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Is Business Success Just About Luck? Lessons from Clara Vania

Can success in business really come down to luck? Or is it all about hard work and smart strategy? In this article, we dive into the journey of Clara Vania, a young entrepreneur and co-founder of Tentang Kita and Ripple, who shares her experience about entrepreneurship, finding the right partner, dealing with failures, and understanding the role of momentum in business growth.

Her story reveals powerful lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those navigating the uncertainties of starting a business in today’s fast-changing world.

Why Clara Chose Entrepreneurship Over a 9-to-5 Job

Clara started her entrepreneurial journey after realizing that a traditional office job wasn’t for her. During her internship, she often finished tasks quickly and spent hours feeling unproductive. This sparked a thought: “If I can work 8 hours a day for myself, I might as well build something of my own.”

She experimented with different business ideas, from renting graduation gowns to eventually launching Tentang Kita, a conversation card game, and Ripple, a personal branding agency. For Clara, entrepreneurship meant freedom to create and innovate—something she couldn’t find in a rigid corporate structure.

The Essentials of Starting a Business

“Start First, Learn Along the Way”

When asked about advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Clara emphasized action over overthinking. Many people wait until they feel “ready,” but in reality, most of the important lessons come only after you’ve started. Real-world business experience often differs greatly from what you learn in school or even in a corporate job.

• Don’t wait for perfect timing — there will never be one.
• Be willing to experiment — every failure teaches you something.
• Stay curious and adaptable — industries change fast, and flexibility is key.

Choosing the Right Business Partner

Clara highlighted that partnerships can make or break a business. According to her, there are three crucial elements:

1. Shared Vision: Both partners must agree on where the business is heading.
2. Aligned Values: Core principles must be similar to avoid conflicts.
3. Complementary Strengths: If both have the same strengths, other areas may be neglected.

She likens finding the right partner to finding a life partner—sometimes it takes trial and error, and when it works, it feels almost like fate.

The Role of Luck and Momentum in Business

Initially, Clara believed her business success was purely the result of hard work. During the early days of Tentang Kita, sales skyrocketed, reinforcing her belief in effort equals results. But when she pushed even harder in the following years and revenue didn’t grow as expected, she faced a harsh reality: momentum matters.

This realization shifted her mindset. She learned that while hard work and persistence are vital, external factors like timing, market conditions, and even sheer luck can significantly influence outcomes. Recognizing this helped her balance ambition with acceptance.

“Entrepreneurship is not just a career path—it’s also a spiritual journey. You learn humility, patience, and the importance of letting go of things you can’t control.” – Clara Vania

Leading a Gen Z Team

Clara’s team is mostly made up of Gen Z employees. She observes that they are highly creative, flexible, and digitally skilled. Tools like Canva and CapCut are second nature to them, making content creation easier and faster. However, the challenge is high turnover. To build loyalty, she focuses on:

• Employer branding that makes employees proud.
• Fun and engaging work culture, including bonding activities.
• Aligning personal career goals with the company’s vision.

Balancing Creativity and Business Reality

In the creative industry, balancing artistic vision with commercial needs is always tricky. Clara’s approach is to start with the client’s goals and then adjust creative ideas to meet those objectives. This ensures that her team’s creativity not only inspires but also delivers tangible results for clients.

Work-Life Balance or Work-Life Integration?

For Clara, work and life are not opposing forces to be balanced but integrated parts of who she is. Because she genuinely enjoys what she does, even brainstorming and strategizing for her company feels less like work and more like a passion project. She admits not everyone is privileged to love their job, but believes that self-awareness can help people move toward that path.

Key Takeaways from Clara’s Journey

• Entrepreneurship requires resilience and adaptability.
• Momentum and timing play a bigger role than most people realize.
• The right partner is essential for long-term growth.
• Gen Z employees bring creativity but require meaningful engagement.
• Success is not just about money—it’s about finding purpose and joy in what you build.

Conclusion

So, is business success just about luck? Clara’s story shows that while luck and momentum are undeniably important, they’re not everything. Hard work, the right partnerships, adaptability, and self-awareness form the foundation of lasting success. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the most important step is to start—and learn along the way.

If Clara’s journey inspired you, share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you believe luck plays a bigger role in success than effort? Let’s discuss!

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Label: Finance

References:
Video: Bisnis Sukses Cuman Butuh Hoki? (Ft. Clara Vania) – #GibahBerfaedahPodcast
Channel: Theo Derick
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