Executive Summary
My First Million episode 788, in which Sam Parr and Shaan Puri talk about simple businesses that made a million dollars, starting with team-specific novelty foam hats that they say took off at sports games and reached about 10,000 orders in a week. Shaan says being clever and doing simple things is actually a form of genius. The hosts also discuss a star registry business, a ten-hour fireplace video, and the story of a founder who made an anniversary and birthday reminder site after realizing nobody wanted his first idea but they did seem to want this. Shaan then argues that getting bored of what gets great results is a real problem, using a coaching example, and the show closes with a Billy of the Week on a supermarket baron, a segment on the billionaire tax, and a story about taking his son courtside. Sponsor named in the description: HubSpot and its side hustle idea list. PARTIAL COVERAGE: this note draws on the opening, the birthday alarm story, the do not get bored of greatness section and the closing, and may miss parts of the roughly 64 minute video. Sales figures and business histories are the hosts' own claims and not independently checked. Nothing here is financial, investment, political or legal advice.
Key Takeaways
Dumb ideas that worked
Shaan says he keeps a list of dumb ideas that made a million dollars and calls clever, simple things a form of genius.
Novelty foam hats
He describes team-specific foam hats made by hand that he says drew about 10,000 orders in a week.
Fast-follow memes
He says fans now share small meme moments, so quick merchandise riding those moments can spread widely.
Listen to what people want
He tells of a founder whose first idea had no demand but whose birthday reminder site reached about 10,000 members in weeks.
Viral loop
He says the reminder site worked because it had a viral loop.
Do not get bored of greatness
Shaan says getting bored of what gets great results is a real problem and can be an Achilles heel for talented people.
Sloppy warm-ups
He says he knew his coached team would win because the other team's warm-up was sloppy, which showed shortcut habits.
The Conversation Breakdown
Dumb ideas that worked
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says he keeps a list of dumb ideas that made a million dollars and calls clever, simple things a form of genius.
Novelty foam hats
⏱ Untimed topicHe describes team-specific foam hats made by hand that he says drew about 10,000 orders in a week.
Fast-follow memes
⏱ Untimed topicHe says fans now share small meme moments, so quick merchandise riding those moments can spread widely.
Listen to what people want
⏱ Untimed topicHe tells of a founder whose first idea had no demand but whose birthday reminder site reached about 10,000 members in weeks.
Viral loop
⏱ Untimed topicHe says the reminder site worked because it had a viral loop.
Do not get bored of greatness
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says getting bored of what gets great results is a real problem and can be an Achilles heel for talented people.
Sloppy warm-ups
⏱ Untimed topicHe says he knew his coached team would win because the other team's warm-up was sloppy, which showed shortcut habits.
Core Frameworks & Ideas
Simple is genius - Shaan's framing
Prefer clever, simple ideas others may dismiss as dumb.
Fast-follow the moment - Shaan's merch tactic
Make products that ride a fresh trend people want to share.
Do not get bored of greatness - Shaan's warning
Keep repeating the basics that produce great results.
Actionable Next Steps
- ✓Write a short list of simple ideas that others might call dumb and test one.
- ✓Notice what people actually ask for, even when it is not your original idea.
- ✓Review which basics you have stopped doing because they feel boring.
- ✓Treat the sales figures and business stories as the hosts' own, not as financial advice.
Notable Quotes
“being clever and doing simple things is actually a form of genius”
“nobody wants my idea but they do seem to want this”
“getting bored of what gets great results is a real problem”
The One Thing to Remember
The hosts argue that simple, slightly silly ideas can become million-dollar businesses and that boredom with the basics is what stops people from staying great.