Only Build What Passes Three Filters
The Story
After the HubSpot exit, Sam had money, time, and options. Most people in that position chase the biggest opportunity they can find. Sam did the opposite. He created three personal filters and refused to start anything that didn’t pass all three:
Is it fun? Sam loves meeting founders, so he built Hampton. He wanted to interview interesting people, so he co-created My First Million. Every project starts from personal curiosity.
Can it make at least seven figures? Before starting, Sam checks whether the market is big enough to justify the work. Hampton charges $9,500/year and targets 50,000 members over 20 years.
Do I have a unique advantage? Sam’s edge is always the same: an audience of founders he built through writing and content. When Sam bought a Texas ranch and tried to become a farmer, he realized he had no edge in that world and sold it.
Lesson for Creators
The filters protect you from the most common creator trap: building something that looks smart on paper but doesn’t fit you. “Fun” keeps you going when nobody’s watching. “Seven figures” stops you from pouring energy into a market too small to sustain you. “Unique advantage” forces you to build on what you’ve already earned, not start from zero again.
Related
- Don’t Watch the Competition — Boris followed an internal compass rather than external signals, similar to Sam’s personal filters
- Rick Rubin’s Lesson - Create Without the Audience in Mind — Rick Rubin’s philosophy of creating from authenticity over optimization mirrors Sam’s “is it fun?” filter
- Just Use Common Sense - Advice to His Younger Self — Boris valued simple decision frameworks over complex analysis, just as Sam uses three clear filters