My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
“It's not really how capable you are, it's how willing you are”
What It Means
Willingness to persist and sacrifice matters more than raw intelligence or capability
Why It Matters
Most people underestimate the importance of persistence relative to talent in achieving success
When It's True
In long-term endeavors requiring sustained effort through obstacles
When It's Risky
When willingness isn't paired with learning and adaptation
How to Apply
Hire for grit and bias for action over pure credentials
Focus on building persistence and resilience
Evaluate commitment level in potential partners or employees
Example Scenario
“Choose team member who shows relentless follow-up and problem-solving over Harvard MBA with perfect resume but no evidence of persistence”
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.
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
Build billion-dollar business without external capital through radical cost control
Profitable every single month, compounding growth funded by retained earnings, 40%+ net margins, complete ownership rete
Win or Learn, Never Lose
Reframe every business outcome as either a win (success) or learning opportunity (data for improvement), eliminating the
2% Weekly Improvement Compounding
Target 2% improvement every week across all business metrics, trusting compound effects over time even when individual i