My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Internet-first business relationships can be more effective than traditional in-person relationship building for many types of partnerships
The Reasoning
Online interactions allow you to observe someone's thinking, work quality, and character over time through their content and communications, providing better signal than brief in-person meetings.
What Needs to Be True
- Both parties maintain consistent online presence
- Work can be evaluated digitally
- Trust can be built through verified small interactions
- Communication tools are reliable
Counterargument
In-person chemistry and non-verbal communication provide important relationship information that can't be replicated online
What Would Change This View
If remote relationship quality consistently underperforms in-person relationships over long term
Implications for Builders
Invest in online presence and reputation
Develop systems for evaluating remote partners
Don't require in-person meetings for partnerships
Build verification systems for high-stakes deals
Example Application
“Sam built multiple business partnerships worth tens of thousands per month entirely through Twitter DMs and Slack without phone calls.”
Related Knowledge
Brand as Moat Strategy
Using brand power as a primary competitive moat instead of technology or network effects, particularly effective in luxury goods where perception drives value.
Correct Lesson Learning Framework
A systematic approach to evaluate whether someone is drawing the correct conclusions from their experiences, rather than just having experiences.
Service-to-Product Acquisition Strategy
Using profits from a service business to systematically acquire better businesses with recurring revenue and product characteristics.
Acquire and turn around distressed luxury brands
Transformed brand with luxury margins (75%+), global distribution, and sustainable competitive moat
Build trusted business relationships entirely through digital interactions
Trusted business partnerships conducting significant transactions without ever meeting in person
Diagnostic Authority Model
When you can diagnose a problem for someone, you gain more authority and sales leverage than if they already know they h