Knowledge Marketplace
My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Mental Models

First Acceptable Option Rule

Take the first option that meets your 'good enough' threshold rather than continuing to search for the optimal choice

Decision Rule

Define minimum acceptable criteria, then choose the first option that meets it

How It Works

Reduces decision fatigue, opportunity cost of continued searching, and analysis paralysis while still ensuring acceptable outcomes

Failure Modes

Setting threshold too low and settling for mediocre

Using for irreversible high-stakes decisions

Applying when marginal improvements have exponential value

Example Decision

At restaurant, order the first entrée that sounds 7/10 good rather than reading entire menu and agonizing over choice.