Strategy11/50

En Passant

Hidden Opportunities

The Move Nobody Expects

En passant is chess's most surprising rule — a capture that only exists for one move. In business, hidden opportunities appear and disappear just as quickly. Trending topics, viral moments, algorithm shifts, platform launches — these are your en passant windows.

Matthew's Opportunity Radar

I keep a running list of emerging platforms, trending keywords, and cultural moments. When one aligns with my skill set, I build a Lovable site targeting it within 24 hours. This is how I captured first-mover advantage repeatedly.

  • Trend Surfing: Use Google Trends, TikTok trending, and Twitter/X to spot rising topics
  • Platform Arbitrage: New platforms have low competition and high organic reach — be early
  • Event-Driven Building: Build tools and content around predictable events before they happen
  • Gap Analysis: When competitors fail or exit, their abandoned audience needs a new home

The Window Closes Fast

En passant can only be played immediately — hesitate and the opportunity vanishes forever. With Lovable, I can capture these windows because my build-to-deploy time is measured in hours, not weeks. Speed is not just an advantage — it is THE advantage.