---
title: "How luck and timing influence success"
description: "James Surowiecki has a great article in the New Yorker entitled The Fatal Flaw Myth that pierces the received wisdom of the airline manufacturing industry. I like the article because it acts also as..."
url: https://www.boxcarmarketing.com/how-luck-and-timing-influence-success/
date: 2006-09-13
modified: 2025-10-10
author: "James Sherrett"
image: https://www.boxcarmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/boeing-787.jpg
categories: ["Marketing Strategy & Tips"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How luck and timing influence success

James Surowiecki has a great article in the New Yorker entitled (http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060731ta_talk_surowiecki) that pierces the received wisdom of the airline manufacturing industry.

I like the article because it acts also as a cautionary tale. Sometimes the patterns we think we see are only short-term happenings. Sometimes the real causes of events and fortunes only become apparent in the longer term. Most importantly, we must resist jumping to conclusions based on hearing a story that reinforces and fits our world view.

Recommended reading for anyone thinking strategically and critically about our world.