My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Eight Hour Observation Framework
Physically position yourself in the center of a problem area and observe continuously for extended periods without preconceived judgments to understand root causes
How It Works
Extended passive observation reveals patterns invisible to brief visits or theoretical analysis. Distance from day-to-day operations creates blindness to obvious problems.
Components
Clear your schedule for uninterrupted observation time
Position yourself where you can see the entire process
Avoid making immediate judgments or taking notes initially
Watch for patterns in behavior, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks
Identify specific people and process issues
Document findings only after extended observation period
When to Use
When facing persistent operational problems that resist traditional analysis, especially in physical businesses or processes
When Not to Use
For problems that are clearly structural or policy-based, or when safety concerns exist
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“CEO of unprofitable company sits in operations center for 8 hours, discovers too many people doing too little work with poor management, turns company profitable”