My First Million

Shift from highly polished, professionally produced content toward authentic, personality-driven content that feels more personal and relatable.

Growing recognition that many problems we attribute to circumstances or inherent difficulty are actually skill deficits that can be addressed through learning and practice

Baby boomers retiring in massive numbers, living longer healthier lives with 20-30 years post-retirement

Traditional bundled professional services being split into specialized, convenient, affordable components

There's abundant content on fundraising, growth, and management, but very little practical guidance on selling companies

Parents shifting from material purchases to experiential spending for children, seeking developmental activities over pure entertainment, prioritizing clean and educational environments over traditional options like Chuck E. Cheese.

Social media platforms increasingly controlling content distribution and business model viability, with ability to instantly kill businesses built on their traffic through algorithm changes.

National Association of Realtors facing $2B+ in judgments, traditional 6% commission model breaking down

Many DTC brands trading at significant discounts to revenue, facing bankruptcy or acquisition at low valuations

As AI and digital content become ubiquitous, live human experiences become scarcer and more premium

Businesses using authentic, long-form content to build unprecedented trust and employee culture

Wealthy, successful professionals increasingly using micro-dosing, ayahuasca, DMT, and mushrooms for therapy, productivity, and relationships instead of traditional approaches

Content creators are moving away from clickbait and down-market content toward serving sophisticated, high-value audiences with deeper insights

Social media content is evolving from raw, authentic, selfie-style videos to highly produced, scripted, cinematic content with professional editing, music, and cinematography

Demand for high-quality video content is exploding while the supply of people with modern video production skills remains limited, creating opportunity for those who develop these capabilities

2.5 billion people expected to experience hearing loss by 2050, with hearing aids going from stigmatized medical devices to normalized consumer products like reading glasses

Technology moving from being adversarial to nature to being inspired by millions of years of natural evolution for product innovation

As successful people become busier and less accessible, their trusted seconds-in-command become critical access points

Users switching from traditional browsers to AI-native browsers that integrate LLMs directly into web browsing experience

Shift from keyboard-based to voice-based computer interaction as primary input method

Women increasingly out-earning and out-educating men while maintaining hypergamous mating preferences (wanting partners of equal or higher status), creating a shortage of 'suitable' male partners.

AI companionship becoming sophisticated enough to provide emotional support and romantic simulation, reducing motivation for real human relationships with their inherent difficulties and rejection risks.

Search behavior is shifting from Google's '10 blue links' to AI tools that provide direct answers. Organic traffic from traditional SEO is declining 20-40% as people get answers from ChatGPT instead of clicking through to websites.

Content creators are working backwards from algorithm preferences instead of forwards from their expertise or interests. Success is measured by engagement metrics rather than traditional quality measures.

Labor costs increasing dramatically (waiters from $15 to $25/hour in NYC) while technology costs decreasing, creating new automation opportunities.

Psychedelics transitioning from Schedule I drugs to FDA-approved therapies for mental health conditions through clinical trials.

Shift from formal mentorship programs and advice-giving toward relationships based on genuine belief and emotional support

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are showing effects beyond weight loss, potentially treating addiction, alcoholism, and other craving-based behaviors.

Traditional local service businesses (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) using content creation and systematic training to achieve venture-scale growth rates.

Traditional model of build-then-find-customers is being replaced by build-audience-then-create-products

Wealthy people flex health protocols, doctors, and optimization instead of traditional status symbols like watches or cars

Media brands that were undervalued are becoming billion-dollar commerce businesses as content-to-commerce proves out

Audiences increasingly consume content that critiques and mocks poor executive performance, particularly CEO interviews and public appearances.

