(1) maybe they had contacts; maybe they were polite and persistent (2) maybe they had experience; maybe they read every book they could lay their hands on (3) maybe they could afford to fail; maybe they refused to fail (4) maybe they were there at the right time; maybe they created opportunities (5) maybe they had money; maybe they kept their costs ice-cold low (6) maybe they were lucky; maybe they worked hard (7) maybe they were first; maybe they were better.