My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
The Institutional Circle
Elite institutions (universities, pension funds) invest in private equity and hedge funds run by their own alumni, creating self-reinforcing wealth concentration loops.
Decision Rule
When evaluating institutional power, look for circular investment patterns where the institution funds the very people who later manage its money.
How It Works
Harvard educates future PE/hedge fund managers → Harvard's $50B endowment invests in their funds → Managers generate returns for Harvard → Cycle continues with increasing concentration of wealth and influence.
Failure Modes
Groupthink from too much institutional incest
Missing opportunities outside the network
Systemic risk from correlated investments
Public backlash against institutional advantages
Example Decision
“Before investing in or competing with institutional players, map their alumni networks and investment relationships to understand their true competitive advantages and potential blind spots.”
Related Knowledge
Simple businesses consistently executed beat complex innovative ones
Focus on execution excellence and long-term consistency rather than seeking innovative disruption
Film Production Tax Credit Strategy
A legal tax strategy where wealthy investors finance films to claim 100% depreciation deductions immediately while using state tax credits and financing to minimize actual cash investment.
Harvard's Triple Business Model
A framework for understanding how elite institutions combine tax exemption (church), investment management (hedge fund), and premium services (luxury daycare) to create massive tax-free wealth generation.
Build acquisition-based holding company from profitable agency cash flows
$600M+ market cap holding company with diversified portfolio, minimal equity dilution, consistent cash generation from original agency funding acquisitions.
you put down 150k cash and you get a million dollar deduction
Film tax credits create massive leverage where small cash investments generate large tax deductions
unconditional meaning their happiness is not contingent on anything I find that absolute superpower
People whose mood and performance don't depend on external circumstances have significant advantages