My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
The Secretary Problem for Dating
A mathematical framework from optimal stopping theory that determines when to stop searching and commit to a dating partner, based on sampling 37% of your dating pool to establish a benchmark.
How It Works
Works by having you date enough people to understand your attractiveness in the market and establish standards, then committing to the next person who meets or exceeds your benchmark rather than continuing to search indefinitely.
Components
Determine your theoretical dating window (e.g. ages 18-40)
Calculate 37% of that timespan to establish your sampling phase
During sampling phase, date various people to establish your benchmark for what constitutes a great partner
After sampling phase, commit to the next person who meets or exceeds your benchmark
Resist the urge to keep searching for someone 'even better'
When to Use
When you're a maximizer type who tends to keep searching for the perfect partner instead of committing to someone great. Particularly useful for high-achieving individuals who optimize everything else in life.
When Not to Use
When you haven't actually dated enough people to establish a realistic benchmark, or when you're under your theoretical 37% mark and still learning about yourself and what you want.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“A 35-year-old successful entrepreneur keeps dating but never commits, always wondering if someone better is out there. Using this framework, they realize they've already sampled extensively and should commit to the next person who matches their established standard of someone intelligent, attractive, and compatible rather than continuing the search.”