Major platforms (OpenAI, potentially others) launching app stores creating new distribution and monetization opportunities

Shift from traditional business building to creating personal characters/brands that generate trust and eventual product sales

Brain-computer interface technology moving from medical applications to consumer devices following Tesla's market strategy

Consumer shift from large generic gyms to small premium studios offering specialized experiences and community

Many profitable service industries dominated by 60+ year old operators who don't use modern marketing, technology, or growth strategies

Facebook Marketplace has 1 billion monthly users but most service businesses ignore it for organic lead generation

Millennials adopting plants as home decor and wellness elements, preferring low-maintenance varieties like succulents

NFTs evolving from PFP projects to sophisticated cultural commentary, with artists using blockchain as medium for political/social statements

Transition from 'Airbnb for X' and mobile app startups to companies building rockets, supersonic jets, and solving physical world problems

Traditional advertising and even influencer marketing is losing effectiveness for premium products. Only authentic authorities who've built trust through depth and consistency can move premium products at scale.

AI-generated personas are becoming sophisticated enough to replace human influencers, starting with Instagram models and expanding to other content categories

Creators are finding success by remaining anonymous, building audiences around expertise and personality rather than personal identity

More individuals choosing to acquire existing cash-flowing businesses rather than start from scratch, driven by awareness of acquisition opportunities and SBA lending accessibility

Business negotiations moving from adversarial tactics (leverage, pressure, win-lose) to collaborative approaches focused on trust, information sharing, and mutual benefit

AI systems need massive amounts of public web data for training, creating new value for blog content and public web presence

Shift from VCs investing in creators to creators using their platforms and audience to invest in and accelerate existing businesses.

AI enabling multiple companies to quickly build similar solutions in waves, but most get commoditized as AI models improve and integrate features.

Shift from intuitive, charismatic leadership to analytical, metrics-based decision making in competitive fields

Newsletter platforms expanding beyond email to include monetization, referral systems, analytics, and full creator business management.

Men seeking structured ways to develop traditionally masculine virtues (discipline, strength, leadership) without toxic behaviors.

Sports teams are evolving from primarily game-focused entertainment businesses into complex platforms spanning payments, security, events, media, digital content, and social media, creating multiple revenue streams and touchpoints with audiences

Individual creators are gaining cultural influence that previously belonged to traditional media companies (Hollywood, TV networks, publishers)

Young men cyclically seek masculine validation and identity through controversial online figures due to lack of traditional role models

Health startups targeting preventative care are seeing unprecedented consumer traction, moving from fringe early adopters to mainstream market segments

Consumers increasingly distrusting large-scale food distribution and seeking direct relationships with local producers for perceived higher quality and safety

Hospitality businesses moving away from overly complex experiences toward genuine human moments and authentic connection.

Young people increasingly choosing trade careers over college due to debt burden, social media glamorization, and attractive earning potential

Traditional food crops like corn and soybeans increasingly being used for sustainable aviation fuel and other energy applications

80% of farms owned by people over 60 with many children not wanting to continue farming, creating massive ownership transfer opportunity

Manufacturing moving from labor-based to fully automated systems, creating massive cost and speed advantages

Traditional FMCG giants being disrupted by digitally-native brands using targeted advertising and automation

High-net-worth individuals shifting from trying to beat market returns to optimizing tax efficiency as primary wealth growth strategy

Traditional retail and food service models are finally reaching previously uneconomical rural markets through new format innovations

Pandemic created massive demand for simple, accessible digital entertainment that can be monetized through subscriptions and social sharing

Audiences increasingly reward genuine vulnerability and real-time documentation over polished, scripted content

Users are shifting from navigating complex software interfaces to simply asking AI assistants to perform tasks across multiple applications

College-age demographics showing dramatically different attitudes toward traditional employment compared to previous generations

Increasing awareness and adoption of sunrise/sunset light exposure as primary tool for optimizing circadian rhythms, mood, and cognitive performance without pharmaceutical intervention

Creators and audience owners are moving from one-time endorsement fees to ongoing equity partnerships with businesses, becoming true co-founders rather than just spokesspeople.

Marketing strategies shifting from feature-benefit to rebellion-positioning as established brands become targets for disruption

AI tools like ChatGPT creating new platform for building applications and services

AI tools like 11 Labs now enable high-quality voice dubbing and translation, making global content distribution accessible to individual creators and small businesses.

