My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Going Pro vs Dropping Out Reframe
Reframing education departure from 'dropping out' (negative) to 'going pro' (positive) when someone has exceptional skills ready for professional application.
Decision Rule
If someone demonstrates professional-level competence and has concrete opportunities that exceed educational value, frame transition as advancement rather than abandonment.
How It Works
Changes perception from failure/risk to opportunity/advancement, making decision more palatable to stakeholders and reducing psychological barriers.
Failure Modes
Using reframe to justify premature departure without genuine professional-level skills
Ignoring legitimate benefits of continued education for networking and broad knowledge
Applying frame when market conditions don't support alternative path
Example Decision
“19-year-old with demonstrated coding skills and job offer at growing startup frames leaving college as 'going pro like LeBron James' rather than 'dropping out.'”
Related Knowledge
College entrepreneurship communities should be underground and exclusive
Exclusivity and mystery create stronger commitment and higher-quality membership
Young entrepreneurs should emphasize authentic achievements over inflated experience claims
Authenticity and specific accomplishments are more credible than cumulative metrics
Summer Melt Prevention Framework
A systematic approach to preventing prospective students from withdrawing their college enrollment commitment at the last minute, typically during summer before freshman year.
Content-First Brand Building Framework
A brand building approach that prioritizes storytelling and content creation over traditional advertising to achieve cheaper customer acquisition and authentic engagement.
Decide whether to raise venture capital or bootstrap a profitable business
Making optimal funding decision that aligns with business potential and founder goals, avoiding premature scaling or missed opportunities.
Scale CPG product from small regional chains to national distribution
Systematic expansion from regional chains to national retailers while maintaining velocity metrics and profit margins.