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

Generational Skill Arbitrage

Identify skills that one generation has naturally but others must learn artificially, then build businesses leveraging that advantage before the gap closes

Decision Rule

If you have native understanding of platforms/tools that others struggle with, prioritize businesses that require those skills

How It Works

Works because generational differences in platform adoption and mental models create temporary but significant competitive advantages

Failure Modes

Overestimating how long the advantage will last

Building only on generational advantages without sustainable moats

Underestimating older generation's ability to adapt

Focusing too much on age-specific features rather than universal needs

Example Decision

“Young entrepreneurs should prioritize TikTok-native businesses now while older competitors are still learning the platform, but also build retention features that aren't platform-dependent”