Attention is becoming increasingly fragmented across more platforms and formats, making traditional mass media approaches less effective while creating more arbitrage opportunities.

Dating app fatigue driving experimentation with IRL events, long-form profiles, and niche communities

Co-registration and low-intent growth tactics creating inflated subscriber numbers with poor engagement

News outlets increasingly embedding prediction market odds instead of traditional polling data for election coverage and event forecasting

Marketing tactics from the 1990s becoming effective again as millennials enter peak spending years and experience nostalgia for childhood

Young entrepreneurs (16-22) are building businesses with AI-native thinking, combining coding skills with social media mastery to create products impossible for previous generations

AI-enhanced consumer apps are becoming the new accessible high-profit business model for young entrepreneurs, replacing drop shipping as the go-to side hustle

Shift from competing on price to competing on experience quality in live entertainment, with customers willing to pay significant premiums for memorable experiences

Businesses structuring operations around customer delight rather than profit maximization, accepting lower margins to build stronger customer relationships

Entrepreneurs increasingly view major crisis events as massive business opportunities rather than threats, with rapid pivoting becoming standard strategy

Traditional academic curricula being replaced with real-world skill development, performance-based assessment, and immediately applicable knowledge

US states rapidly legalizing sports betting, with revenue growing from zero to $4.3B in 5 years with doubling time under 1 year.

Percentage of teens not having sex rose from 11% to 21% with trend doubling every 9 years, similar patterns emerging globally.

Value per newsletter subscriber has significantly declined due to market saturation and increased competition for attention

Consumers increasingly value genuine, unfiltered content over highly produced, perfect presentations

People are moving away from purely digital networking toward craving meaningful in-person social connections

Previously functional, medical, or utilitarian product categories are being repositioned as lifestyle and self-expression vehicles

The ability to rapidly prototype, iterate, and deliver creative work is becoming more valuable than perfection or extensive planning

Billionaires and ultra-high-net-worth individuals are increasingly adopting minimalist, low-stress approaches to wealth management and business operations, prioritizing decision quality over activity levels.

Mental health and neurological treatments are shifting from chemical interventions (medications) to electrical interventions (brain stimulation, nerve stimulation)

Younger generations are actively choosing analog tools (film cameras, books, games) and in-person social activities over digital alternatives

Mental health treatment is incorporating metabolic interventions like ketogenic diets, fasting, and metabolic supplements alongside or instead of traditional psychiatric medications

Podcasting market is drastically undermonetized compared to its reach and engagement levels, with only $2B in current market size despite 62% US penetration

Traditional businesses with high labor costs becoming targets for AI automation and acquisition

Consumer social interaction patterns evolving to include AI participants as primary rather than auxiliary experience elements

As AI provides instant, generic answers, people will increasingly crave authentic, personal experiences from real humans with names and faces

The Hollywood formula of save-the-cat screenplay structure (page 30 turning point, 120 page movies) is losing effectiveness as audiences lose patience and attention spans shrink.

Companies are moving away from corporate speak and condescending marketing toward casual, intelligent communication that respects customer intelligence.

Microsoft moving from AI partner to AI platform owner by acquiring talent during competitor crises

Shift from ad revenue and sponsorships to equity ownership in businesses built around creator's audience

Growing awareness that modern products (water, air, food, clothing) contain harmful chemicals, driving demand for safer alternatives

Top creators are moving beyond ad revenue to own entire value chains in traditional industries like food, gaming, and retail

US political candidates are shifting from crypto opposition to active support, making pro-crypto positions politically advantageous rather than risky.

Fitness is moving from generic programs to AI-driven personalization based on individual blood work, metabolism, hormones, and real-time performance data

Fitness consumers are moving from routine gym workouts to transformational endurance challenges that test mental and physical limits

College athletes can now earn millions through name, image, likeness deals, fundamentally shifting college sports from amateur to professional model

Young people creating and spreading cultural phenomena that intentionally have no deeper meaning, with the meaninglessness being the point

AI capabilities are becoming accessible enough for startups to apply machine learning to traditional industries that have been slow to adopt new technology

Expensive wellness products like $5000 cold plunges, premium supplements, and recovery tools becoming normal purchases for middle/upper class

Chinese tech companies increasingly successful at creating apps and content that appeal to American audiences better than US startups

Short-form vertical video becoming the only content format that works natively across all major social platforms simultaneously

Two-thirds of university CFOs are deeply concerned about declining enrollment, with many colleges struggling to fill seats and facing financial pressure.

