Thinking Like a Founder, Not a Follower — for International Students 🌎

When I first heard the phrase “First Principles Thinking,” I was doing what most of us do everyday - watching YouTube.

He was talking about building a billion-dollar nutrition company.
I was thinking about building better support systems for F-1 students.

But the more I listened, the more it clicked:
First Principles Thinking is exactly what international students need to thrive—not just survive—in the U.S.

It’s how you stop reacting… and start designing your own path forward.

So What Is First Principles Thinking?

Most people solve problems by analogy:

“What did the student before me do?”
“What did the blog post say?”
“What’s the typical way?”

That approach is fine—until the path you’re trying to follow no longer applies to you. And for first-gen, first-time international students, it often doesn’t.

First Principles Thinking flips the script. It asks:

1. What do I know to be true?

2. What are the real constraints—not the assumed ones?

3. If I had to rebuild this from scratch, what would the most effective solution look like?

Now let’s apply this to your reality.

Example: “No One Will Sponsor Me”

This belief is everywhere. And I get it—H-1B caps, company policies, rejection emails. But let’s break it down from first principles:

Assumed Belief:
If a company doesn’t say “we sponsor,” I shouldn’t even apply.

But what’s true?

• Companies can sponsor without being on a list.

• OPT and STEM OPT don’t require sponsorship.

• Hiring managers often don’t understand immigration, but they do understand value.

First Principles Reframe:

The real obstacle isn’t sponsorship. It’s communication and perceived complexity.
So let me learn how to explain my value and my work eligibility clearly. Let me focus on companies that value talent over templates.

This is the kind of thinking that leads to strategy calls, not silence.

Example: “I’m Not Allowed to Do X Because I’m on an F-1 Visa”

Insert anything into that sentence:
Start a business. Take an unpaid internship. Freelance. Create content.

But have you ever asked:

• What does the regulation actually say?

• What’s the difference between active employment and passive income?

• Are there exceptions, carve-outs, or alternative structures?

You may find:

• You can earn royalties or dividends.

• You can explore CPT if your program allows it.

• You can create a business idea under your own name—without violating status.

The key is to stop copying answers from Reddit and start reasoning from the source.

You Are the Prototype 🧠

Here’s why this matters so deeply to me:

Most international students are first-generation trailblazers—not just in their family, but in their industry, their city, sometimes their entire country.

You weren’t handed a roadmap. You are the roadmap.
And that means you can’t afford to just follow what worked for someone else.

First Principles Thinking helps you:

• See around corners others don’t see.

• Challenge bad assumptions (yours and theirs).

• Build creative, compliant solutions that honor your goals and your visa.

That’s why I built my entire community—from Roadmap Sessions to Bootcamps—on this foundation. Because when students start asking better questions, they start getting better results.

Want to Learn How to Think This Way?

Here’s what I’d recommend:

1. Pick one challenge you're facing right now (e.g. job search, CPT, changing schools).

2. Ask: What are the real constraints? What does the law say? What are the goals I care about?

3. From there, work backward—not forward.

If you want help applying this to your own case, you can:
✅ Join our growing community (weekly calls, strategy guides, case studies)
💬 Or book a 1:1 Strategy Session to map your situation from scratch.

Your future in the U.S. isn’t just about paperwork.
It’s about power. The power to design—not just hope—for the outcome you want.

Let’s build it, from the ground up.

Always on Your Side,

Dr. Josh

P.S. Curious what First Principles Thinking looks like when applied to OPT, green cards, or startup visas? Let me know—I’ll build the next newsletter around your questions.