The Third Door 🚪

Hey there! 👋 

Today’s post is a bit different. I recently discovered a book about a philosophy I have always believed in. It’s something every entrepreneur, investor, and executive can learn from.

Let me know if you want me to share more such nuggets from my favorite books through the poll later in the post!

Ever feel like you're stuck outside life's big opportunities? Standing in a line that never seems to move, watching others breeze through their "VIP access" while you wonder if you'll ever get in?

That’s what Alex Banayan’s The Third Door is all about. Spoiler alert: there’s always another way. 🚪✨Let’s break it down together. 🔬

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What Is The Third Door?

Imagine life as a nightclub:

• The First Door is the main entrance, where everyone lines up, waiting their turn.

• The Second Door is the VIP entrance—reserved for the lucky few with connections or status.

• Then, there’s the Third Door. It’s not obvious, but it’s there. Maybe it’s sneaking through the kitchen or climbing a window. It’s the door that you create through resourcefulness, persistence, and sometimes, pure hustle.

And Alex isn’t just philosophizing here—he lived it. At 18, he dropped out of college, couch-surfed, and hustled for seven years to interview world-class achievers. By the end, he landed face-to-face meetings with icons like Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, and Steven Spielberg. 🌟

Real-Life Lesson #1: Be Relentlessly Resourceful 🛠️

When Alex wanted to interview Bill Gates, he knew a cold email wouldn’t cut it. Instead, he spent six months tracking down every possible lead, from former Gates Foundation employees to family friends. His breakthrough came when he connected with a Microsoft executive who vouched for him.

📊 Key Metric: Gates receives over 1,000 meeting requests per week—and Alex made it into that 0.1%.

💡 Action Tip: Stuck on a problem? Ask yourself: What’s the least obvious route to a solution? Start there.

Real-Life Lesson #2: Rejection Is Part of the Process ❌

Did you know it took Steven Spielberg three rejections before he was accepted into Universal Studios’ mentorship program? Even then, he wasn’t invited to meetings—so he snuck onto the lot, set up shop in an empty office, and pitched ideas until someone finally gave him a shot.

📊 Key Metric: Spielberg was only 20 years old when he directed his first TV show after breaking through.

💡 Action Tip: Instead of asking “Why me?” after a rejection, ask, “What’s next?”

Real-Life Lesson #3: Build Relationships, Not Just Connections 🤝

Banayan’s conversation with Tim Ferriss (author of The 4-Hour Workweek) didn’t start with an ask. Instead, Alex showed up at Ferriss’ events, asked thoughtful questions, and wrote follow-up notes of appreciation. When Alex eventually requested an interview, Tim said yes—because a relationship had been built first.

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Key Story: Lady Gaga’s "Third Door" Moment 🎤✨

Before becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Lady Gaga faced rejection after rejection. 🚫 Major record labels dismissed her, branding her style as “too edgy” or “not marketable.”

But did she let that stop her? Absolutely not. 💪

Instead, Gaga:

• 🎹 Hustled relentlessly, performing at tiny dive bars in New York City.

• 🎭 Captivated small, passionate audiences with her theatrical performances.

• ✍️ Poured her heart into creating bold, genre-defying music that screamed individuality.

Despite the odds, her unwavering persistence caught the attention of producer Rob Fusari, who saw her potential and signed her. But Gaga didn’t stop there. She reinvented herself, doubled down on her creativity, and unleashed her debut album, The Fame. 🌟

📊 The Results:

• Her album sold 15 million copies worldwide. 🌍

• 🎵 Her hit single “Just Dance” topped charts in over 20 countries.

• She transformed into a global icon by leaning into her uniqueness, not conforming to industry standards.

💡 Action Tip:
If the world isn’t ready for your vision, build your own stage. 🎤 Start small, be bold, and let your passion shine. The right people will notice—and when they do, you’ll be unstoppable. 🚀

Final Thought: Find YOUR Third Door 🚪

The beauty of The Third Door is that it’s not prescriptive—it’s personal. Your "third door" might not involve sneaking onto a movie lot or emailing executives, but it’s there. It’s about carving your own path, no matter how unconventional it seems.