you try to tackle every possible feature, every potential market, and every potential customer. But what ends up happening is that you spread yourself too thin, you dilute your efforts, and you end up not doing anything particularly well.

you try to tackle every possible feature, every potential market, and every potential customer. But what ends up happening is that you spread yourself too thin, you dilute your efforts, and you end up not doing anything particularly well.

This is where the concept of starting small comes into play. By focusing on a niche market, a specific feature, or a targeted group of users, you can truly understand their needs, tailor your product or service to meet those needs, and build a strong and loyal customer base. From there, you can expand and grow, but starting small gives you a solid foundation to build upon.

But how do you know what niche market or specific feature to focus on? How do you know what your customers really want? This is where understanding your desires and the desires of those around you becomes crucial.

Desires are different from needs. Desires are intellectual appetites for things that you perceive to be good, but that you have no physical or instinctual basis for wanting. It's that longing for something that you feel you lack. And desires are largely influenced by the people and culture around us.

This is where mimetic desire comes into play. Mimetic desires are the desires that we mimic from the people and culture around us. We see someone else wanting something, and we naturally want it too. It's a social process, and it's largely out of our control. But by understanding the models of desire in our lives, both internal and external, we can gain insight into our own desires and make intentional choices about what we truly want.

So, how can we apply this understanding of desires and mimetic desire to starting small? First, identify the people influencing what you want. Think about the individuals who embody the lifestyle or qualities that you desire. Are they internal models, people you interact with in your daily life? Or are they external models, such as celebrities or historical figures?

Understanding the influence of these models can help you discern whether your desires are truly authentic or if they are simply mimetic desires. It can also help you identify any unnecessary competition or rivalry that may arise from mimetic desires, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to you.

Next, map out the systems of desire in your life. By understanding the system of desire that you're enmeshed in, you can take a step back and critically evaluate your dominant desires. This will help you avoid defaulting into important life choices and instead make intentional decisions about what you truly want.

And finally, take ownership of your desires. While you may not be the sole author of your desires, you can certainly take ownership and put your mark of authorship on them through your creative freedom. Cultivate the desires that you truly want to own, regardless of whether they were originally mimetic or not. By bringing intentionality to your desires, you can become the author of your own creation.

In conclusion, starting small is a powerful strategy for success. By focusing on a niche market or specific feature, you can build a strong foundation and understand the needs of your customers. But to truly know what you want, you must understand your desires and the desires of those around you. By identifying the models influencing your desires, mapping out the systems of desire in your life, and taking ownership of your desires, you can make intentional choices and build a path towards true fulfillment.

Actionable advice:

1. Identify the models influencing your desires: Take a moment to reflect on the people who influence what you want. Are they internal or external models? Understanding their influence can help you discern your authentic desires.
2. Map out the systems of desire in your life: Take a critical look at the system of desire that you're enmeshed in. Are there any dominant desires that you've been accepting without question? By understanding the system, you can make intentional choices.
3. Take ownership of your desires: Cultivate the desires that you truly want to own, regardless of their origin. By bringing intentionality to your desires, you can become the author of your own creation.

Remember, big things have small beginnings. Start small, understand your desires, and create a path towards true fulfillment.