My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Beginner's Mind in Expertise
Outsiders often make breakthrough discoveries in fields where experts are too close to notice what's changed or what's possible
Decision Rule
When evaluating opportunities, consider whether domain experts might be blind to obvious changes due to their deep immersion
How It Works
Experts develop assumptions and mental models that help them operate efficiently but prevent them from seeing new possibilities. Beginners question everything and aren't constrained by 'how things are done.'
Failure Modes
Assuming all expert knowledge is outdated or wrong
Not learning enough basics before trying to innovate
Overconfidence in beginner's perspective without domain context
Missing real technical or market constraints experts understand
Example Decision
“Google invented the Transformers architecture that powers AI but didn't use it themselves. Outsiders like Sam Altman built OpenAI because they weren't constrained by Google's existing assumptions about AI commercialization and safety.”