My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Restaurant Hostess Capacity Building
Your capacity for handling stress and complexity is like muscle strength - it grows when progressively overloaded, and people typically operate far below their actual capability
Decision Rule
When feeling overwhelmed, ask: 'Am I at my true limit or just at my comfort zone limit?' Then intentionally take on slightly more to expand capacity
How It Works
Works by recognizing that most people operate in artificial comfort zones. The Manhattan hostess handles 10x more complexity than the small-town hostess because she's been forced to adapt to higher baseline demand
Failure Modes
Taking on too much too quickly leading to burnout
Comparing your capacity to others without considering their training
Assuming current limits are permanent rather than expandable
Using busy-ness as substitute for actual productivity growth
Example Decision
“Entrepreneur running one profitable business considering starting second one. Instead of thinking 'I'm already at capacity,' recognize this is comfort zone talking. Start second business to expand operational capacity, knowing less important tasks will naturally fall away.”