What is the first step to a successful startup? Many people would say fundraising, projects, or technology, but someone has offered another answer—investing in yourself.

A well-known industry figure recently shared his entrepreneurial insights, with a clear and concise core idea: first become the scarce resource yourself, then build a replicable system, and finally let capital create value for you. He emphasized that the true core assets are the brain and cognition; traditional life staples like RVs and marriage can be temporarily set aside during the startup phase.

This view is not new, but each time it is mentioned, it sparks discussion. Before the age of 30, should resources be poured into self-improvement or should one follow the standard path to complete their life checklist? Different life stages and pursuits have no single answer. But for entrepreneurs, focusing on enhancing one's competitiveness is indeed a more straightforward way to see the power of compound effects.