the British merchant navy and sailed in the Mediterranean touching the North Coast of Africa, Sicily and the Balearic Islands. He has lived in sixteen of the forty-eight States and traveled all the forty-nine States.
Michener talked about hoboing (riding freight trains for free) during the Great Depression, (mentioned in the 1998 Great Depression documentary on the History Channel).
Michener became a high school English teacher. Next, he attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in education. After graduation, he taught at the university.
Michener accepted a Guest Lecturer position at Harvard University, during 1939 to 1940. He left Harvard to work for Macmillan Company Publishers as their social studies education editor.
Michener enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was fortunate to have opportunities travelling throughout the South Pacific Ocean on various Navy assignments which he gained because his base commanders mistakenly thought his father was an Admiral (Marc Mitscher – an odd phonetic similarity in names). His experiences during these travels inspired the stories published in his breakout work Tales of the South Pacific.
Let’s recap. Michener acquired a wide education. As a world traveler and hobo in America and Europe he sure gained unusual life experiences. He made his way to Harvard (not as a student). Michener began his writing career during WW II, when as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy he was assigned to the South Pacific as a naval historian. By the end of WW II, he thoroughly lived and saw the South Pacific and its innumerable islands, the peoples, and their cultures.
He later turned his notes and impressions into Tales of the South Pacific (1947).
Cover photo of first edition 1947, owned by author.
The “Tales” was his first book, published when he was age 40. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1948.
Rodgers and Hammerstein adapted the Pulitzer winning book into the hit musical South Pacific, which premiered on Broadway, in New York City, in 1949. The musical was next adapted into a feature films in 1958 and 2001.
Get this – Michener led a life of consecutive events of imaginative inspiring serendipitous encounters.
He was curious to acquire an education. In between and subsequently his life was a series of adventures! One of his later books was titled The World is My Home.
He was a Sagacious man par excellence, all along. He seized life opportunities! Brilliant enough to be invited to teach at Harvard. Brilliant enough to ditch Harvard. No wonder that he saw in the Publishing House of McMillan Co a better opportunity than Harvard… So, when he wrote his fictional, a bit romantic, yet historical WW II memoir he had an established publisher in waiting.
Dude. When you have a ready powerful publisher, you end up awarded a Pulitzer Prize and get movie contracts from Hollywood studios.
Serendipity Begets Serendipity!
Not sure yet?
James Michener was riding the post-war wave. Fresh out of the Navy, Michener penned “Tales” while his memories were still vivid. This timeliness captured a realness that hooked readers. Think of it like catching a story wave just as it’s about to crest.
Right publisher, right time. Like finding the perfect board for the wave, Michener had the publisher who was hungry for war stories. Macmillan pushed the book hard, and Michener actively promoted it, making sure everyone knew about his ride.
From a book to Broadway. “Tales” wasn’t just a bestseller; it became a smash musical and movie. This wasn’t just catching a wave, it was like riding it all the way to Hawaii and back, first class! The success brought Michener even more recognition and moolah.
This is the front cover of my first edition cover. 1947
Formula for fortune. Michener learned from his first success. He went on to research diverse locations, wove history and fiction together, and kept the quality high. This consistency kept his readers hooked and the money flowing.
Michener created a new genre of sound history combined with storytelling. He was a writing machine, churning out quality novels that often got adapted for the screens. He wrote 40 novels. Some of them are almost a thousand pages long.
While specific events like the war and the musical were big boosts, his success was like a perfect storm: talent, hard work, smart choices, and a dash of serendipity. He wasn’t just catching waves; he was creating them! Sure, James Michener struck gold, but it wasn’t all blind luck. Imagine Michener as a surfer, catching the perfect wave of opportunity.
The serendipitous key moments that got him the ride all the way to the financial shore:
Joining the Navy. Not exactly winning the lottery, but this wasn’t random event in a life of a young man. Michener already craved adventure, and the Pacific during WWII gave him a front-row seat to unique cultures and experiences. This became the source of raw material for his first hit, like “Tales of the South Pacific.”
It is reported that Michener had a noteworthy net-worth of $80 to 120 million. Depends on the sources I looked at.
He passed in 1997 and is remembered as a great philanthropist.
