I'm a Professional Dart Thrower
On Getting The Right Ideas
I walked into that old carnival by the pier with exactly five bucks—just enough for a single dart. Across the booth, some trust-fund kids were burning through tickets like they had an infinite supply. They tossed dart after dart, barely aiming. If they missed, who cared? They’d just throw again.
“Sometimes success isn’t about skill—it’s about how many chances you can afford.”
I’ve been on both sides now. I was once that kid with just one dart. I’m a VC, an 8-figure entrepreneur, and I’m here to guide you on how to nail it.
Finding the Right Ideas
I used to force “big ideas” that no one actually needed. Once, I mocked up a “Micro-Social Network for Sock Fanatics” It was neat in theory, but it had zero urgency. Real users? Nah.
Pitch: A platform where sock collectors and designers can show off their patterns, trade rare designs, and keep track of new releases.
Why It Won’t Stick: Sock enthusiasts are niche at best, and even then, they typically post on existing social platforms (Instagram, Reddit–the subreddit has 20k subscribers). Creating a dedicated network is a fun idea that no one urgently needs.
“If you’re chasing ‘maybe,’ you’ll always lose to someone chasing a sure thing. Work on something that has already been validated, unless you really know what you’re doing.”
Aim for the Well, Not the Puddle
I brainstormed with a fellow MIT grad. We sketched a graph:
x-axis: number of people who want your product
y-axis: how badly they want it
Most folks chase a big, shallow puddle—lots of people who barely care. That puddle dries up fast. A deep well, though—where a few people desperately need you—can flood into a canyon.
“Small wells can become massive aquifers if you solve burning problems.”
Living in the Future
I watched Sam Altman orbit tech frontiers: ephemeral chats, biotech, then founding OpenAI. He was always where the water churned.
“If you immerse yourself in a fast-moving field, opportunity leaps into your boat.”
Dancing in the Dull Drudgery
Most founders flee “unsexy” problems, such as boring payment APIs or complicated integrations. But that’s often where the gold is.
“Dull + painful = big payoff, because everyone else avoids it.”
Ideas on Demand (Sort Of)
I once built a small bridging system at work. It fixed an annoying triple-report headache. My coworkers loved it, and so did other departments. Soon, people lined up to get it.
“You don’t have to guess if the pain is real when you see lines on Monday morning.”
Competition: The Boogeyman
Someone always says, “You’ll never beat that guy up front; he’s unstoppable.” But guess what? The unstoppable guy can still lose if you find a gap he’s ignoring.
“Google was late to search, but they actually solved the query.”
In February 2024 I started The Stock Insider, and went paid in April 2024.
Later renamed to The Signals Doctor after several micro-pivots.
As of January 2025, it brings in almost $100k in monthly recurring profits:
There are thousands of Substacks about the US stock market. It’s one the most most lucrative and competetive niches on the Internet.
Why would someone start another one?
How did I manage to grow so fast with almost zero investment or employees? We’re talking under $10k here.
How did I know that I will succeed?
As of January 2025, I’m #35 on the paid leaderboard. The guys above me are in it for years. Some since the beginnings of Substack (5-7 years).
Realistically I’m already in the top 10, since the leaderboard is based on TTM (Twelve-Trailing-Months) revenue; closing in on 1,000 paid subscribers at pretty hefty prices of $499/year and $1,999 lifetime.
I will most likely be #1 in about a year.
How the f*ck did I pull this off?
I hope I will be able to explain this to you.
Past the Textbooks
Startup books are nice cheerleaders but rarely give you real friction-solving skills. I learned more tinkering on silly side projects with classmates than from any bestseller.
“You sharpen your ‘startup senses’ by building, not just reading.”
8 Figures & Beyond
I’m calling this Substack 8 Figures because crossing $10M changed my view. It’s like leveling up in a game: everything slows down, your aim sharpens.
So here I am, still flinging darts, still a believer who prays for guidance. If you’re not into that, cool—skip this part. But for me, faith keeps me grounded when the stakes get nuts.
The Carnival Door Is Still Open
Stop obsessing over a perfect idea. Find one messy problem you’d fix even if nobody paid you—something urgent. That’s a well worth digging.
“If you’re not from a world of infinite darts, you need accuracy.”
I’ll keep throwing. Stick around, and I’ll show you the angles I’ve learned. It won’t be glossy Ferraris and bullet points—it’ll be blunt stories from a guy who got tired of carnival rigging.
May the LORD bless you and your loved ones.
—Jack Roshi, MIT PhD
“P.S. If you want polished slides and yachts, look elsewhere. If you can handle raw, unfiltered lessons, welcome aboard.”
So mote it be