Dick Van Dyke, John Sebestain, and Dr. John Krumboltz

Dr. John Krumboltz has a  social learning theory that postulates that career transitions result from an uncountable number of learning experiences made possible by both planned and unplanned encounters with the people, institutions and events in each person's particular environment.

Happenstance= A circumstance due to chance

Planned Happenstance= A chance circumstance that was created due to flexibility, persistence, curiosity, and optimism.

John Sebestian- front man for the Lovin Spoonful

John was a guest at the Woodstock Festival, and never expected to play, but rather enjoy the sights and sounds. One of his friends told him that Woodstock was going to be a great thing and that he had to be there. Sebestian ended up backstage interacting with colleagues when one of the festival promoters asked him to perform. Between bad weather and other logistical nightmares, the promoters needed a solo artist to go on stage. This musician who was trying to mount a solo comeback (after his band Lovin Spoonful) went from being a curious spectator to an artist entertaining half a million fellow music lovers.

Dick Van Dyke- internationally recognized and accomplished performer

This excerpt is from Dick Van memoir “My lucky life in and out of show business”(p.27)

It was about then, the summer of 1947, that I crossed paths with Phil Erickson...He had been active in dramatics and then developed an act called the Three Make-Believes. They lip synced to songs and turned into a novelty that did quite well.

But they’d recently broken up following a booking in Chicago. One of his partners decided to go to law school and the other guy made plans, too. So Phil returned to Danville and came into the theater one afternoon looking for a new partner. I was rehearsing The Philadelphia Story. He introduced himself and asked, “Do you want to do an act with me? I have a booking in California.”

I wanted out of there so badly that I didn’t bother asking about specifics. I just said,”What time will you pick me up?”

These two stories illustrate how you can “plan” happenstance or chance encounters. By maintaining levels of flexibility, persistence, curiosity, and optimism doors will be opened.

Questions/feedback? Shoot me an email! jonathangoldstein@ymail.com