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The six counter-conventional mindsets
Mindset isn’t just perspective.
It’s your operating system for how you perceive, interpret, and respond to life.
And if you want to play a different game, you’ll need to rewrite the code.
Let’s see John Mullins's unconventional tips that drive real entrepreneurial momentum.
1. Say yes first; figure it out later.
Successful solopreneurs don’t wait for certainty; they move with curiosity and adaptability.
Entrepreneurs should say 'yes, we can' to opportunities outside their core competencies, being willing to reinvent their businesses based on customer needs.
Say “yes” to opportunities you have no idea how to handle. Seriously. Most big companies stick to their lane. But the best founders? They say yes, then figure it out. Customers steer the ship; you just build what they actually need, even if it means starting from scratch.
Your customers don’t care about your degree or your “core competence." They care about whether you solve their real problem.
Framework:
. Adopt the “→ Yes → Build → Refine” loop
. instead of “→ Plan → Analyze → Wait.”
2. Solve one painful problem deeply.
Focus on what matters; focus on a specific pain point so pressing that your solution feels like oxygen.
Fix a painful problem, and people will pay attention.
Don’t build a Swiss Army knife. Build a scalpel.
Solve one real specific problem first, rather than creating product variations or line extensions that do not address real customer challenges.
No one cares about your 12 product variations if the main thing doesn’t work.
Tip: If your user wouldn’t pay for it now, you’re solving the wrong problem.
3. Start narrow, then expand.
As Nike did, you can start with a niche so specific it feels like a whisper. Nike didn’t try to own the whole world on day one. They just made shoes for distance runners. Once they dominated that, everything else became easier.
Target narrow, specific market segments initially, which can later expand into broader markets.
Start tiny, then go big.
Framework:
. Choose a tiny audience.
. Obsess over serving them deeply.
. Then expand your reach.
4. Get Paid Before You Deliver
Seek customer cash upfront instead of relying solely on traditional investment analysis.
Waiting for funding? Try asking for a deposit. Smart solopreneurs validate ideas with money on the table, not just surveys.
Pre-sales, deposits, and creative financing methods. Great entrepreneurs find ways to bring in cash upfront so they don’t have to beg investors later.
It changes the game.
Method: Test offers with pre-sales, beta launches, or early-bird sign-ups.
5. Borrow Resources Like a Rebel
Entrepreneurs often succeed by "borrowing" assets and infrastructure from existing organizations, reducing initial capital requirements. Borrow whatever you can (space, tech, partners) instead of buying everything new.
Lean on other people’s resources. It’s faster and way less risky. You don’t need a tech team or a studio. Use what’s already built.
Toolset:
- No-code platforms
- Strategic partnerships
- Shared infrastructure / Borrow before you build. It's faster and smarter.
6. Break the rules responsibly.
Innovation means entering undefined territory.
Don't always seek permission when innovating; sometimes it's better to move forward and address regulatory challenges as they arise.
If you tiptoe around the system, you’ll miss the window. Move fast; deal with the red tape afterward.
Get started, and then adapt.
Mindset: Trust that momentum matters more than perfection.
