My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Influence Absorption Framework
A deliberate strategy of deeply studying 3-5 people you admire so thoroughly that you can 'turn them on' and channel their perspectives, communication styles, and decision-making approaches
Decision Rule
When facing any situation, ask 'How would [person X] handle this?' and actually know enough about them to give a meaningful answer
How It Works
Instead of trying to develop original thinking from scratch, you accelerate learning by modeling proven successful approaches, then synthesize them into your own style
Failure Modes
Choosing people to study who aren't actually worth emulating
Surface-level mimicry without understanding underlying principles
Never developing your own authentic voice by over-relying on models
Studying too many people and getting confused rather than gaining clarity
Example Decision
“Before giving a difficult presentation, you think through how Muhammad Ali would use confident rhetoric, how Madeleine Albright would handle geopolitical questions, and how George Carlin would use humor to make points stick.”
Related Knowledge
America Uniquely Tolerates Failure
Entrepreneurs should start more businesses and take more risks in America than they would in other countries
Sexier Business, Lower ROI Principle
A career selection rule stating that the more attractive or glamorous an industry appears, the lower the financial retur
Algebra of Wealth Formula
A mathematical representation of wealth building: Focus × Stoicism × Time × Diversification = Wealth
Build a business designed from inception to sell at premium multiples
Selling company for 8x+ revenue in top decile of industry valuations
Time-bounded Recovery Framework
A self-imposed time limit for processing and recovering from failures, losses, or setbacks before you must take action t
the sexier the business the lower return on investment
Industries that seem glamorous or appealing typically offer worse financial returns for participants