The New York Times Book Review described him as: “Literary legend James A. Michener was a Renaissance man, adventurous, inquisitive, unpretentious and unassuming, with an encyclopedic mind and a generous heart”. When a man is that towering, then his net worth is towering too.
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Glauco L Ortolano was born in Americana, Brazil (1959). He is a poet, a philosopher, and author in Portuguese an English. He taught in several universities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He considers himself an explorer of the human soul, and travels to seek understanding and enlightenment from other cultures.
Ortolano’s most famous quote is: “Serendipity is the faculty of finding things we did not know we were looking for.” He says that when we die, we will eventually understand the true meaning of this quote.
Financial Serendipity refers to the occurrence of unexpected profitable financial events or outcomes, often through unforeseen circumstances. It’s the so-called lucky break in the world of finance – the windfall that catches our sail and propels us forward.
Here are other historical examples, showcasing the diverse ways serendipity can play out:
Market Crashes Trigger Unexpected Fortunes:
- The 1929 Stock Market Crash: While devastating for many, the crash also presented opportunities. Bernard Baruch, a prominent financier, famously advised, “It’s time to start buying.” He used the panic to acquire undervalued stocks, laying the foundation for his immense wealth.
- The 2008 Financial Crisis: The crisis triggered a wave of bankruptcies, but also birthed companies like Uber and Airbnb, and pushed up Walmart, Home Depot and Amazon, which filled gaps left by struggling incumbents. Their founders, seizing the moment of disruption, built empires on the ashes of the financial meltdown.
Unexpected Discoveries and Innovation:
- Edwin Drake’s Oil Strike: In 1859, Drake was not searching for oil, he was searching for salt! His unsuccessful well, however, struck a much more valuable treasure – the first commercially viable oil well in the United States, sparking a boom and transforming industries.
Accidental Investments in Technology and Unexpected Windfalls.
NVIDIA
Imagine NVIDIA back in the 90s, just trying to sell fancy graphics cards for your game playing pc. Fast forward three decades later, and everyone’s going crazy about this new tech called Artificial Intelligence. Turns out, those fancy graphics cards were perfect for crunching the symbols and numbers most useful for this AI stuff. That is thanks to their special way of parallel processing – handling multiple tasks at once.
NVIDIA was founded on April 5, 1993, by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem, with a vision to bring 3D graphics to the gaming and multimedia markets.
The guys at NVIDIA saw an opportunity and said, “hold my beer” while they started making GPUs specifically designed for AI. They even created tools to make it easier for programmers to use these powerful cards for their AI projects. Partnering with big tech companies and researchers just boosted and scaled their success.
So, how’d this play out for NVIDIA financially?
Let’s just say their sales and stock price went up.
In simple terms, NVIDIA has been on a major roll.
Since going public in 1999, the company value has skyrocketed from just over half a billion dollars to a whopping $1.97 trillion as of today, February 26th, 2024. That’s a mind-blowing growth of over 345,000%!
Think about it this way: if you invested $1,000 in NVIDIA back in 1999, it would be worth roughly $3.5 million today. Now, that’s past performance, and future results are never guaranteed, but it sure gives you a sense of their journey.
They became the big name in the AI game, with their GPUs powering everything from self-driving cars to chatbots.
Now that we understand how NVIDIA is about to become the largest market capitalized company in America, let’s look at the potential of its contributions to AI and AI’s contributions to engineered financial serendipity.
Imagine finding a hidden gem of a stock or stumbling upon the perfect investment opportunity – that’s the kind of financial serendipity we’re talking about. And guess what? AI is like our secret financial wingman, helping us discover these happy surprises.
Here’s how AI gives our finances a serendipity boost:
Spotting hidden connections in the financial markets. AI is a data whiz, crunching processing through mountains of information to find hidden links between things. This means AI can unearth unexpected connections between financial products, market trends, and our own situation. Based on this, it can recommend personalized options we might have missed, opening doors to serendipitous finds.
AI may nudge us in the right direction. Think of AI as a friendly financial advisor, learning our habits and goals. It can then give us personalized nudges, suggesting things we might have overlooked that could lead to happy financial surprises. Recommending financial moves we may consider.
