By Rieva Lesonsky
You know those people who are born knowing exactly what kind of business they want to start? What if you’re not one of them? Maybe you know you want to be an entrepreneur, but the question is “Doing what?” Don’t feel bad–many a highly successful entrepreneur started out without great business ideas. For those trying to find the perfect business ideas, follow my advice.
Start by asking yourself: What do I like to do? What am I good at? What skills do I have? Don’t just focus on your current job or even your past work history and experience. Go back over your entire life. What hobbies do you enjoy? What did you like to do as a kid? What do your friends and family say you’re good at? All of these can help create business ideas. These don’t have to be business skills, per se—something as simple as “being a good listener” or “helping me solve problems” can help you become an entrepreneur.
Now flip it over and ask yourself what you hate doing and aren’t good at. Again, consider your entire history and don’t focus only on business skills. Maybe you hate working 9-5, are terrible at math and not really a “people person.” OK, now you know that becoming an accounting entrepreneur wouldn’t be the best of business ideas.
Next, think about why you want to be an entrepreneur. Do you want to be in charge, with no one telling you what to do? Do you have a great idea at your current job, but your boss won’t listen to you and it’s driving you crazy? Do you feel like you could do what you do now, but better—and get paid better for it? Do you want to give back to society with a business that changes the world?
Then, think about what your ideal life would look like. How many hours a day would you work? Where would you live? How would you spend your time? What goals would you achieve. Dream big—if you want a business idea that lets you work four hours a day, live in exotic foreign locales, or make millions, you can create one. (Realize, however, that you probably can’t achieve all of those goals in the same business—at least not right away.)
Now, consider what is missing in your life. Is there some product or service that would fill an unmet need? Ask your friends, family and co-workers the same question. Is there something at work, at home or in their free time that drives them crazy? What would solve it? Let your imagination run wild here. Dry-cleaning delivery services, companies that help seniors find and move into assisted living, and dog day-care companies are just a few of the business ideas that grew out of such unmet needs.
Jot down all of the answers and ideas that come to you as you ponder these questions. Read them over and you’ll probably start to get some inspiration. Maybe you love working with children, making things with your hands and having a lot of variety in your day-to-day life. You could start a business that visits different schools and provides art classes to the kids, or a mobile kids’ party service where you bring crafts items in and let the children “get crafty.”
Give it a little thought, and enlist your friends and family to help. Soon you’ll have the perfect business idea for you.
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