Lightning Strikes Aren’t Scheduled

Welcome to The Brighter Side of Everything.

This newsletter serves a simple purpose → To help you build optimism, resilience and a solution-focused perspective.

Each week, I’ll share actionable insights that not only brighten your day but position you to be a leader within your own life and seize life’s opportunities.

Read time: 15-20 minutes.

Hello, Brighter Side readers! ☀️

As always, thanks for your replies, support and for simply reading along.

I appreciate each of you.

Writing this weeks edition was a blast.

If you’ve ever experienced one of life’s ‘Sliding Doors’ moments, you’ll relate.

This week, we dive into those unexpected moments that flip your script.

Plus some real takes on risk, serendipity, optimism and what it means to stick with something.

Even when the journey itself feels endless.

See you on the Brighter Side,

Chris

P.S. Please feel free to send me feedback on how I can improve. I respond to every email.

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No matter how carefully you plan, life is always ready to surprise you.

Sometimes, all it takes is a single unplanned moment to change everything.

I don’t mean minor disruptions or the “let’s push it to next week” type stuff, but the moments that rewrite your entire story.

They’re like lightning bolts.

Life’s curveballs that never come with advance warning.

In my experience, defining moments never announce themselves or arrive at your doorstep as scheduled.

They don’t send you a notification saying: “Clear your schedule Chris, everything’s about to shift.”

You could fill out every calendar and map out every goal, but the universe always saves its best for the moments you never saw coming.

Steve Jobs understood this better than most.

He is well known for his classic advice: “You can’t plan to meet the people who will change your life. It just happens.”

Years ago, Jobs almost skipped a talk at Stanford because he thought an “important” business dinner deserved his time.

While speaking, he spotted a woman in the audience who threw him so far off-track, he lost his place mid-sentence.

After the talk, he spontaneously asked her to dinner that same night.

Abandoning his “important” plans.

That detour led to his marriage with Laurene Powell, a partnership that helped shape his life and legacy.​

This took place in 1989 at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Think about the path his life took after this moment?

Now, I’m certainly not comparing myself to Steve Jobs, but I’ve also seen my carefully-laid plans get upended in ways I couldn’t have predicted.

The situation, completely different.

The lesson, exactly the same.

Sometimes the best decisions never appear on your schedule.

Until graduation, I’d followed the script.

I was fresh out of university with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (psychology and criminology).

I’d studied hard, earned the degree and was planning to launch straight into a secure job.

On paper, it was all lined up.

But as the moment drew close, a feeling kept gnawing at me.

I knew I loved the science of human behaviour (and still do).

But something about locking in my career path so early felt off.

Looking back, it was more than just nerves.

It was the sense that life had something else in store.

Logic and tradition said, “Take the job.”

Curiosity and restlessness whispered, “Go see the world.”

I’d never left Australia’s shores to this point.

So, instead of taking that first job, I wholeheartedly, wholeheadedly and wholeguttedly chose travel.

No set life agenda, no clear career map, for now.

Just me and a growing curiosity about the world.

In the months leading up to departure I worked several jobs, saved everything I could and immersed myself in planning the journey.

My anticipation grew with each passing day, but nothing prepared me for what came next.

That leap turned into several years of learning that no classroom could ever replicate.

Most destinations shattered my assumptions, rebuilt my perspective and threw me headfirst into unfamiliar situations with real, messy problems.

Sometimes all at once.

Obstacles built my grit while missed trains and wrong turns made me more adaptable.

I tasted foods I couldn’t pronounce, shared laughter with strangers in languages I barely understood and found unexpected kindness in the unlikeliest corners.

Conversations in remote villages taught me more about nuance and empathy than any textbook ever could.

Countless stories and memorable moments with strangers opened my eyes to the simple fact that, at our core, we are all more alike than different.

These are lessons I remain incredibly grateful to have learned young.

With each moment, doors swung open that I didn’t even know existed.

