My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Name-Drop Local Businesses for Viral Sharing
Why It Works
People share content that accurately represents their local experience and mentions their favorite places
Prerequisites
How to Execute
Research neighborhoods via Yelp and local forums
Include 10+ local business names per neighborhood
Create stereotype-based but humorous content
Post in neighborhood-specific social media groups
When It Fails
When stereotypes are offensive rather than playful, or when local businesses aren't actually representative
Real Example
“Creating San Francisco neighborhood guides that mention Blue Bottle Coffee for Mission Bay to get coffee shop to share”
Related Knowledge
Neighborhood Stereotype Guide
People make major housing decisions based on brief visits without understanding neighborhood culture and demographics
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
Build and maintain a world-class professional network through consistent relationship nurturing
People proactively share opportunities with you, remember important details about your projects, and maintain warm relat