AI can keep us safe from pitfalls. AI acts like a watchful eye on your finances, analyzing data in real-time to sniff out potential risks. By avoiding bad decisions, AI indirectly creates space for unexpected financial opportunities to blossom.
AI gives us market hints. While it’s not a flat-out fortune teller… AI can analyze past data to predict future trends, giving insights that might lead to serendipitous investment decisions or uncovering hidden gems in the market.
In short, AI is a tool, and its effectiveness depends on the data it has and how it’s used. But one thing’s for sure, AI is now shaking things up in the financial world, making it more fertile ground for those happy financial surprises we all wish.
Financial Serendipity is a concept. It’s no way a guaranteed strategy. It highlights the importance of staying open to the avalanche of ever incoming new opportunities towards us. Being open-minded and adaptable is a must. Accepting with open arms the random occurrences play a role in our financial journey down Wall Street.
Financial Serendipity is a catalyst, it still crucially requires having a solid financial foundation, making informed decisions, and managing risks wisely. Chance encounters are useful for the prepared mind to capitalize on unexpected opportunities when they are encountered.
Engineered Guerrilla Financial Serendipity is a ubiquitous opportunity. Because serendipity begets serendipity. Because serendipity is in the perceptive mind.
# # #
Notes and Books:
Why do burglars rob the bank? Because that’s where the money is.
I know. I repeated my positions and statements more than once. That’s because you’re are reading my personal notes as I like them and you didn’t pay me royalties…
Deloitte Touche is a world-renowned audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and legal services with approximately 457,000 employees globally.
At Deloitte, John Hagel III was the founder and chairman of the Silicon Valley-based Deloitte Center for the Edge, focusing on identifying emerging business opportunities that are not yet on the CEO’s agenda.
The book Power of Pull shows how to apply its principles to unlock the hidden potential of individuals and organizations, and how to use it as a force for innovative social change and the development of creative talent.
John Hagel et al. explore how to use the power of “Pull” to enhance productivity of attention and thus enhance serendipity encounters. Access new sources of information; attract likeminded individuals from around the world; shape serendipity to increase the likelihood of positive chance encounters and form creative environments to drive you and your colleagues to new heights of achievement. Transforming our organizations to adapt to the incoming flow of knowledge.
The Serendipity Mindset by Christian Bush.
Happy Accidents. Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs. Morton A. Meyers M.D. Arcade Publishing, N.Y. 2011.
Jason Fagone: Jerry and Marge Go Large. Huffington Post. March 18, 2018
Inventology. How We Dream up Things That Change the World by Pagan Kennedy.
Sanda Erdelz researched and wrote about information explorations using the internet.
Mandy Lender, MD, MBA is the author of The Master Attractor and owner of the ATTRACTOME™ .
Mandy Lender and Minna Rozen own the rights to Lender Combinations: Baruch Lender and His Chess Problems.
Before I leave, here is an autographed photo dedicated to me, by the actor Richard Kiel (Jaws) as he was struggling and fighting 007 – Roger Moore.
I ran into Richard Kiel by serendipity.
www.mandylender.com www.mandylender.net www.lendercombinations.com www.attractome.com
© Mandy Lender 2024.
Tags: #engineeredfinancialserendipity #financialserendipity #NVIDIA #DeloitteTouche #WarrenBuffett #JamesMichener #AlbertBourla #Pfizer #Moderna #BerkshireHathaway #MiriamAdelson #JuliaKoch #JerrySelbee #JohnDRockefeller #StandardOil #DallasMaverick #MarkCuban #BlackSwan #JamesBond #AlbertBroccoli #SeanConnery #RichardKiel #RogerMoore #MichiganStateLottery #MinnaRozen
Posted in Artificial Intelligence, existentialism, Law of Attraction, Mind - Body, serendipity, Uncategorized
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WALKING THE SERENDIPITY LANE New and Improved
UNDERSTANDING ENGINEERED GUERRILLA SERENDIPITY With a Romantic Touch
Here is a glimpse into some thoughts I’ve been walking through lately – almost every day.
It’s my deep dive into Engineered Guerrilla Serendipity by Unleashing the Power of Chance Encounters
Serendipity refers to the phenomenon of stumbling upon fortunate discoveries while not actively seeking them. It’s the wonderful surprise of finding something valuable or pleasurable when you least expect it. (It’s real – I once found a $10 bill on the sidewalk. I took it straight to the supermarket and bought groceries).