Sprouted products grew 34% year-over-year in retail velocity, indicating mainstream consumer acceptance of sprouted grains, nuts, and seeds.

Previously exclusive tax optimization strategies used by ultra-wealthy are becoming more accessible to high-income entrepreneurs and professionals through specialized firms and educational content.

Consumers are becoming obsessed with measuring and optimizing indoor air quality, similar to how sleep tracking exploded 4 years ago

Shift from race-to-the-bottom pricing toward sophisticated value creation and communication

Generic AI writing tools are being displaced by specialized tools built for specific use cases and workflows

Ukrainian and Eastern European developers are dominating consumer app categories with sophisticated marketing and retention strategies

Sophisticated investors are systematically finding value in distressed, stigmatized, or crisis-affected assets while others flee

Growing number of entrepreneurs rejecting traditional business advice about fundraising, quick exits, and growth-at-all-costs in favor of long-term ownership and product obsession.

AI tools enabling individual developers to build and launch applications reaching $1M+ monthly revenue in weeks rather than years.

Successful immigrant entrepreneurs often exhibit extremely conservative money management despite high earning potential, creating a psychological barrier to wealth utilization.

Young entrepreneurs are achieving significant financial success faster than they develop the wisdom and judgment to make optimal life decisions with that wealth.

Telemedicine usage jumped from 10% to 80% of population in 2 years due to COVID. People now comfortable getting medical advice and therapy via phone/video.

Growing consumer preference for behavioral therapy and skill-building over pharmaceutical solutions for mental health issues like insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Terms like 'microbiome,' 'leaky gut,' and 'probiotics' becoming common vocabulary, shifting from medical terminology to lifestyle concerns

Magazine publishers are selling at distressed prices (1-5x revenue) due to perceived print decline, but loyal audiences remain valuable for commerce

Media companies shifting from advertising-dependent models to audience-monetization through direct commerce and services

Economic growth and high-paying opportunities are increasingly concentrating in a small number of major cities globally

Successful businesses must transition from founder-led execution to systematic talent acquisition and management at scale

Ideas once labeled as conspiracy theories are being validated by government agencies and mainstream institutions, changing how people evaluate unconventional claims

Scientific consensus shifting from 'money doesn't make you happy above $70k' to 'more money continues increasing happiness up to $500k+'

Investors and entrepreneurs are openly acknowledging that personal grievances and psychological wounds often drive the most successful companies

Companies and countries are moving beyond purely financial metrics to measure success, following Bhutan's Gross National Happiness model

Creators bypassing traditional Hollywood animation pipelines by using game development tools to create animated content for YouTube

People are moving away from constantly reacting to others' demands and toward proactively designing their lives according to their own values and priorities.

Content creators are moving beyond sponsorships and ads to launch private label products, leveraging their audience trust and engagement for higher-margin revenue

What started as passion projects and hobby businesses are becoming serious companies with professional operations, attracting institutional investment and acquisition interest

Shift from creators as hobbyists to creators as serious business operators using formal business practices

Twitter lacks native famous creators despite being 20 years old, creating opportunity for business-focused creators

Print publications provide credibility and staying power that digital-only brands cannot replicate, even in declining readership

Major platforms adding gaming layers to increase daily engagement and subscription revenue, moving beyond core product functionality

Consumer behavior shifting from waiting for health problems to proactively optimizing health and appearance before issues arise

Homeowners are choosing sport courts over pools for backyard entertainment, driven by versatility and lower maintenance

The final pockets of waiting in digital interactions are being eliminated by AI that can respond instantly

Celebrity faces, voices, and likenesses become licensable digital assets as deepfake technology improves