Does success and happiness depend on choices people make rather on factors beyond control?

 (Note: Most facts in this essay is untrue or misleading)

Every choice, no matter how big or small, has a consequence. Christopher Columbus, who is famous for discovering the New World (i.e. America), had made the decision to set out to find India. However, he had instead found America, and that lead him to become a successful, rich and happy person.  King Leonidas I choice to be escorted by only 300 Spartan's soldiers to oppose the Persians in order to retain Sparta's freedom consequential to his victory. These two historic choices made by two historic icons shows that not are choices the causes of happiness and success, but factors beyond control are too. 

When Christopher Columbus set out to sail to India, he had instead landed on the New World, thousands of miles away from where he intended to land. However, he was not discouraged, and he ventured the New World, a decision that was eventually key that to his success. When Columbus and his men encountered the Red Indians, the natives of the New World, they were fortunately armed with weapons that the Red Indians t had not even known of, let alone possessing them. This was a boon to the Red Indians, but a bane to Columbus and his men. Because of this, Columbus and his men were able to over-power the Red Indians and then start claiming the New World as their own. So, it could be derived that Columbus' happiness and success was not just due to the choices he made, but also due to uncontrollable factors, which can be called luck, or myriad probability resulting into a an apt outcome. 

King Leonidas I, choice to fight the thousands of Persian soldiers with only 300 Spartans soldiers brought victory to the Spartans. His success can not just be accredited on his choice to attack quickly, but also factors beyond control, such as the decision by the Athenians to help the Spartans, or a stray arrow piercing the Persian General's eye.

Therefore, I can conclude that happiness and success is not only consequential to people's choices, but also due to factors beyond control.