My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Brand cult status requires 25-30 years of low-stakes survival before becoming trendy
The Reasoning
Cult brands need generational nostalgia - people must grow up with them as background, then rediscover them as adults to create authentic emotional attachment
What Needs to Be True
- Brand survives long enough to span generations
- Original users become trend-setting adults
- Brand maintains authentic qualities during survival period
- Social media enables nostalgic content sharing
Counterargument
Some brands become cult favorites much faster through different mechanisms like quality, exclusivity, or celebrity endorsement
What Would Change This View
Examples of brands achieving cult status in under 10 years without nostalgia factor
Implications for Builders
Don't force cult status - focus on survival and authentic value
Build for long-term sustainability rather than quick trendiness
Maintain authentic brand qualities during slow periods
Prepare systems to handle unexpected viral moments
Example Application
“Raising Canes and Hunt Brothers became trendy after decades of quiet regional success as generation that grew up with them reaches social media influence age”