My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Neighborhood-Level Location Selection
Choose where to live based on specific neighborhood characteristics rather than city-level attributes
Decision Rule
Evaluate the culture, demographics, and amenities within walking distance rather than city-wide statistics
How It Works
Your daily experience is determined by your immediate environment - city-level data obscures neighborhood-level realities
Failure Modes
Choosing based on brief visits rather than extended time
Ignoring seasonal or time-of-day variations
Not understanding demographic trends
Example Decision
“Choosing between Park Slope (family-oriented) vs Williamsburg (creative/nightlife) in Brooklyn based on lifestyle fit rather than just 'living in New York'”
Related Knowledge
Physical observation trumps data analysis for operational problems
Leaders should spend more time in the field observing rather than in conference rooms theorizing
Network quality matters more than network size
Invest deeply in fewer relationships rather than trying to meet everyone
Little Big Details Framework
Focus on small, seemingly insignificant moments and details that reveal deeper patterns and insights, rather than obviou
Eight Hour Observation Framework
Physically position yourself in the center of a problem area and observe continuously for extended periods without preco
Peer vs Fan Relationship Framework
The only valuable celebrity/high-status person relationships are mutual respect between peers, not fan-celebrity dynamic
Number Two Guy Network Strategy
Build relationships with the second-in-command people (assistants, business partners, right-hand people) who have 98% of