Yes, a company's revenue, costs, cost of capital etc are all significantly affected by external factors. Customers, suppliers, input prices, financiers etc are in turn affected by more external factors like central banks, the government, the weather etc. Even physical phenomena like the climate can be influenced by things like consumption and environmental regulations.

As so goes the circle of life... Lots of assumptions made.

http://shareranks.com/499,The-Worst-Predictions-Ever

"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Nils Bohr

On the ponzi point, some companies in their early days went on without producing much cashflow or benefit for a while before they became succesful.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2097462_2097…