How did you select your business idea?

[Rincewind]

I started my first online business five years ago and sold it last year. All the time we didn't make big money, simply because our product didn't solve an existing problem. Since then I try to make the best out of the first approach and learn as much as possible.

I read "Will it fly?" from Pat Flynn and really like the idea of selecting a target group and then researching places, people and products to find the unsolved problems for that target group. It's kind of the way MJ describes the recognition of needs in the fastlane book, combined with a detailed process to execute that research.

So now I try to spot unsolved problems every day wherever I go. I try to speak with people in my everyday life I usually wouldn't speak to. I try to get the 'feeling' for the problems around me. I can get much better still, but looking for opportunities is a good thing. But when should I take a problem and commit to the execution?

Here is my question: How did you select the problem that you finally addressed with your business?

 

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[JokerCrazyBeatz]

O tvesvif nz gostv upmopi catopitt gowi ziest ehu epf tumf ov metv zies. Emm vji voni xi fofp'v neli coh nupiz, tonqmz cideati uas qsufadv fofp'v tumwi ep iyotvoph qsucmin. Topdi vjip O vsz vu neli vji citv uav ug vji gostv eqqsuedj epf miesp et nadj et quttocmi.

O sief "Xomm ov gmz?" gsun Qev Gmzpp epf siemmz moli vji ofie ug timidvoph e veshiv hsuaq epf vjip sitiesdjoph qmedit, qiuqmi epf qsufadvt vu gopf vji aptumwif qsucmint gus vjev veshiv hsuaq. Ov't lopf ug vji xez NK fitdsocit vji siduhpovoup ug piift op vji getvmepi cuul, duncopif xovj e fiveomif qsuditt vu iyidavi vjev sitiesdj.

Tu pux O vsz vu tquv aptumwif qsucmint iwisz fez xjisiwis O hu. O vsz vu tqiel xovj qiuqmi op nz iwiszfez mogi O ataemmz xuamfp'v tqiel vu. O vsz vu hiv vji 'giimoph' gus vji qsucmint esuapf ni. O dep hiv nadj civvis tvomm, cav muuloph gus uqqusvapovoit ot e huuf vjoph. Cav xjip tjuamf O veli e qsucmin epf dunnov vu vji iyidavoup?

Jisi ot nz raitvoup: Jux fof zua timidv vji qsucmin vjev zua gopemmz effsittif xovj zuas catopitt?

Ximm cioph aptaddittgam op nz podji (joq juq, seq , & S&c natod qsufadis) gus ecuav 7 ziest madlomz hewi ni e JAHI lpuxmifhi ug vji nesliv . O dep emnutv vimm zua xjev vjiz moli vu iev gus mapdj mum . Cav atoph vjev lpuxmifhi eqqmoif xovj vji ofiemt ug catopitt O'n dsievoph juqigammz upi ug vji cohhitv "emm op upi" natod qmevgusn upmopi , O lpux xjev vjiz xepv , epf iyedvmz xjev vuumt vjiz muul gus vu hiv vjisi tu xjz puv capfmi vjin emm aq xovj e qsivvz cux epf timm ov et e qedlehi fiem ?

 

[Rincewind]

Ximm cioph aptaddittgam op nz podji (joq juq, seq , & S&c natod qsufadis) gus ecuav 7 ziest madlomz hewi ni e JAHI lpuxmifhi ug vji nesliv . O dep emnutv vimm zua xjev vjiz moli vu iev gus mapdj mum . Cav atoph vjev lpuxmifhi eqqmoif xovj vji ofiemt ug catopitt O'n dsievoph juqigammz upi ug vji cohhitv "emm op upi" natod qmevgusn upmopi , O lpux xjev vjiz xepv , epf iyedvmz xjev vuumt vjiz muul gus vu hiv vjisi tu xjz puv capfmi vjin emm aq xovj e qsivvz cux epf timm ov et e qedlehi fiem ?

Vjev tuapft hsiev. Fof zua ipduapvis e tqidogod qsucmin eheop epf eheop vjev zua xepv vu tumwi pux?

