Instead of tools you might need, applications you think about, and experiments, build something that you definitely want (or, even better, need). Find inefficie

Instead of tools you might need, applications you think about, and experiments, build something that you definitely want (or, even better, need). Find inefficiencies or deficiencies in your day-to-day that you can eliminate or ameliorate. Another way is to build something that someone you care about wants or needs. Pay attention to how people close to you (especially those that are not engineers themselves) use technology, and notice when there's an opportunity to make it easier/better for them. Many great projects were born this way.