Have you been struggling to find a business idea?
Or maybe you're on the opposite end of the spectrum and have too many ideas.
"If only I could settle on one idea," you think. "Then I could get started on my business already."
Whether you have no idea or too many ideas, the problem is the same: you don't have that one idea.
The one idea that will take you from a nobody to somebody.
That one idea that will give you a lifestyle you want.
That one idea that will impact the lives of others and make the world a better place.
If only you could find that one idea, everything would change.
Can I Let You In on a Secret?
You're putting way, way too much pressure on yourself with this whole idea thing.
Chances are, you believe that finding that elusive, brilliant idea means the rest will fall into place. You think that once you go through the hard work of finding out what you should do, everything else will be easy.
But here's what no one wants to talk about:
More often than not, your first idea won't be the right one.
Finding your idea is an ugly, messy process that means you go through ups and downs and zigs and zags. People often think getting the right idea is a linear process, when it's actually the opposite of that.
Still, it's a process you need to go through. And if you allow it, the process can be fun and adventurous.
So if you're stuck on finding that golden idea, start small. Try little tests to begin with. You won't ruin your life, become imprisoned to an idea that you hate for eternity and beyond, or anything like that.
Instead, you'll get closer to finding out what works and what doesn't. As I mention in my article on how our brains sabotage our goals, simply getting started can set you on the path to figuring out your idea.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
If so, here's the 3-step process I suggest.
1.Brainstorm it all out on a piece of paper.
To begin, jot out your thoughts and ideas. Even if you think an idea sounds silly, it doesn't matter. Write out anything that you might think is relevant.
Here are some questions you should answer.
- What are your strengths? Think about some things that people tend to compliment you on, or things that you tend to figure out more easily than others. For instance, people might regularly come to you for fitness advice or compliment your healthy lifestyle.
- What are your interests? In your spare time, think of what hobbies and interests you enjoy pursuing. Maybe you attend class regularly or read certain topics for fun.
- What are some problems? There may be issues that you've personally gone through, or problems that people you know personally have experienced. You might also notice pain points around you and wonder if there's a way to fix them.
You can simply take out a paper, write out "Strengths", "Interests" and "Problems", and then brainstorm points for each of them.
For instance, I might write down the following based on my own experiences:
- Strengths: people tend to ask me to look over essays and writing work for feedback, so I might put "writing/editing skills" as a strength.
- Interests: I bake snacks and am on a quest to finding ways to improve their taste. I'll write down "making baked goods, especially oatmeal-based snacks". Feel free to write both general and specifics down, since we're putting down whatever comes to mind.
- Problems: I notice that people around me commonly complain about work-related health issues, such as stress and fatigue. I can put these down too.
Think of at least five points to write down for each of these three categories. If you think of one idea, it becomes easier to branch out into other related ideas. The more, the better! Try to set aside half an hour to jotting down your thoughts.
2.Look at what businesses are doing.
Finished writing down your ideas? Good.
Now, we'll start to look at examples of some of these ideas in action. While many people come up with what they think is a brilliant idea and start working on it right away (or worse, do nothing), we're going to look at how these ideas play out in the real world.
Why do we do this?
A lot of the time, we'll think of an idea that sounds brilliant...until it comes to the execution stage. For example, yoga sounds lucrative. After all, it's become a multi-billion-dollar industry and numerous lifestyle stores have popped up selling yoga clothes and gear.
So if you love to do yoga, it sounds great to do something you love for fun and make money on it. That is, until you try doing it yourself and end up filing for bankruptcy.
Before you jump, take a look around so you don't crash into anything.
Look at the list you created. Pick out one idea that stands out and do some research.
- Google: Search up your idea and see what comes out. Are there products or services out there that cater to a demand? Jot down or put in a document at least five websites you find, and browse through any that seem interesting to you.
- Amazon: Look up your idea or a product related to your idea. How popular are the items on Amazon? Take note of the reviews (especially the two-four star Amazon reviews) to see what people have to say. You'll want to see if there's demand and people's opinions on the current solutions available.
- News sites: Take a look around on sites and find out whether there are opinion pieces or news about businesses that relate to your idea. What are the articles saying about the businesses? Is the idea viable?
As you go through the process, look at what kind of products and services are available. Are there businesses based on your idea that are operating successfully?
Take note of other people's experiences running a business in the area you're interested in. If there's hardly anything on the topic, this is probably a bad sign. Either there's a lack of demand, or the idea is too hard to implement.
If you've come up with some roadblocks after doing research on your idea, it's time to go back to the drawing board and find another idea that might be more promising.
3.Talk to people.
If you've found an idea that interests you, and can be potentially viable based on your research, it's time to move on to the third step: interacting and talking with people.
While brainstorming ideas and researching them are a good way to begin, it's important to know people's experiences by talking to them. People are more likely to be honest about their experiences and the advice they give when speaking to you one-on-one.
Let's say you're interested in creating a social networking site. Back in step two, it might sound like a good idea because you see some that are worth billions.
The problem is that in certain industries, only a few businesses dominate the entire market. Plus, social networking sites require a high number of users before they take off.
So, talk to both people who deliver the service or product, and people who are in need of a solution to the issue. You'll get to learn what it takes to start and run a business based on your idea and what prospects are looking for.
You can find people by reaching out to any friends or family members that have a problem or interest related to your idea. When talking to them, keep an open ear. Encourage them to talk about their problems, desires, and hopes.
Another way to find people is talk to them online. One method I like is going on forums, reading the discussions, and then messaging people privately.
Talking to people through email or even phone works as well. I find that talking to people personally as opposed to somewhere public gets them to open up more easily.
If Needed, Rinse and Repeat
There's a good chance you won't find the right idea right off the bat. You might do some research or talk to a few people and decide you're not interested. Or, you might get started on a business venture and realize the idea isn't viable.
If so, that's okay! Finding your idea is an iterative process that can involve a number of trial and errors. The whole point of this exercise is that you follow the "do it, then say it" principle by testing things out and doing research before pouring a lot of time and money into something that doesn't work.
What's important is that you get started, so that you can move towards the idea and business that's right for you.
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This post was originally published on JumpstartYourDreamLife.com.
Melissa Chu writes at JumpstartYourDreamLife.com, where she helps people live better and achieve their goals. For more ideas on success and making an impact,
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