Classic Examples
Scientific breakthroughs: The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, the invention of the Post-it Note, or the development of X-rays all these resulted from serendipitous events.
Personal connections: Finding a lifelong friend at a random social gathering or meeting a business partner through a chance encounter at the chamber of commerce.
Creative insights: Experiencing a sudden burst of inspiration for a new project or solution while engaged in an unrelated activity.
Engineered Serendipity is the intentional design of environments or systems to increase the likelihood of sagacious serendipitous encounters. It involves creating the conditions that foster unexpected connections and exploration. Brain storming sessions are most commonly used.
Guerrilla Serendipity means serendipitous encounters evoked through mundane daily activities that don’t cost money. G=ABC (Guerrilla=Anything But Cash).
Engineered Guerrilla Serendipity (EGS) isn’t just a fancy term for stumbling upon a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk. It’s a deliberate dance with chance: a calculated nudge towards unexpected connections and fortunate collisions of ideas. While the concept holds huge potential, navigating its intricacies requires both strategic finesse and playful spontaneity.
There’s no map with a “you are here” dot leading straight to Serendipity.
Encountering serendipity is like a winding path, one that unfolds as you explore, embrace detours, and savor the surprise turns. Realistically we don’t manufacture happy accidents; but we can certainly nudge ourselves in the right direction. We can attract happy accidents. (Sadly we attract some of our unhappiness too).
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Let’s delve into EGS, exploring its strengths, potential pitfalls, and how to maximize its serendipitous spark.
Strengths Rekindled With a Fresh Perspective. Here is some of what I’m talking.
First step is – acquiring the mindset that serendipity is real. Serendipityis a common daily experience that can be engineered consciously to manifest.
Serendipitor is the person who makes serendipitous encounters happen. They have an irrevocable and irrepressible spirit of optimism.
Innovation Playground. EGS throws open the doors to unconventional networking arenas. Forget stuffy conferences and expensive seminars. Think rather of impromptu book clubs hosted in quirky cafes, flash mobs erupting in bustling plazas, or thematic scavenger hunts (Geocache), weaving through vibrant cityscapes. These playful maneuvers not only spark connections but also unleash a torrent of creative energy, fostering collaborations among folks that might never have met in sterile, traditional settings.
Embraced Openness. Step outside the predictable routines of daily life and injecting a dose of EGS, we crack open the gates to chance encounters. This isn’t about blind hope; it’s about strategically placing ourselves in fertile grounds for serendipity in blind dates. Joining a pottery class not just to learn how to mold clay, but also to connect with fellow artists, swap creative ideas, and perhaps stumble upon an unexpected artistic collaboration.
Democratizing the Unexpected. EGS levels the playing field, tossing aside the velvet ropes surrounding traditional networking circles. Financial constraints no longer act as insurmountable barriers. You need is a dash of wit, a sprinkle of resourcefulness, and willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Suddenly, the shy introverted student can find their voice amidst a lively book club discussion, and the cash-strapped artist can connect with potential patrons at a street art exhibition. Yes. Stepping out of our comfort zone.
Serendipity thrives on a foundation of intentionality. Identify the types of connections you seek, the unique skills you can to share, and knowledge you wish to acquire. Then, craft your EGS maneuvers with these goals in mind. Join a coding club if you seek tech-savvy collaborators, or volunteer at a local animal shelter or zoo if you long for a furry friend and a supportive community. Join an on-line virtual serendipity club. If there is none, create one on Facebook.
Authenticity is the Guiding Star. The line between playful nudges and manipulative ploys can be blurry. Always remember, EGS thrives on frank genuine connections and mutual value exchange with friends. I approach my encounters with an open heart and a willingness to give as much as you receive. I share my knowledge, or offer my time, and celebrate the successes of others. In this spirit of authenticity, serendipity flourishes.
Scaling the Serendipity Summit. EGS is a personal dance with chance, but its potential impact can ripple outwards. Document your EGS exploits, share your stories, and inspire others to embrace the unexpected.
