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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.

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Experience and evaluate different ways of living before committing to major life changes

People considering career changes, lifestyle shifts, or wondering what they really want from life

Ongoing practice over months to years

What Success Looks Like

Clear visceral understanding of what daily life actually feels like in different circumstances, leading to more informed life decisions

Steps to Execute

1

Identify people whose accomplishments or lifestyles you admire

2

Arrange to spend extended time in their actual environment

3

Participate in their daily routines and decision-making

4

Pay attention to both the highlights and mundane aspects

5

Document your emotional and physical responses

6

Compare the reality against your initial assumptions

Checklist

Schedule overnight or multi-day experiences, not just brief meetings
Ask to observe normal days, not just special occasions
Notice family dynamics and personal relationships
Observe stress responses and coping mechanisms
Pay attention to what they spend time thinking about
Note what energizes vs drains them

Inputs Needed

  • Access to people living lifestyles you're curious about
  • Willingness to be a temporary observer/participant
  • Open schedule for immersive experiences
  • Honest self-reflection capabilities

Outputs

  • Visceral understanding of different lifestyle realities
  • Elimination of options that look good but feel wrong
  • Identification of appealing patterns to incorporate
  • More informed major life decisions

Example

An investment banker considering entrepreneurship spends a week shadowing a successful startup founder, experiencing their actual daily routine of constant decision-making, funding stress, and work-life integration, realizing the reality doesn't match their romanticized vision