Opportunities appeared out of nowhere.

New friendships, meaningful work and growth in directions I couldn’t have mapped if I tried.

Those years completely rerouted my life.

I fell head-over-heels for travel itself.

The freedom, the beauty and the chance to learn from people and places in a way that a classroom could never deliver.

Simply put, in my personal opinion, travel is the best education you can get.

By the time I returned home, it had become obvious where I belonged.

Helping others experience that same thrill of discovery.

I set my sights on building a career in travel.

What followed was twenty years filled with opportunities, adventure, growth and friendships I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Those 20 years flew by in the blink of an eye.

Because I discovered what it felt like to work passionately at something you love.

At the time, it felt terrifying.

Looking back, it feels obvious.

The risk was never veering away from my plan.

It would have been in not taking the chance at all.​

Oh, and that degree?

It was more useful than I could ever have imagined.

Just not in the way I’d planned.

So now, whenever I see someone anxiously mapping every step, I get it.

We’re raised to believe that planning equals success.

That careful forethought provides a magic shield against regret.

Our reward systems like school, work, even family, train us to see rigid pathways as the only safe bet.

But ask anyone with a few stories under their belt, and you’ll hear a different truth.

The most cherished moments don’t arrive by appointment.

They sneak in as detours, wrong turns or interruptions.

My favourite stories, and those I hear from others, almost always start with, “It wasn’t planned, but then…”

Many of us are trained to value predictability.

We measure our worth in how “on track” we are.

But there’s a quiet danger in that mindset, it can blind us from serendipity trying to find us.

I’ve often wondered how many potential turning points pass us by simply because we’re too focused on where we think we’re supposed to go.

Why do these moments often slip past us?

But rigid plans can become blinders.

We say we want adventure, but we cling to control.

We say we want connection, but we hide behind routines.

We say we want meaning, but we build walls around our days that keep the unexpected out.

The irony is, opportunities often show up disguised as ordinary moments.

But if we're too busy keeping our plans airtight, we don't even notice when serendipity is knocking.

Sometimes the main thing holding us back is the story we’re too committed to finishing.

A story that might no longer fit.

So how can you balance both plans AND possibility?

Here’s what works: not in theory, but in real, lived experience:

These are simple habits but they don’t magically guarantee adventure.

They just make sure you’re ready for when opportunity knocks.

You know those people that seem lucky?

Most of them aren’t charmed.

They’re simply awake.

Present and ready to accept what may come their way.

They’re scanning the landscape, ready to follow a spark no matter how unlikely it seems.

Serendipity loves an open mind.

If your mind is closed or you always stick to a rigid agenda, you leave no space for opportunity to find you.

If you want moments to astound you, let yourself be surprised.

Wake up enough to doubt the path you’re on, but also trust that stepping off it doesn’t spell disaster.

The world’s best stories, discoveries and friendships live in the wilds that exist beyond “what you were supposed to do.”

Take it from Steve Jobs, from my own zigzagging path, or from any traveller, business builder, or dream-chaser you admire.

The moments that matter will often find you before you have a chance to map them out.

Every now and then, I find myself playing the familiar “what if?” game.

Mentally retracing those crossroads.

What if I’d taken the job instead of going exploring?

Would I have met my wife, or become a parent to my children who are now the heart of my world?

It’s impossible to know.

That mystery is part of what makes life electrifying.

We’re wired to imagine alternate timelines, for better or worse.

Sometimes, those mental detours help us grow.

But just as often, they can keep us lingering in regret that serves no one.

The real trick is to flip the script.

Reflect, but don’t dwell.

Let missed paths teach you, not haunt you.

Practice seeing what didn’t happen, what you avoided and what gifts surfaced only through so-called mistakes.

That kind of perspective is a deliberate habit, shaping gratitude for the choices you’ve already made.

And building resilience for everything that’s still to come.

