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
Game Selection Over Game Optimization
Choosing the right game to play matters more than optimizing performance within the wrong game
Decision Rule
Before asking 'how do I win', ask 'what game am I playing and is this the game I want to play'
How It Works
Different life games have different rules, rewards, and costs. Optimizing the wrong game leads to winning prizes you don't want
Failure Modes
Optimizing without questioning the game
Following others' game choices
Switching games too frequently
Not recognizing when games change
Example Decision
“Choosing between empire-building (domination game), family CEO (relationship game), or lifestyle optimization (freedom game) before optimizing tactics within any of them”