My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Permission Slip Product Framework
Reframing simple products as tools that give customers permission to express a desired version of themselves
How It Works
Works by tapping into people's desire to be playful, silly, or different but their inability to do so without a prop or excuse
Components
Identify the behavior your product enables
Articulate what people want to express but can't normally
Position your product as the permission slip for that behavior
Frame it as making the world better rather than just silly
Price it as a small investment in self-expression
When to Use
For novelty items, entertainment products, or anything that helps people step outside their normal behavior patterns
When Not to Use
For utilitarian products where function is the primary concern
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Fake novelty teeth aren't just plastic junk - they're permission slips that allow people to be silly and playful when they normally couldn't, selling 20 million units”