Instead, he would have to take a chance that had worked in the past.

A few things have worked for me in the past.

And it has always worked for them in the past.

That is certainly the way it has worked in the past.

Something isn't working, even though it may have worked in the past.

Each of which has worked for me in the past.

He knew his own plan had worked well in the past.

At least that is the way it has worked in the past.

After all, it had worked for them in the past.

But such efforts have generally not worked in the past.