Bad luck often brings good luck

We all suffer bad luck from time to time: financial, emotional or just a broken cup, but it is rarely the end of the world. The loss of a job can be devastating but many people have found new and more worthwhile careers as a result of a down spell. Take time to revaluate your life and find new and better direction. Losing a partner will hurt but can lead to meeting someone more suitable.

The important thing about a random chance event that knocks you back is to look for the silver lining. Most very successful people have had major setbacks in their lives but they didn't let it stop them. Where there's a will there's a way.

After you have licked your wounds, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with life.

Life is nine parts cards - one part skill.

Life is nine parts cards - one part skill.

How do some people succeed and others fail?

Commonsense tells you that the number of people who can get the plum jobs is limited. It is a statistical thing. An army of officers wouldn't win many battles no matter how good their orders were. A company of brilliant bosses wouldn't get a lot of work done without the sloggers. If everyone became a millionaire a million would not buy very much.

Success is relative and for most people comes through being the right person in the right place at the right time. Get your place and timing wrong and the glittering career will not be yours. Conversely, if you are a complete incompetent your best opportunities will be wasted.

But if you get the lucky breaks and apply your skill success can be achieved. This saying seems to be telling us that ability cannot flourish unless there is some form of opportunity and these opportunities are limited. In other words you need the lucky break (good cards) and only then can your skills be used to take advantage. It would appear that when Lady Luck smiles it is time to get cracking and make the most of it. Every dog has his day.