My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Agency and Permission Mindset
Most barriers to action are psychological rather than structural. If something isn't illegal, you can usually just do it without asking permission or waiting for formal approval.
Decision Rule
When considering any action, ask 'Is this illegal?' If no, proceed. Don't seek permission from authority figures who have no actual authority over you.
How It Works
Educational systems condition people to seek permission and follow predetermined paths. The real world operates differently - most successful actions involve initiative rather than permission-seeking.
Failure Modes
Breaking actual laws due to insufficient research
Ignoring social norms in ways that damage relationships
Acting without considering downstream consequences
Assuming all barriers are artificial when some represent real constraints
Example Decision
“Instead of trying to raise venture capital because that's the 'normal' path to starting a company, just start a business using bootstrapped methods and prove the concept first”