My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
“Try on the things that matter”
What It Means
Focus your energy on the high-impact activities rather than busy work or things that feel productive but don't move the needle
Why It Matters
Most people fail not because the problem is impossible, but because they're trying hard on the wrong things
When It's True
When there's a clear distinction between high-impact and low-impact activities, and when basic execution is being overlooked
When It's Risky
When you don't actually know what matters most, or when basics are covered and advanced techniques are needed
How to Apply
Identify the 20% of activities that drive 80% of results
Audit where you're spending time vs impact
Ask successful people what really matters in your domain
Stop low-impact busy work to focus on high-impact basics
Example Scenario
“Someone spends hours daily swiping on dating apps but has terrible photos and profile prompts. They switch to spending that time getting good photos and crafting thoughtful messages, immediately seeing better results.”
Related Knowledge
The Secretary Problem for Dating
A mathematical framework from optimal stopping theory that determines when to stop searching and commit to a dating partner, based on sampling 37% of your dating pool to establish a benchmark.
Date Like a Scientist
A systematic approach to dating that involves running experiments with different types of partners to discover who actually makes you happy long-term, rather than relying on preconceived notions of your 'type'.
F*ck the Spark Philosophy
A counter-intuitive approach to dating that rejects the requirement for immediate chemistry or 'sparks' and instead focuses on slow-burn connections that develop over time through compatibility and shared experiences.
Create a dating app profile that stands out from 90% of other profiles
Significantly more matches and meaningful conversations, dates with people you're actually compatible with
Become genuinely interesting to talk to on dates through curiosity and engagement
Dates where the other person talks enthusiastically about themselves and wants to see you again
Maximizer vs Satisficer Decision Making
Two approaches to decision-making: maximizers seek the absolute best option by extensive searching, while satisficers set a 'good enough' threshold and choose the first option that meets it.