Ever heard this term before? If you have not you can thank John Krumboltz, Kathleen Mitchell and Al Levin for developing this concept. Think of Planned Happenstance as the intersection of curiosity, coincidence, serendipity and action. I’m throwing Carl Jung’s concept of serendipity in the mix as serendipity is defined as coincidences that are mysteriously unexplained and have a personal connection to a life event. Think of a time when something unexpected happened; a chance encounter, taking a new way home and seeing something you have never noticed before, or perhaps a call from an old acquaintance. What makes Planned Happenstance an effective tool is when we get curious and act on the unexpected event or encounter. We stay open to the unexpected. We follow our curiosity. If a door is open we explore what may be inside instead of walking by. As a result of acting on Planned Happenstance we are never the same again. John Krumboltz believed we can create our own luck using Planned Happenstance. Check out his book with Al Levin; Luck is No Accident.
An example of how Planned Happenstance showed up for me was when I applied for a data analyst job at an assessment company in Palo Alto, California. As part of the application process I had to take two career assessments. When my results were shared with me I found them fascinating. I did not get the job but got it keep my assessment results. Not long after that I started working at a community college where these assessments were given by the counselors there; and I ended up taking them multiple times and eventually administering and interpreting them for students. Those assessments were a way I could learn more about myself, putting me on the next level of my career journey at the time.
Think of how Planned Happenstance has shown up for you.
Come up with some examples and feel free to share them with me. Remember to stay open to new possibilities, follow your curiosity and then act on it if it feels right. Start using Planned Happenstance as you move forward in your career search or transition.