As I think back over my charmed life, I realize I have enjoyed more than my share of Glory Days, which I believe happened as a result of good planning, hard work, competitiveness and luck.   

In my case, much of my luck was not random.  I like to think it was by design, as in "You make your own luck".  

I may not have been the smartest, but that awareness fueled my outworking most.

As far as being competitive, if you know me, you know I have an insatiable (irrational) desire to win or come out on top.  It's not pretty, but it works for me.  

Then there's planning, I do lots of mental preparation ahead of time to avoid awkward surprises.  

In any case, I have enjoyed my Glory Days. The Future remains to unfold, and I can see no reason to change.