My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Multiple Ways to Win Decision Framework
When evaluating business decisions, identify one core reason for the decision, then catalog all additional ways it could benefit you and ways it could hurt you, proceeding if benefits outweigh risks
Decision Rule
If there's one clear core reason plus multiple additional benefits, and the potential downsides are manageable, proceed with the decision
How It Works
Reduces decision paralysis by acknowledging uncertainty while ensuring multiple paths to success. Creates optionality and redundancy in business decisions.
Failure Modes
Overcomplicating simple decisions
Not properly weighting the core reason vs secondary benefits
Ignoring low-probability but high-impact risks
Using this to rationalize obviously bad decisions
Example Decision
“Acquiring the blog company: core reason was getting traffic and a leader, additional benefits included SEO improvements, display ad revenue increases, and content creation capability.”
Related Knowledge
Fresh, locally grown food provides significantly better nutrition and taste than industrial agricult
Worth investing in personal food production systems and supporting local agriculture
Content-First Market Validation
Using content creation to validate demand for products before manufacturing or sourcing them, by showcasing products in content and measuring audience response.
Media as Top-of-Funnel Commerce Model
Building a media business (blog, YouTube, social) primarily to create audience and trust, then monetizing through higher-margin product sales rather than traditional advertising.
Negative Customer Acquisition Cost Model
A business model where your marketing activities (content creation) generate direct revenue while simultaneously acquiring customers, resulting in negative acquisition costs.
Transform a personal hobby into a scalable business
A sustainable business generating significant revenue from serving others in your hobby niche, with potential for acquis
Launch a physical product using existing content audience
Product sells out initial inventory within days/weeks and creates sustainable revenue stream from existing audience