The Icarus paradox is a neologism coined by Danny Miller

Danny Miller

Danny Miller may refer to:* Danny Miller , co-executive producer of Fresh Air* Danny Miller , fictional character, played by Mitch Hewer, in the British musical drama Britannia High...

, and popularized by his 1990 book by the same name, for the observed phenomenon of businesses that fail abruptly after a period of apparent success.
In a 1992 article, Miller noted that some businesses bring about their own downfall through their own successes, be this through over-confidence, exaggeration, complacency. It refers to Icarus

Icarus

-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...

 of Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

 who flew too close to the Sun and melted his own wings. The book is a key source of insight in Escaping the Progress trap

Progress trap

A progress trap is the condition human societies experience when, in pursuing progress through human ingenuity, they inadvertently introduce problems they do not have the resources or political will to solve, for fear of short-term losses in status, stability or quality of life...

by Daniel O'Leary.