but there will also have been positive outcome random events.

But when opportunity knocks, it helps if you are home to answer the door.

Control over our lives is illusory beyond the relatively insignificant events.

We will have to agree to disagree about this one.

However, the one thing within our control is our attitude to events. But even our attitude is due, at least partially, to external influences during our formative years and beyond.

Shall we now debate nature vs. nurture {s} ? I believe that each human being brings something of his own that is unique into the world. I also believe that human beings are capable of changing - even changing their attitudes - if thery want to.