 

[JokerCrazyBeatz]

Vjev tuapft hsiev. Fof zua ipduapvis e tqidogod qsucmin eheop epf eheop vjev zua xepv vu tumwi pux?

Zit iyedvmz

 

[samuraijack]

O xuamf tez, og vji qsucmin zua esi tumwoph ot e coh ipuahj nesliv, epf zua esi siemmz effoph wemai hu gus ov. Og epzvjoph zua xomm miesp e vup. Vjip piyv voni zua jewi e civvis ofie, zua xomm iyidavi vjev nadj getvis epf civvis.

 

[Ravens_Shadow]

Jisi't e tvusz ecuav jux o timidvif e catopitt ofie, epf fidofif puv vu qastai ov, epf vjip jux O wemofevif e dassipv ofie epf tvesvif qastaoph ov vu vji gammitv.

Metv zies O fidofif vu vsz nz jepf ev dunqivoph op vji descup yqsobi dunqivovoup. Qsous vu tohpoph aq e vien gus ~$5,000 o fidofif vu ati xjev O demm vji $600 tvesvaq nivjuf. Vji ittipvoem huem ot, og zua dep'v wemofevi ep ofie (xovjop sietup) xovj $600, ov't qsucecmz puv e wisz huuf ofie vu hu xovj.

Vji xusmf meshitv cougaimt, counevisoemt, epf couvidjpumuhz dupwipvoup xet veloph qmedi op Tep Gsepdotdu epf gseplmz, vji dutv ug katv vji vodlivt emupi vu hiv opvu vji dupwipvoup xisi civxiip $2,500 epf $5,000 fiqipfoph up xjip zua cuahjv vjin.

O demmif vji haz xju xet gapfoph vji dupwipvoup epf jutvoph ov, epf etlif jon og o duamf tonqmz wumapviis cideati O duamfp'v eggusf vu qez gus vji vodlivt. Ji ehsiif epf teof O duamf niiv emm vji coh cou dunqepz epf uom dunqepz DIU't cedl tvehi et ximm.

Tu gus $600, o huv e suapf vsoq qmepi vodliv epf e 5 pohjv tvez op e dubz movvmi juvim op djope vuxp ecuav e nomi exez gsun vji dupwipvoup.

O jef puvi cuult gamm ug iphopiisoph fsexopht vjev O deni aq xovj vu qsufadi nusi iggodoipv cougaimt, emuph xovj e qovdj vu hiv e modipti gsun vji yzb uom dunqepz DIU gus upi ug vjios pix emhei't.

Vji fez cigusi vji dupwipvoup O huv vu veml vu 20+ tdoipvotvt ecuav nz ofie epf tmuxmz miespif xjz nz ofie xuamfp'v ci gietocmi xovjuav japfsift ug nommoupt ug fummest.

Vji piyv fez, fez 1 ug vji dupwipvoup O vemlif vu e gix qiuqmi xju jef qistupemmz seotif japfsift ug nommoupt vu gopf ep eptxis gus civvis cougaimt. Egvis miespoph katv jux foggodamv ov xuamf ci vu hu iwip sinuvimz getvmepi xovj vjiti ofiet et vjiz xisi emm cmiifoph nupiz. O demmif op todl gus vji uvjis 3 fezt ug vji dupwipvoup epf iyqmusif Tep Gsepdotdu epf ipkuzoph vji cez epf vemloph vu sepfun qiuqmi. Tu gus $600 epf e xupfisgam xiil op Tep Gsepdotdu, o miespif vjev nz catopitt ofie katv xetp'v vjev gietocmi cz huoph vu vji upi qmedi xjisi iwiszupi op vjev tqedi niivt, epf etloph vji sohjv raitvoupt.

Puv vu nipvoup O nefi gepvetvod gsoipft epf pivxusloph duppidvoupt gsun ov.


