Author: Scott Taylor

Chapter 1 Meeting Mr. Lucky
The Man Who Thinks He Can
If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you like to win, but think you can’t, It’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost, For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will; It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you’re outclassed, you are; You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man; But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can. Walter D. Wintle
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In a secluded area of the country on a hill of substantial verdant luster, lived the luckiest man in the world. His surroundings, though seemingly ostentatious, held an enticing romantic lure. There was not a house so big, nor staff so cheerful and content, in all the country. Yet, secrecy and mystery filled the peasants below as they wondered who Mr. I. M. Lucky really was and how he reached such colossal levels of success. In a small schoolhouse at the bottom of Lucky Mountain in the village of Dilemmaville, there attended a boy of considerable size yet lacking in self-esteem. The boy’s name was Utor Retting, but the local boys and girls knew him only as ‘Utor the Bore.’ Utor tried his hand at sports but was quite clumsy and the children would make fun of him each time he fell. He was tired of hearing the chant, “He can’t make a score ‘cause he’s Utor the Bore,” so he stopped playing sports. He attempted art, but could never appreciate his own work, even though the teacher would tell him he showed promise. He tried to be sociable, but before he could ever get near a crowd of peers someone would notice him and say, “Look, here comes Utor the Bore!” This would 
The Opportunity In Every Problem 3 embarrass Utor causing him to turn and walk away. One day Utor decided he wasn’t going to walk away. He was determined to stay and talk with the group until they finally accepted him. As he came up to the crowd of children mocking him with a chant of, “Utor the Bore, can’t fit through the door... Utor the Bore, can’t fit through the door,” they expected him to turn and walk away, but this time he stayed there until they stopped chanting. They all stood there staring at each other until ‘Horace the Brute Force’ spoke up and gruffly said, “What do you want?” Utor responded, “I just want to play with you guys.” Horace reacted in his usual intimidating manner, “Well we don’t want to play with you, Utor the Bore. Why don’t you just go away before I make you hit the floor, Utor the Bore.” As he turned and walked away with his head drooping, Utor decided right then and there that he was never going to have any friends, so he started looking for something he could do that would provide him a more solitary environment. Utor loved books and 
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was quite studious, so he thought maybe someday he could be a writer. As all his romantic fantasies of sports and art went by the wayside, he began looking for a way to start writing. His teacher encouraged him to get his start by writing short articles for the school newspaper. Even though this wasn’t what Utor was hoping for, he decided he would do whatever was necessary to become a writer. Utor entered the school news shop only to find the same ridicule. The Editor of the school newspaper was incensed to find that Utor the Bore thought he could actually be a writer. In a conspiracy to get Utor to quit, the class came up with an idea that was sure to convince him he was unable to cope with the rigors of school reporting. They thought of the toughest assignment they could give him. This assignment would be impossible. For years the newspaper had tried, with several of their top reporters, to get an interview with Mr. I. M. Lucky, but to no avail. The editor called Utor into his office and said, “So, Utor, you think you can be a reporter do you?” Utor, in a somewhat timid voice said, “Well, I would like to be a writer.”
The Opportunity In Every Problem 5 The editor responded by saying, “A writer! Why that is an even harder job than a reporter, but if that’s what you want, I’ll give you the easiest assignment I can think of, to get you started. Heck! If you can’t do this assignment then writing is not for you. I want you to get an interview with Mr. Lucky on the hill. Find out how he became so successful and whether I. M. Lucky is his real name.” The thought of having to approach someone as important as Mr. Lucky, left Utor with a rather high level of trepidation. However, if this was the easiest assignment he could get, Utor could hardly back down, regardless of his fear. The next day, Utor went to see Mr. Lucky. As he rode his bicycle up the winding road to the Lucky mansion, he became more and more bewildered over what he would actually say to Mr. Lucky when they first met. At last, he reached the door, winded and nervous. He turned around looking back at the long distance he traveled to get there. A faint thought of how far he was from the security of his home, caused him to reconsider his desire to become a writer. Utor took a step back and was about to turn around 
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when the door suddenly opened. Now faced with the plight of actually having to speak, Utor stood there looking at the tall figure standing on the threshold. Aware of the obvious fear in the eyes of the child standing before him, the butler smiled and asked, “May I help you young man?” Utor stammered as he said, “Is M-M-Mr. Lucky here?” The butler invited Utor into the study to sit and wait. “May I tell Mr. Lucky who is calling Sir?” said the Butler. “My name is Utor Retting,” said Utor. While Utor waited, a maid brought him some sweets and a drink. She smiled as she said, “These are for you. I hope you enjoy them.” Utor remained sitting there for what seemed to be an eternity. It was actually only about ten minutes, enough time for him to finish his treat. When Utor had finished the butler returned and said, “Mr. Lucky requests that you return again on the morrow at precisely 10 a.m.” Utor thanked the butler and went on his way. He sped away on his bike, and, with 
