Sunday Snippet: Sir Patrick Stewart

“I wasn’t campaigning for a role in a Hollywood television series, it was a fluke. So you’ve got to have a measure of good luck, you really have, being in the right place at the right time.”

He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but Patrick Stewart is actually a very accomplished actor outside of his role on Star Trek: The Next Generation. In fact, thanks largely to his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he was knighted recently for his services to drama, officially becoming Sir Patrick Stewart.

In the quote above, the man who played Professor Charles Xavier reminds us that we don’t not have full control over the direction our lives may take. Yes, it is absolutely imperative that you have a strong work ethic and set the right goals, but know that things don’t always turn out the way you expect them.

At the same time, you have to also recognize that you can stack the odds in your favor. By putting in the effort and clocking in those hours, you can steer success in your direction, no matter how you choose to define it. You have some control over certain aspects in your life and these are the things that deserve your attention.

Don’t waste your time worry about things that you cannot control. They’re outside of your jurisdiction. Just hope that you have luck on your side. Coupled with your determination, success is surely in the cards. Just be in the right place at the right time.

Another lesson we can learn from Sir Patrick Stewart? Fake it until you make it, because perception is reality. Appearances are everything.

“Having played many roles of scientific intellect I do have an empathy for that world. It’s been hard on me because flying the Enterprise for seven years in Star Trek and sitting in Cerebro in X-Men has led people to believe that I know what I’m talking about. But I’m still trying to work out how to operate the air conditioning unit on my car.”