The Luck Factor: Why Success in Business Isn’t Just About Strategy
To succeed in business, you need to have years of experience, careful planning, a surefire strategy and capital behind you—right? What if that’s no longer the case? It may surprise you that there are some businesses out there that bucked that trend and were successful exactly because they broke those rules.
And it’s not the businesses that you may first think of, either. Individuals and small businesses are finding success, not because of strategy and years of planning, but because of timing and luck. We’ll explore what that means—but first, which sectors are seeing the most success?
New World Business Sectors
Retail, property, agriculture and oil have all been the primary money-making sectors worldwide. Things are shifting, and while these industries remain powerhouses, niche products and services are becoming increasingly mainstream and more widely sought after.
From niche wellness startups to British casinos with expert reviews, if it can be promoted online, it has a chance of being incredibly successful. There are an estimated 5.64 billion internet users worldwide—and that’s a massive market. People these days embrace new things, which primarily come from niche industries.
The Role of Luck in Business Today
Luck in business doesn’t mean winning the lottery. It’s about timing, preparation and bold decisions when others hesitate. Being successful also means filling a need at a specific moment, collaborating with the perfect partners and taking the leap.
Being in the right place at the right time has never been truer than it is today. Opportunities arise in an instant, and the individuals or businesses that snap them up are the ones that succeed.
Unexpected Market Shifts and Timing
No amount of planning can prepare a new business owner for unexpected market shifts. Things can change in an instant. In April 2025, for example, US President Donald Trump imposed excessive tariffs on imports. Within hours, stock markets globally plummeted. This level of market shift will become the norm more than the unusual. Those who are ready for them are the ones who succeed—just like the three businesses below:
Talulah Jones
Talulah Jones is a Denver-based lifestyle boutique. It’s a niche store with a whimsical and magical theme that specialises in eco-friendly children’s toys, handmade jewellery, bath products and decorative homewares. Like many brick-and-mortar stores, the store was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, and sales dropped. Talulah Jones realised it had to immediately alter its business model. The store expanded into the digital world and opened an online store offering virtual tours and an enhanced customer service experience. When the lockdown order was lifted, Talulah Jones introduced curbside pickup to remain accessible and social-distancing safe. Talulah Jones made profits during the pandemic while other stores had to close their doors.
Eagle Electronics
Eagle Electronics is a U.S.-based electronics manufacturing startup headquartered in Ohio. The company makes secure hardware, like cellular modules for IoT and the automotive industries. Initially, it had all its electrical components manufactured in China. After the imposition of higher tariffs on goods from Asia, supply chain delays and geopolitical risks, Eagle Electronics moved its manufacturing onshore. The onshoring process brings jobs and advanced production back to the U.S. and also enables more reliable and secure supply chains. Instead of accepting that there may be delays in manufacturing its cellular modules, Eagle Electronics took the initiative to find a better solution that delivered major gains for the company and the wider economy.
Stitch and Story
UK-based Stitch and Story was another pandemic success story. As an online craft store with an emphasis on knitting and crochet, its market was predominantly mature women. When the COVID-19 lockdowns were in force, people stuck at home were looking for projects to keep them occupied. Stitch and Story jumped on this, heavily promoting the simplicity and relaxing vibes this type of activity offers. In March 2020, when the lockdowns in the UK went into force, Stitch and Story had an 800% increase in sales. As this continued, the company needed to double its workforce to meet the demand. Few businesses can say they added staff during this time.
Lucky Partnerships
Strategic partnerships are essential today, as leveraging each other’s strengths creates mutual benefit. Sometimes, these partnerships are even more successful than first imagined. Here are two partnerships that illustrate this perfectly:
Lucky and Major Egyptian Banks
The appropriately named Lucky is an Egyptian fintech that was awarded $25M (£19M) from Egypt’s three largest banks. The luck here is that this company approached the banks at the same time that Egypt’s government was pushing fintech as the future of finance. Lucky was the first fintech ready to launch, just as interest in the sector peaked. Today, Lucky leads the Egyptian market for consumer credit, cashback rewards and instalment payment services.
Agapé and TikTok’s Viral Community
Every influencer dreams of being the next TikTok superstar. For Agapé, a mobile app focused on strengthening personal relationships, it came about by accident. Agapé chose the platform to promote its app, which resonated with the new generation seeking healthier relationships. As they’re the primary demographic of TikTok’s creator ecosystem, Agapé accelerated its growth far beyond initial projections. Agapé’s success is another example of having the right product at the right time.
Embracing the Luck Factor
If you’re an individual or a small business with a new venture, you don’t necessarily need to plan its rollout to the nth degree. Instead, look for opportunities where there’s a market shift and demand for your product or service becomes immediate. Additionally, look for strategic partners where both of you gain to win by teaming up. Others may call it luck, but you’ll know it came down to preparation, timing and bold choices.
