My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Build billion-dollar business without external capital through radical cost control
Bootstrapped companies serious about long-term wealth creation over lifestyle
5-20 years of disciplined executionWhat Success Looks Like
Profitable every single month, compounding growth funded by retained earnings, 40%+ net margins, complete ownership retention
Steps to Execute
Commit to never losing money again after first profitable month
Live far below means even as revenue grows
Reinvest all profits back into growth opportunities
Build production capabilities rather than outsourcing
Eliminate every unnecessary cost ruthlessly
Scale infrastructure only after proving profitability
Maintain extreme cost discipline as cultural value
Use profitability to fund next category expansion
Checklist
Inputs Needed
- Extreme personal discipline and sacrifice
- Long-term wealth creation mindset
- Detailed financial tracking systems
- Ability to delay gratification for years
- Strong product-market fit to justify sacrifice
Outputs
- Complete business ownership retention
- Massive profit margins enabling fast growth
- Financial resilience during downturns
- Credibility with partners and suppliers
- Freedom to pursue ambitious projects
Example
“After making first $1M profit, continue living in factory dorm room and eating $0.30 meals. Reinvest all profits into automation and new product development instead of upgrading lifestyle, compounding returns over decades.”
Related Knowledge
Bullets to Cannonballs Framework
A systematic approach to innovation where you fire small, low-cost 'bullets' (tests) first, then invest heavily in 'cannonballs' (full execution) only when bullets prove successful.
First Principles Manufacturing
Building manufacturing operations from fundamental principles rather than copying industry norms, focusing on materials cost as baseline and automating everything possible.
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Build global distribution network by directly contacting every possible buyer
Direct relationships with major retailers globally, orders from multiple countries, established presence in key trade sh
Win or Learn, Never Lose
Reframe every business outcome as either a win (success) or learning opportunity (data for improvement), eliminating the