My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
All businesses are loosely functioning disasters that happen to make money
The Reasoning
Businesses are collections of people, people are inherently messy, and when you combine messy people the complexity compounds exponentially creating constant operational challenges
What Needs to Be True
- Human nature doesn't fundamentally change
- Business complexity increases with people count
- Most operational challenges stem from people issues
- Even profitable businesses have significant dysfunction
Counterargument
Well-run businesses with strong systems and culture can minimize dysfunction and operate smoothly
What Would Change This View
Consistent examples of large businesses (50+ people) operating without significant people-related problems for extended periods
Implications for Builders
Lower your expectations for business perfection
Budget time and energy for constant people problems
Focus on systems that work despite human messiness
Don't be discouraged by operational chaos - it's normal
Example Application
“When evaluating business acquisition, don't expect to find perfect operations - instead look for profitable businesses despite their dysfunction and plan to gradually improve rather than fix completely”