Create online communities or host face to face gatherings where serendipity seekers can connect and share their fortuitous encounters. By scaling EGS beyond individual endeavors, we can cultivate a culture of open-mindedness and chance encounters, one unexpected connection at a time.
The serendipitors’ spirit conquers any shade of pessimism.
Engineered Guerrilla Serendipity is a way of life. It’s a playful rebellion against the predictable routine. It’s a potent tool for forging meaningful connections and igniting unexpected possibilities.
THE ENLIGHTENED SERENDIPITOR
Why EGS Rocks.
Playground for Innovation. Ditch the boring routines and explore the world of unexpected connections. Imagine brainstorming with fellow artists at a community knitting class. How about a public speaking club? I was a member of one for 12 years. You won’t believe the number of friends I made there. Worldwide friends. EGS throws open the doors to creativity and collaboration, all without breaking the bank.
Chance Encounters, Mastered. EGS isn’t about aimlessly waiting for lady luck to smile. It’s about strategically walking in the serendipity path. Love books? Join a quirky book club and swap stories with fellow bibliophiles. Passionate about sustainability? Volunteer at a local community garden and meet eco-warriors like yourself. The possibilities are endless!
Say that again – The enlightened Serendipitor is Member of the Social Serendipity Club
EGS is open to All, Cash Is Not Required. EGS is the ultimate equalizer. No fancy suits, no hefty price tags required. Just bring your wit, your touch of resourcefulness, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. Suddenly, the shy bookworm can find their voice in a lively discussion, and the broke artist can connect with potential patrons at a free art exhibition.
Wait. There’s More We Can Do.
Don’t Just Throw Spaghetti at the Wall. Prepare yourself by thinking about what you hope to gain from these encounters. Craving tech connections? Hit up that computers hardware builders club. Volunteer at the local volunteer clinic. (I do). Intentionality is the key to making EGS work its magic. Go to your local library. Pull out the first book on the top shelf next to the window…. What does it tell you? Write and post a book review on Good Reads.
You got your blog. You publish. Your name is indexed on Google. Now launch a second blog. I syndicate six different blogs on six different platforms.
Be Real, Not Phony. EGS thrives on genuine connections. Ditch the forced networking smiles and let your inner weirdo show. Share your knowledge, offer your time, and celebrate the wins of others. When we’re real, serendipity follows us.
Still not convinced? Go on a blind date.
Still not convinced? Miriam Farbstein was a divorced mother of three. She went on a blind date in NY. The man she dated happened to own a casino house in Las Vegas. What a serendipitous encounter. Today she ranks the 42th richest woman in the world. Her name is now Miriam Adelson. There are more like her. Read about them I my other blog titled Financial Serendipity.
Serendipity is Magnanimous. Generous. Share the gospel of serendipity. Spread it. Don’t hoard your EGS stories like a squirrel with acorns! Share your adventures, document your encounters, post them on your blogs and inspire others to embrace the unexpected. Create online communities, host offline gatherings, and let the serendipity wave roll.
Remember, the most extraordinary and fortunate encounters often happen when you least expect them. Now go forth and embrace the guerrilla serendipity within!
Read that last sentence again.
Share your stories. Here is one of my adventurous flights with a bush pilot staring, running (almost) into the frozen granite wall of Mount McKinley.
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- Serendipity
– It’s like finding a hidden gem in a thrift store or bumping into your bestie at a random cafe—those happy surprises that make life feel like a movie montage.
– Imagine this: you’re strolling through a park, minding your own business, and BAM! You spot a four-leaf clover. That’s serendipity, baby!
– It’s the universe winking at you, saying, “Hey, I’ve got your back.”
- Engineered Serendipity
Ethan Zuckerman, a director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, defines engineered serendipity as the idea “…that we can help people come across unexpected but helpful connections at a better than random rate. And in some ways, it’s based on trying to reassess this notion of serendipitous as lucky — to think of serendipitous as smart.”
– This is when you get kinda sneaky and generate opportunities for the magical encounters to happen.
– Set up a party for your friends with the goal of sparking unexpected connections and conversations.
– Design a playground for chance encounters, where the unexpected is always welcome and appreciated.
– Never, Never eat alone. Always share your bread.
