Why Magical Thinking Is Creeping Into Business - And How It's Hurting It
Posted on October 13, 2025 by Anastasia Paruntseva, One of Thousands of Entrepreneurship Coaches on Noomii.
Anastasia Paruntseva, Founder & CEO of Visionary Partners Ltd. Global expansion expert, book author, with 15+ years in tech, AI & robotics.
<p>I never thought I’d write this. Honestly, I believed magical thinking died along with DVDs, dial-up internet and the last episode of <em>Charmed</em>. I was absolutely certain that tarot cards, numerology and astrology had been safely retired to the same dusty attic where we keep Beanie Babies and MySpace profiles.</p> <p>And yet, here we are, in 2025: People are making business decisions based on star signs, energy readings and something called a “soul matrix calculation.” I’m not sure what that is, but I’m 99% certain it’s not covered in <em>Harvard Business Review</em>.</p> <h2 class="subhead-embed">Magic Is For Parties, Not Boardrooms</h2> <p>As a CEO with over 15 years of experience in IT and innovation tech, scaling companies in 50+ markets, leading teams of 100+ professionals and now running my own consultancy firm, I thought I’d seen it all. Apparently not. Because last week, I stumbled on a post in a women’s business group promoting the use of tarot, astrology and manifestation for strategic planning.</p> <p>Even worse? 80+ people had left enthusiastic comments. I thought I needed coffee. Turns out, I needed a reality check—and now I’m writing one.</p> <p>When business leaders start asking, “What does Mercury in retrograde mean for our Q4 goals?” we’ve gone too far. This isn’t a harmless quirk; it’s a full-on leadership crisis disguised as “intuition.”</p> <h2 class="subhead-embed">The Illusion Of Control—And Why It Sells</h2> <p>Researchers have long noted that people will reach for <em>anything</em> that provides a sense of control. Sometimes that’s a plan. Sometimes it’s … pulling a tarot card called “The Moon” and deciding to delay product launch because it “feels risky.”</p> <p>A UCLA study found that people often label leaders as “visionary” simply because they act <a href="https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/documents/areas/fac/management/young_morris_scherwin_2013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/documents/areas/fac/management/young_morris_scherwin_2013.pdf" aria-label="mysteriously or unpredictably,">mysteriously or unpredictably,</a> even if there’s zero logical basis for success. Translation: Your “genius” boss might just be winging it and hiding behind a zodiac meme.</p> <div class="article_paragraph_7"> </div> <p>Psychologists call this <a href="https://knowledge.insead.edu/leadership-organisations/stargazing-your-preferred-management-style" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://knowledge.insead.edu/leadership-organisations/stargazing-your-preferred-management-style" aria-label="the illusion of control">the illusion of control</a>: the belief that thoughts or rituals can change outcomes. It’s comforting. Like believing that wearing lucky socks will boost quarterly earnings. Newsflash: It won’t.<br><br></p> <p>In times of stress, people are even more likely to turn to astrology, crystals and even TikTok witches to “feel grounded.” I’d prefer they turn to profit & loss statements—but hey, that’s just me.</p> <h2 class="subhead-embed">Real Consequences: When Spreadsheets Meet Spells</h2> <p>Let’s be clear: Magical thinking has real-world costs. Case in point? The Silicon Valley Bank collapse. Confidence replaced strategy. Risk was ignored. And while no one blamed Mercury in retrograde, <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/silicon-valley-bank-and-the-dangers-of-magical-thinking" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/silicon-valley-bank-and-the-dangers-of-magical-thinking" aria-label="blind faith">blind faith</a> in the tech world’s infallibility played a major role.</p> <p>When financial models become vision boards, things implode. Not magically. Just logically.</p> <h2 class="subhead-embed">From ‘Manifestation’ To Mayhem: The Success Industry’s Dark Side</h2> <p>Let’s talk about the “become-a-CEO-in-30-days”-type courses. Spoiler: You can’t. I spent over 15 years mastering strategy before I even considered launching my consultancy company. Founding a company isn’t a weekend retreat; it’s a brutal climb with Excel sheets, sleepless nights and, yes, actual knowledge.</p> <p>Now add manifestation culture to this mix, where magical thinking is <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389255399_Manifesting_Success_The_Role_of_Magical_Thinking_in_Attraction_to_Multi-Level_Marketing_Business_Opportunities" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389255399_Manifesting_Success_The_Role_of_Magical_Thinking_in_Attraction_to_Multi-Level_Marketing_Business_Opportunities" aria-label="monetized through MLM schemes">monetized through MLM schemes</a>, fake coaches and promises of abundance if you just “align your energy.”</p> <p>Recent studies show that business students can be <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/4/483" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/4/483" aria-label="alarmingly prone to pseudoscience">alarmingly prone to pseudoscience</a>, a worrying trend for future leadership.</p> <p>In short:</p> <p>• Magical thinking persists because it feels good, not because it works.</p> <p>• It’s a convenient excuse to avoid responsibility—and reality.</p> <p>• Your moon sign isn’t responsible for low sales. Bad strategy is.</p> <p>So, what now?</p> <p>1. Don’t consult the stars. Consult your data.</p> <p>2. Stop outsourcing decisions to mystics. Find a mentor, not a magician.</p> <p>3. Respect the process. Success isn’t instant, especially not via “CEO manifestation bootcamp.”</p> <p>4. Invest in real skills. Evidence-based thinking scales. Tarot cards don’t.</p> <h2 class="subhead-embed">Business is hard. That’s the point.</h2> <p>I get it. The idea that a numerologist can reveal your perfect business partner or “abundance day” is tempting. But leadership isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about owning decisions, not deflecting them onto moon phases.</p> <p>Let’s keep magic where it belongs: in fantasy novels, Halloween parties and your aunt’s crystal collection. In business, there’s no substitute for strategy, logic and execution.</p> <p>And if you’re still not convinced, pull a card. Just don’t bet your revenue on it.</p>