The Opportunity In Every Problem 7 each push of the pedals, Utor became more and more relieved. What pressure he faced! He could never have anticipated that much stress. Utor resolved he would never make that journey again. That night as Utor lay sleeping, he dreamed a beautiful stallion with golden wings swooped him up and flew him around Lucky Mountain. It was quite beautiful and bigger than he had ever imagined. Mr. Lucky’s land seemed to go on forever. When Utor awoke he felt this dream must be a sign. He expected Mr. Lucky would be awaiting his return, and thought that telling him about the vision may be his ticket to riches and a life of luxury. Utor could hardly wait to return to Mr. Lucky’s mansion. That morning, Utor, in new spirits, raced up the mountain and knocked on the door. As the butler opened the door, Utor was once again invited into the study where he was given a treat and asked to wait. Again, ten minutes had passed when the butler returned and asked Utor to come again on the morrow at 10 a.m. to see Mr. Lucky. Utor was dumfounded. “Why was the vision given to me if nothing were to come of it? Why would Mr. Lucky ask me to come 
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back again tomorrow but wouldn’t see me, even to introduce himself? Am I wasting my time here?” The boy left slowly, his mind full of questions and confusion. He once again thought he should give up his desire to be a writer, since he didn’t seem to possess the understanding necessary for such a position. Utor went to class where the editor asked him, in front of the class, how his assignment was coming. All eyes peered at him as Utor announced he hadn’t met Mr. Lucky yet. The class began laughing at him and telling him he was a failure. “You will never be a writer Utor the Bore” was the sound so prominently ringing in his ear. As the laughing continued Utor decided he had to succeed. The next day, Utor decided he would once again try to see Mr. Lucky. However, the boy again met with the same treatment and instruction, to return on the morrow. This continued for two weeks. Utor couldn’t understand why he continued to return, especially under the pressure of his classmates making fun of him and calling him a failure. “I am not going to fail! There has got to be a way for me to 
The Opportunity In Every Problem 9 interview Mr. Lucky. How do I get past his butler? How can I get Mr. Lucky to want to see me?” Utor said to himself. That night as he slept, he once again dreamed that the beautiful stallion with golden wings swooped him up and carried him around Lucky Mountain. However, this time he noticed that on the back of the Lucky mansion was a rickety old house that appeared to be attached to the mansion. For some reason this sighting was so poignant and disturbing that it woke him out of his sleep. Utor laid there wondering what the old shack could possibly mean. As part of what had become Utor’s daily routine, he again knocked on the door of the mansion. However, when the butler invited him into the study Utor stopped him saying, “Wait a minute. When you announce my arrival to Mr. Lucky, would you please tell him I am here to talk about the run down house, attached to the back of the mansion, which I saw in my dream last night, as I rode on the back of a beautiful stallion with golden wings.” The butler was all aghast as he stood there looking at the young boy. “Very well, Sir” said the butler.
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Utor sat in the study waiting but this time no treats were served. He began to wonder what this would mean. The butler returned and escorted him to Mr. Lucky’s private office. As the door opened he noticed a man of curious demeanor sitting behind an awe inspiring work of art, which could hardly be called a desk. Mr. Lucky invited Utor to sit across from him. As he sat there Mr. Lucky said, “You must be the one.” Utor nervously responded, “What do you mean by ‘the one’?” “I have been meditating and praying for some time, trying to call a special person to me. This person would be able to one day share my secret of success with the world. In my error, I had sought after a man of experience and wisdom. I had not considered that Divinity would send a boy to do such an important work,” stated Mr. Lucky. This statement caused Utor to tremble with fear. He then told Mr. Lucky, in a timid voice, “I’m only here to write an article for my school newspaper. I have never even written an article yet and I am a boy of no consequence to men or children. I am not the person you are looking for Mr. Lucky.”
The Opportunity In Every Problem 11 “On the contrary Mr. Retting. You will write and what you will write will be more than the simple verses of entertainment, sought after by your school editor. You will write a book that will be the delight of sages and priests. You will be the means of calling the wealthy to gather and the passerby to stop and stare. Sit up straight young man, and strengthen your back for you are about to take a journey, a journey that will put you on your stallion of golden wings. Come on the morrow at 10 a.m. and you will begin your journey,” said Mr. Lucky. That afternoon as Utor entered his class, the editor once again brazenly remarked, “So, Utor, how are you doing on your assignment thus far?” Amidst chuckles in the room Utor stated, “I have met with Mr. Lucky, and he is about to teach me how he gained his fortune.” Instant silence filled the room. The astonishment was so thick you could cut it with a knife.