On: Monopoly was invented to demonstrate the evils of ...

[cryptica]

>> my intentional actions (successful business)

Yeah of course because you have full control of what happens to your business.

Your competitors, big corporate monopolies, regulators, investors, fickle cultural trends, politics, timing, your wealthy friends or family members and your own health have no impact at all on your business' chance of success.

[chrisco255 → cryptica]

Running a business is an exercise in risk management. All of the things you mentioned are interesting challenges, but they're not insurmountable. While there are few guarantees in life, one sure fired way to lose to all those factors is to make them bigger than they are.

[cryptica → chrisco255]

>> but they're not insurmountable

If your health is so bad that you die, that's insurmountable.

If regulations are so rigid that the government forbids you to open your business, that's insurmountable.

If a corporation sets up shop next door and sells everything you sell at half the price, that's insurmountable.

Then also milder combinations of all of the above can be insurmountable.