– Attend public square demonstrations, political rallies, charitable fund raising events,
– The best of romance – Whahoo. Think of those dating apps – harmony, match, tinder, grindr all of them match you based on your love of hiking, poetry, romance, pizza, tacos, sex and those co-working spaces that bring together entrepreneurs and artists under one roof.
Become a lifelong Student. Every day is an opportunity to discover something new. Read widely, delve into podcasts on diverse topics, and attend lectures or workshops that pique your interest. Curiosity is the fuel that propels you towards uncharted territories, where serendipity thrives.
Ask “why” and “how” relentlessly. Don’t settle for surface-level understanding. Question everything, from everyday occurrences to complex ideas. This childlike inquisitiveness can unlock hidden connections and lead you down fascinating rabbit holes, often revealing unexpected treasures.
Collect experiences like souvenirs. Seek out unique adventures, whether it’s attending a local festival, taking a solo trip, or trying a new hobby.
Travel. Each experience, even if seemingly unrelated, adds a brushstroke to the canvas of your life, creating the potential for serendipitous intersections down the line.
Serendipity shows up in all places and all amounts, at all times. Earlier last month I was waiting to board a flight to ORD. The regional jet was oversold and overweight. The captain required two volunteers to give up their seats. Do that in return for compensation from United. I volunteered cause I’d sometime to spare. I bought this ticket by using my frequent flyer miles (gratuity by JP Morgan Chase credit card). The bottom line; the next day I arrived to Chicago on a free ride and was paid for it $1000. I can use it for a first class free flight to LVNV. If I want…
Practice the Power of Connection
Become a connector, not just a collector.
Actively build bridges between people you know. Introduce colleagues with shared interests, connect friends from different social circles, or simply spark conversations between strangers. You never know what connections might blossom, leading to unforeseen collaborations, opportunities, or even friendships.
Practice the art of “weak ties”. Don’t underestimate the power of casual acquaintances. Sometimes, serendipity strikes through unexpected encounters with people you might not consider close friends. Be open to conversations with the barista, the person next to you on the bus, or the vendor at the market. You might be surprised by the insights and connections that emerge from these seemingly fleeting interactions.
Never Eat Alone. Never. Share your bread.
Join communities that ignite you. Surround yourself with folks who share and augment your passions, whether it’s a book club, a volunteer organization, or an online forum. These communities act as fertile ground for cross-pollination of ideas, fostering serendipitous collaborations and discoveries that wouldn’t have happened in isolation.
Cultivate The Serendipity Mindset
Befriend chance encounters.
Never. Never dismiss social coincidences as mere luck. Figure out this question: does the random encounter mean something to you? What does it mean?
Pay attention to recurring themes, seemingly unplanned meetings; or unusual incidents. They might be nudges from the universe, pointing you towards unexplored paths or hidden opportunities.
Celebrate imperfection. Let go of the need for rigid planning and control. Embrace the messiness of life, the unexpected detours, and the unplanned moments. Often, the most serendipitous discoveries happen when we surrender to the flow and allow ourselves to be surprised.
Keep a Serendipity Journal. Huh?
Jot down interesting encounters, ideas, or observations throughout your day. Reviewing these entries later can reveal hidden patterns, connections, or serendipitous threads you might have missed initially. It’s like creating a treasure map of your own unique journey, highlighting the unexpected gems that life throws your way.
Serendipity is an ongoing adventure, not a destination.
Get used to that!
As you cultivate curiosity, embrace connection, and adopt a serendipity-friendly mindset, you’ll find that the map unfolds itself, revealing delightful surprises and guiding you towards a life filled with wonder and unexpected joy. So, put on your explorer’s hat, embrace the unknown, and get ready to be surprised by the magic of serendipity!
Bottom One Liners to Take Home
– Hug the unexpected moments, because they lead to things amazing.
– It’s cool to create little chaos in your life and watch what happens.
– After all, life’s a lot more fun when you make room for surprises.
– Serendipity is an ongoing adventure, not a destination.
At Mitad del Mundo with my daughter. Quito Ecuador.
Join me next time for Serendipity Adventures on one of my six blogs.
Read my book The Master Attractor.
www.mandylender.com www.mandylender.net www.attractome.com www.visionofhabakkuk.com
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