My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
What Experts Notice Framework
A learning strategy where you observe what captures the attention of domain experts, using their selective focus as a guide to understand what matters most in their field.
Decision Rule
When interacting with successful people, pay close attention to what makes them stop, lean in, take notes, or ask follow-up questions. These attention spikes reveal their mental models and priorities.
How It Works
Experts have developed pattern recognition that automatically filters for high-signal information in their domain. Their attention is a trained instrument that highlights what amateurs miss. By observing their focus, you reverse-engineer their expertise.
Failure Modes
Confusing personal quirks with professional insights
Assuming all expert attention is transferable to your context
Missing the context that makes their attention patterns relevant
Following attention patterns without understanding the underlying principles
Example Decision
“Sean mentions a TikTok hook casually, but the TikTok expert immediately stops the conversation, takes notes, and insists it could 'make your whole company' - revealing that hooks are the highest-leverage element in their mental model of success.”
Related Knowledge
The most successful people optimize for being useful to others rather than extracting value
Building relationships and business success should focus on contribution rather than acquisition
Hated and Unloved Investment Strategy
An investment approach that specifically targets assets that are widely disliked or ignored by the market, betting that negative sentiment creates undervaluation opportunities.
Passion Project Connection Strategy
A relationship-building approach that focuses conversations on people's current passionate interests rather than their well-known achievements, creating deeper engagement and authentic connection.
Optimize for decision quality and strategic thinking over activity and busyness
Clear daily schedule with time for deep thinking, reading, and strategic decisions.
I look for things that are hated and unloved
Investment strategy focused on assets with widespread negative sentiment, betting that hatred creates undervaluation opp
Pay attention to what other people pay attention to
Learning strategy where you observe what captures experts' attention as a way to understand their mental models and prio