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As soon as I started working on my startup, I started noticing lots of other problems in the world, which I wish someone would fix. At least some of these could

by revorad 16y ago

As soon as I started working on my startup, I started noticing lots of other problems in the world, which I wish someone would fix. At least some of these could turn into good business ideas too. So, if you are romanticising about starting a startup but don't have an idea, do this: forget about ideas and doing something new. Just pick up an existing business and try to clone it. Along the way, you will find your idea. Building stuff is the best generator of ideas in my experience.

GBKS 16y ago
Agreed. I keep a journal of ideas, even for very rough ones, that I come across. Many times I read an article or deal with a certain subject at work and ideas for businesses start forming. Key for me is to write them down right away, so my mind is clear for new ideas. When I have some time, I go back to my journal and start writing out those ideas, thinking through features, sketching. Then I might not touch it for a month and then do another round of refinement. After a while, you end up with a great archive of projects, and since you've been chewing on them for a while you have a good idea of what's worthwhile.
calzonedome 16y ago
I agree. This is why outsourcing manufacturing to other parts of the world is a bad idea. Innovation occurs where the manufacturing takes place. Take batteries for example. Companies in the US thought the process was simple and there was nothing to gain from keeping the manufacturing in the US. Well, they outsourced it to other countries in order to cut costs and look what happened. Lithium Ion batteries came about. On the same note, I have found that starting sentences out loud before I finish the complete sentence in my head yields much more content, wit, and many times even better points. (seriously, but I'm mainly forced to try this while talking to girls at the bar) I have heard some musicians (mainly rappers) don't write down lyrics because the process of writing completely destroys the flow. Instead, they record themselves improvising, quickly realizing a better phrase should have been used, stopping, and improvising again. If they can't come up with a word or phrase to fit into the sentence, they make a sound that fits the flow and come back to it later. In short, be involved with current material as closely as possible in order to create new material. I hope this makes sense

by revorad 16y ago

GBKS 16y ago

Agreed. I keep a journal of ideas, even for very rough ones, that I come across. Many times I read an article or deal with a certain subject at work and ideas for businesses start forming. Key for me is to write them down right away, so my mind is clear for new ideas. When I have some time, I go back to my journal and start writing out those ideas, thinking through features, sketching. Then I might not touch it for a month and then do another round of refinement. After a while, you end up with a great archive of projects, and since you've been chewing on them for a while you have a good idea of what's worthwhile.

calzonedome 16y ago

I agree. This is why outsourcing manufacturing to other parts of the world is a bad idea. Innovation occurs where the manufacturing takes place. Take batteries for example. Companies in the US thought the process was simple and there was nothing to gain from keeping the manufacturing in the US. Well, they outsourced it to other countries in order to cut costs and look what happened. Lithium Ion batteries came about. On the same note, I have found that starting sentences out loud before I finish the complete sentence in my head yields much more content, wit, and many times even better points. (seriously, but I'm mainly forced to try this while talking to girls at the bar) I have heard some musicians (mainly rappers) don't write down lyrics because the process of writing completely destroys the flow. Instead, they record themselves improvising, quickly realizing a better phrase should have been used, stopping, and improvising again. If they can't come up with a word or phrase to fit into the sentence, they make a sound that fits the flow and come back to it later. In short, be involved with current material as closely as possible in order to create new material. I hope this makes sense