4 ms·

The best way to overcome this is to keep a running list of any business or project you think of that's even remotely worthwhile. Continually groom and sort this

by logn 13y ago

The best way to overcome this is to keep a running list of any business or project you think of that's even remotely worthwhile. Continually groom and sort this list. It's like how comedians and writers come up with material, a lot of them carry around a notebook. Your brain gets used to having this background thread that is coming up with ideas and seeing all your ideas laid out in writing spurs new ones.

swalsh 13y ago
I think the main problem (for me) is that I live in a vacuum. I work in a tech company that engineers products for engineers. I've surrounded myself with so much tech savvy people, and places that I don't have inspiration for problems I am capable of solving. My desire is to create a product for "normal people"... but i don't know what "normal people" have issues with.
- Widdershin 13y ago
  Figuring out which problems should be solved is a pretty hard problem in itself. Maybe you could ease that pain point somehow?
- beat 13y ago
  Are you not a normal person yourself? Do you not have problems? Go scratch your own itch! Just yesterday I chewed through a (pretty good) idea for a modern review-oriented site for gear-centric hobbies. As a guitarist and photographer, I read a lot of gear reviews, and the sites that provide them are often horrible to use - 2002-vintage antiques, or ugly and unnavigable, or both. But the hobbyists have well-used forums (awful ones), enough to make a living for some small time businesses. So the other night, I was researching Japanese kitchen knives, as I'm planning to get my daughter some for Christmas, and butted into the same problem. And I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if someone built a really modern review app and built hobby gear review sites with it?" I spent a couple of hours poring over the financial model for such a business, and decided it was a bad idea. Running on ad support and waiting for the content to build would be a slow, painful time with a fairly low income ceiling. But hey, want an idea? There's one. Run with it!
- logn 13y ago
  Maybe take some time to live a little. Move cities and try working remotely from a small town. Or work abroad. Work with a consulting company servicing a variety of industries. Get a job teaching at a community college. Or vary your reading and start focusing on news from an industry outside of the Internet-centric world. And if you're in SF even moving to LA might give you a very fresh perspective. Also, I do think it's important to unplug and do absolutely nothing on a screen sometimes to give your brain a chance to come up with totally new ideas--try daydreaming.
- xgarland 13y ago
  Unfortunately, this is the shared reality of many in the Valley. And that's not to say you should feel any less or more guilty than others faced with this dilemma. The challenges that exist with developing products for "everyone else" are nothing short of daunting. For one, anything that comes with high cost and high functionality will most likely intimidate the average consumer. Much easier to develop for those who are more savvy than your average Joe blow who doesn't wish invest the time nor money while adopting a new product. Even with all that being said, I do believe there needs to be more of push to cater to those who aren't as sophisticated.

by logn 13y ago

swalsh 13y ago

I think the main problem (for me) is that I live in a vacuum. I work in a tech company that engineers products for engineers. I've surrounded myself with so much tech savvy people, and places that I don't have inspiration for problems I am capable of solving. My desire is to create a product for "normal people"... but i don't know what "normal people" have issues with.

Widdershin 13y ago
Figuring out which problems should be solved is a pretty hard problem in itself. Maybe you could ease that pain point somehow?
beat 13y ago
Are you not a normal person yourself? Do you not have problems? Go scratch your own itch! Just yesterday I chewed through a (pretty good) idea for a modern review-oriented site for gear-centric hobbies. As a guitarist and photographer, I read a lot of gear reviews, and the sites that provide them are often horrible to use - 2002-vintage antiques, or ugly and unnavigable, or both. But the hobbyists have well-used forums (awful ones), enough to make a living for some small time businesses. So the other night, I was researching Japanese kitchen knives, as I'm planning to get my daughter some for Christmas, and butted into the same problem. And I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if someone built a really modern review app and built hobby gear review sites with it?" I spent a couple of hours poring over the financial model for such a business, and decided it was a bad idea. Running on ad support and waiting for the content to build would be a slow, painful time with a fairly low income ceiling. But hey, want an idea? There's one. Run with it!
logn 13y ago
Maybe take some time to live a little. Move cities and try working remotely from a small town. Or work abroad. Work with a consulting company servicing a variety of industries. Get a job teaching at a community college. Or vary your reading and start focusing on news from an industry outside of the Internet-centric world. And if you're in SF even moving to LA might give you a very fresh perspective. Also, I do think it's important to unplug and do absolutely nothing on a screen sometimes to give your brain a chance to come up with totally new ideas--try daydreaming.
xgarland 13y ago
Unfortunately, this is the shared reality of many in the Valley. And that's not to say you should feel any less or more guilty than others faced with this dilemma. The challenges that exist with developing products for "everyone else" are nothing short of daunting. For one, anything that comes with high cost and high functionality will most likely intimidate the average consumer. Much easier to develop for those who are more savvy than your average Joe blow who doesn't wish invest the time nor money while adopting a new product. Even with all that being said, I do believe there needs to be more of push to cater to those who aren't as sophisticated.