My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Edisonian Principle of Design
A product development approach focused on rapid experimentation, immediate feedback, and constant iteration rather than master planning. Named after Edison's approach to invention.
How It Works
Instead of creating comprehensive upfront plans, you build quick prototypes, test them immediately, gather feedback, and iterate rapidly. Success emerges from thousands of small experiments rather than one perfect plan.
Components
Create rapid prototype or demo
Test with real users immediately
Gather specific feedback on what works/doesn't work
Make small iterative changes
Repeat cycle continuously
When to Use
When developing physical products, creating user interfaces, or solving problems where optimal solutions aren't obvious upfront.
When Not to Use
When building infrastructure requiring upfront architecture, regulatory compliance scenarios, or situations where failed experiments have high costs.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Steve Jobs and team creating iPhone keyboard through hundreds of small demos and iterations, with Jobs applying personal taste to each version until achieving the final product.”