Here’s what I hope everyone will remember.

Planning is wise, but magic is wild.

Chase your goals, but leave a little room for the unexpected.

Every day, the ordinary can flip into extraordinary if you stay curious, open and brave enough to try a new direction.

When you feel the urge to leap, don’t wait until everything makes sense.

Because, honestly, it never will.

The biggest regret isn’t failing.

It’s never stepping off the trail to see where your curiosity (and courage) might lead.

So next time life provides a lightning bolt, pause.

Recognise the invitation it represents.

Let yourself leap.

The greater risk is missing out because you gripped too tightly to a plan that kept you from living your very best story.

Life’s greatest chapters aren’t planned.

They’re discovered one unscripted yes at a time.

Stay ready, stay open.

And I promise, you’ll write a story worth retelling.

Karl Bushby isn’t going somewhere, he’s going everywhere.

He’s absorbing the world with every step.

From the windswept edges of South America to icy Siberian rivers and all the wild spaces in between, Bushby’s story is impossible to imitate and equally hard to ignore.

What started as a simple promise (never to come home until he’d walked an unbroken path around the planet) has become a living lesson in commitment, optimism and endurance.​

Why?

Because he set off nearly 30 years ago.

And is STILL going.

Bushby’s journey didn’t begin with any fanfare.

After leaving the British Parachute Regiment, he spent months planning his route, building a cart by hand and training for the unknown.

In 1998, he set off.

One step at a time.

Starting in Chile, with only $500, a bit of stubborn hope and a refusal to quit.

From deserts to jungles, his walk demanded physical stamina and an incredible capacity for solitude.

Countless times, harsh weather or border bureaucracy brought him to a standstill.

A test for anyone’s spirit.

While I was learning about Bushby’s adventure, one story sticks.

In 2006 (after years of planning) Bushby and teammate Dimitri Kieffer were ready to cross the treacherous Bering Strait’s ice.

They entered Russia by foot, defying skeptics and even their own doubts.

“You’ve just got to keep moving. Give up? Never occurred to me” Bushby later reflected.

It was never the cold or the distance that was hardest.

It was the endless waiting.

Like the several years stranded by red tape, when progress seemed to evaporate and only his grit kept the dream alive.​

He chose to keep walking.

Bushby’s walk started as a world of small, slow ripples that have become something epic.

He’s shared nights in Mongolian yurts, swapped stories with far-flung shepherds and discovered how a simple willingness to keep showing up (step after step) can both move and inspire others.

Strangers became friends.

Adventures became lessons passed on to dreamers following the updates from home.

His journey, now referred to as “The Goliath Expedition” is not about drama for drama’s sake, but what small choices can become.

A line of footprints circling the world, written with stubborn optimism.

Persistence, Bushby insists, grows in the ordinary days, not just the highlight reels.

Not every mile is scenic.

Not every moment feels heroic.

But each glorious sunrise after a cold night camping by the road, adds up to a story that expands what is possible.

Or at least what we believe is possible.

As of November 2025, Karl is walking through Hungary.

He recently made his way across the Caspian sea and is headed for Hull, England.

His ultimate finish line.

There’s still one major roadblock ahead (the Channel Tunnel’s red tape) but each sunrise now brings him closer to friends and family.

And to the completion of a journey that has wound through deserts, tundra, mountains, and 25 countries.

He hopes to walk those last miles and finally close the loop in September 2026.​

What a remarkable achievement.

There’s plenty of talk these days about persistence and resilience.

Especially in the face of challenges and setbacks.

Karl Bushby puts that talk into action.

Day after day, when the cameras are gone and the cheers have faded.

His journey is a stark reminder that the longest, hardest roads are walked by your faith in the next step.

Not the destination.

Not huge moments but daily choices.

Sometimes gritty, sometimes lonely, always honest, that get us somewhere worth going.

So, whatever challenge you’re currently facing, take inspiration from Karl.

