I have spent time with hundreds of the most successful founders. As we have shar
By Mikebeckhamsm · October 16, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
I have spent time with hundreds of the most successful founders. As we have shared experiences, one thing stands out above everything else:
The number one reason for success is market forces.
Success is always a combination of a remarkable entrepreneur and great market conditions.
Great founder, bad market: market wins
Bad founder, great market: market wins
Great founder, great market: grand slam
If you've been fortunate enough to build something successful, you almost certainly have the humility to understand the market forces that were the wind at your back.
If you've been unfortunate enough to build something that didn't work out because of market forces, you aren't alone. You aren't a failure.
This is also why the biggest piece of advice I give to aspiring entrepreneurs is to spend a lot of time thinking about where they want to compete.
Building something requires years of your life, and one of the easiest ways to win is being very intentional about what game you choose to play.