About this quote

People often call unexplained events "chance" to avoid naming what they could have done differently. That can be honest when randomness truly rules, but it can also be an excuse that stops you from acting. Ask yourself which parts you controlled and which you didn't. If you spot avoidance, pick one concrete action to take next time; if the outcome really was outside your reach, accept it and shift your effort where it will matter.

When to use it

• After I lost the promotion at the office, I muttered the line and then listed the skills I needed to work on before the next review.
• When my journal article was rejected, I thought of that phrase and emailed the editor to ask what to improve.
• After a startup pitch went badly, I kept hearing the quote and rewrote one slide that kept tripping people up.
• When I missed the game-winning shot in last night's basketball game, the quote came to mind and I practiced that exact shot forty times.