Don’t wait for the finish line.

Aim your focus at that next step, however small, and trust the miles will take care of themselves.

Sometimes, the most extraordinary thing you can do is simply not quit.

Let that be your story this week.

Whatever your own adventure may be.

Want to learn more bout Bushby’s epic adventure? Check out this video on YouTube:

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Ever noticed how effectively optimism lifts your mood, opens doors, or nudges you to bounce back when things get tough?

If so, you’ll find a lot to appreciate in Learned Optimism.

If you haven’t, you’ll find even more.

This book is more than just a self-help classic.

It’s actually written by the person who put optimism on the scientific map.

Much of Martin Seligman’s thinking in Learned Optimism is aligned with how I approach life.

Believing in the power of perspective and the real changes that follow when you shift your mindset.

The book is written in very accessible language, thoughtfully balancing scientific evidence with practical strategies and easy-to-use exercises.

For anyone intrigued by the way optimism shapes happiness, resilience and growth, this is an essential read.

Seligman demonstrates how the ways we interpret challenges, setbacks and opportunities can influence not just our mood, but the entire trajectory of our life.

Seligman is a pioneer in positive psychology.

He has a knack for translating years of rigorous research into simple everyday tools.

He introduces the concept of “explanatory style” which are the habits of thought that guide us through how we explain both bad and good events.

There’s no jargon really.

Just stories, data and a friendly push toward change.

The ABCDE model (Adversity, Belief, Consequence, Disputation, Energisation) is at the heart of the book and becomes easy to use in real life.

For example, when something goes wrong, like a missed goal at work or a tough conversation.

You’re encouraged to pause, notice your beliefs, observe the consequences in your mood or action, challenge those beliefs if they aren’t helping, and harness the resulting boost in perspective.

That kind of clarity and practicality is rare in self-help books.

Optimism genuinely makes the world feel larger and more welcoming.

It’s a benefit I’ve experienced countless times in my own life, and something Seligman’s work puts into clear, actionable language.

Learned Optimism isn’t just for when you hit a rough patch though.

It’s a guide worth revisiting for any of life’s moments.

If you’re facing challenges, navigating a tricky transition or simply supporting someone else, the book’s simple frameworks (and down-to-earth tone) make optimism feel less like a slogan. More like a skill you can develop, one day at a time.

If you’ve read Learned Optimism, I’d love to hear how optimism has shown up in your days?

Either way, this is a book I’ll keep recommending to anyone who wants to add a little more light and resourcefulness to their outlook.

Please share; I'm always keen for great suggestions.

Ever notice how, when you actively think about a yellow car, you start seeing them everywhere?

On the road, in parking lots, in movies?

It’s not magic.

Just how our brain works.

What’s wild is this “yellow car” effect doesn’t just happen with cars.

You’ll spot it in conversations, in your job, and even in how you tackle your goals.

The truth?

What you’re tuned into, whether opportunity, frustration, or kindness, shows up front and centre in your life.

Science backs it up.

Our brains have something called the reticular activating system, which filters what matters most to us.

If I decide that little wins are important, my mind starts catching them everywhere.

Just last week, after a rocky morning, I made a point to look for small positives through the day.

Sure enough, I found reasons to smile that I’d normally overlook.

When we focus on opportunity or connection, we find new doors opening.

But when we expect trouble or frustration, the evidence starts to pile up fast.

Changing what I look for has changed a lot for me.

The more I train myself to notice opportunities or kindness, the more easily they appear.

Especially when the day isn’t going my way.

If you spot yourself feeding on frustration or disappointment this week, pause and hunt for a different path.

A good mood, a new idea, or a bit of unexpected warmth in someone else.

Challenge yourself: what’s one “yellow car” (one piece of goodness) you can catch in plain sight today?

What have you noticed yourself focusing on lately?

Has shifting your attention changed how things feel?

I’d love to hear what you’re finding.

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