My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Most people seeking mentorship actually need believers, not advisers - the advice and money matter less than someone genuinely believing in your potential
The Reasoning
Early-career confidence gaps are bigger barriers than knowledge gaps; external belief provides psychological fuel to take action until evidence builds self-belief
What Needs to Be True
- People have more potential than current evidence shows
- Confidence is the limiting factor for action
- External belief can be internalized as self-belief
- Action creates evidence faster than planning
Counterargument
Some people actually do need specific knowledge, skills, and advice more than emotional support; belief without competence can lead to failure
What Would Change This View
Evidence that skill gaps matter more than confidence gaps in early career success, or that false belief leads to more harm than help
Implications for Builders
Build belief-focused rather than advice-focused relationships
Invest time in genuine enthusiasm over generic guidance
Look for high-potential people before they have evidence
Create systems to provide identity and labels to promising people
Example Application
“Instead of offering a formal mentorship program with structured advice sessions, create informal opportunities to spend time with promising people and express genuine excitement about their direction”