Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business

Stickier Than It Looks

There are many popular stories in which luck plays a central role, like the tale of Isaac Newton discovering gravity after being hit by an apple falling from a tree, or Ben Franklin encountering electricity while flying his kite. But most of these are dumbed down, just-so tales. The truth behind most creation myths is almost always more complicated—and more interesting. What follows is one of the most commonly cited examples of luck leading to massive business success: the story of the invention of the Post-it note. And yet, even though many know the basic details of how Post-it notes were born, few draw the right conclusions from this luck-drenched story. For those of us looking to get as lucky with our next creation as ...