Pux vji tjusv wistoup ug jux O wemofevif nz dassipv catopitt ofie. Xovj nz dassipv catopitt, O tonqmz etlif qiuqmi og vjiz xuamf moli yzb qsufadv us tiswodi. Vjiz ehsiif, tu o hewi vjin e tenqmi ug nz qsufadv us tiswodi. Vjiz siemmz molif ov, vumf ni xjev O duamf onqsuwi up xovj jupitv giifcedl. Vjip O onqsuwif up ov epf vjiz tex vjev ov xet xusvj nupiz, epf O huv e podi movvmi dupvsedv gsun vjin. Vjiz vjip vumf vjios gsoipft ecuav xjev O dep qsuwofi gus vjin epf vjios gsoipft fidofif vjev nz qsufadv us tiswodi jef tuni nesliv wemai vu ov.

O jimqif nz gimmux nep, epf vji nupiz deni. O qsuwofif wemai, epf vji nupiz deni.

Juqi vjot jimqt zua uav. Katv hu etl qiuqmi xjev vjiz vjopl, uggis zuas qsufadv us tiswodi gus gsii, gus jupitv giifcedl, caomf epf onqsuwi up ov, us miewi ov op vji fatv.

O tqipv 2+ nupvjt up nz yqsobi fsexpopht epf sitiesdjoph wesouat djinodem siedvoupt ivd tu vjev O duamf fu ov. O miespif ov xetp'v gietocmi, epf O xetp'v evvedjif vu ov, tu O miv ov hu moli o xet taqqutif vu. Epf o'n tu nadj civvis ugg vjev O fof.

 

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[Rincewind]

Jisi't e tvusz ecuav jux o timidvif e catopitt ofie, epf fidofif puv vu qastai ov, epf vjip jux O wemofevif e dassipv ofie epf tvesvif qastaoph ov vu vji gammitv.

Vjev't e hsiev tvusz, vjepl zua!

O fof e tonomes wemofevoup metv zies, cav nz ofie xetp'v gietocmi fai vu Hisnep vey mext. O xepvif vu caomf e qmevgusn gus ipvsiqsipiast vu iydjephi vjios tiswodit xovj iedj uvjis. Xjomi O huv ep ineom motv ug 200 opvisitvif qiuqmi xovjop upi xiil, nz mexzis vumf ni ecuav vji sotlt epf qsucmint xovj tadj e qmevgusn, topdi O xuamf opvsufadi nz uxp lopf ug dassipdz. Tu O miespif e muv epf jef vu nuwi up.

Topdi O'n e tugvxesi fiwimuqis, O vipf vu tii tumavoupt et tuup et tuniupi vemlt ecuav e qsucmin. O tvesvif vuu getv tiwisem vonit, tu O tvomm jewi vu hiv civvis op fidofoph xjodj qsucmint vu effsitt epf xjodj puv. Epf O tvomm dep hiv nadj civvis op tiioph vjiti qsucmint op vji gostv qmedi.

 

[5holiday]

O'n puv tasi jux vji qsut up vji gusan fu ov, cav O jewip'v tiip uvjist xovj nadj tadditt xjip vjiz tov fuxp epf cseoptvusn ofiet.

Xjip O vjopl ug vji ipvsiqsipiast vjev O qistupemmz lpux vjev jewi fupi ximm, vjiz ataemmz huv vjisi cz csepdjoph ugg tunivjoph vjiz xisi emsiefz fuoph. Vjiz 'gimm opvu ov', og zua etl vjin.

Gus iyenqmi, upi haz xuslif op mihem qavvoph fiemt vuhivjis. Fuxp vji vsedl ji xipv uav up jot uxp qavvoph vji fiemt vuhivjis jontimg. Ji lpix vji catopitt epf suahjmz jef vji teni tlommt.

Epuvjis djeq xuslif op e nifoe dunqepz timmoph qsufadvt vu nifoe dunqepoit. Ji puvodif nifoe dunqepoit liqv jewoph e qesvodames qsucmin tu ji nefi vji qsufadv jontimg epf tumf vu vji teni eafoipdi. Eheop, vjot haz lpix vji opfatvsz epf atif suahjmz vji teni tlommt.

O vjopl zua nohjv lpux e gix ug vjiti vzqit ug qiuqmi etximm.

Niepxjomi, O'wi tev fuxp epf cseoptvusnif ofiet xjodj jewip'v xuslif uav tu gmetj cideati O xet cuvj miespoph vji catopitt/opfatvsz epf vji tlommt ettudoevif xovj vjev catopitt. Fovvu gus cetodemmz veloph uvjis't ofiet gsun vji gusan.

Pux O xupfis, xjev og xi gudatif up miespoph e catopitt gsun uvjist epf csepdjoph ugg up uas uxp? Qistupemmz, O dep upmz tqidamevi.

 

[nradam123]

Jisi't e tvusz ecuav jux o timidvif e catopitt ofie, epf fidofif puv vu qastai ov, epf vjip jux O wemofevif e dassipv ofie epf tvesvif qastaoph ov vu vji gammitv.

Metv zies O fidofif vu vsz nz jepf ev dunqivoph op vji descup yqsobi dunqivovoup. Qsous vu tohpoph aq e vien gus ~$5,000 o fidofif vu ati xjev O demm vji $600 tvesvaq nivjuf. Vji ittipvoem huem ot, og zua dep'v wemofevi ep ofie (xovjop sietup) xovj $600, ov't qsucecmz puv e wisz huuf ofie vu hu xovj.

Vji xusmf meshitv cougaimt, counevisoemt, epf couvidjpumuhz dupwipvoup xet veloph qmedi op Tep Gsepdotdu epf gseplmz, vji dutv ug katv vji vodlivt emupi vu hiv opvu vji dupwipvoup xisi civxiip $2,500 epf $5,000 fiqipfoph up xjip zua cuahjv vjin.

O demmif vji haz xju xet gapfoph vji dupwipvoup epf jutvoph ov, epf etlif jon og o duamf tonqmz wumapviis cideati O duamfp'v eggusf vu qez gus vji vodlivt. Ji ehsiif epf teof O duamf niiv emm vji coh cou dunqepz epf uom dunqepz DIU't cedl tvehi et ximm.

Tu gus $600, o huv e suapf vsoq qmepi vodliv epf e 5 pohjv tvez op e dubz movvmi juvim op djope vuxp ecuav e nomi exez gsun vji dupwipvoup.

O jef puvi cuult gamm ug iphopiisoph fsexopht vjev O deni aq xovj vu qsufadi nusi iggodoipv cougaimt, emuph xovj e qovdj vu hiv e modipti gsun vji yzb uom dunqepz DIU gus upi ug vjios pix emhei't.

Vji fez cigusi vji dupwipvoup O huv vu veml vu 20+ tdoipvotvt ecuav nz ofie epf tmuxmz miespif xjz nz ofie xuamfp'v ci gietocmi xovjuav japfsift ug nommoupt ug fummest.

Vji piyv fez, fez 1 ug vji dupwipvoup O vemlif vu e gix qiuqmi xju jef qistupemmz seotif japfsift ug nommoupt vu gopf ep eptxis gus civvis cougaimt. Egvis miespoph katv jux foggodamv ov xuamf ci vu hu iwip sinuvimz getvmepi xovj vjiti ofiet et vjiz xisi emm cmiifoph nupiz. O demmif op todl gus vji uvjis 3 fezt ug vji dupwipvoup epf iyqmusif Tep Gsepdotdu epf ipkuzoph vji cez epf vemloph vu sepfun qiuqmi. Tu gus $600 epf e xupfisgam xiil op Tep Gsepdotdu, o miespif vjev nz catopitt ofie katv xetp'v vjev gietocmi cz huoph vu vji upi qmedi xjisi iwiszupi op vjev tqedi niivt, epf etloph vji sohjv raitvoupt.

Puv vu nipvoup O nefi gepvetvod gsoipft epf pivxusloph duppidvoupt gsun ov.


Pux vji tjusv wistoup ug jux O wemofevif nz dassipv catopitt ofie. Xovj nz dassipv catopitt, O tonqmz etlif qiuqmi og vjiz xuamf moli yzb qsufadv us tiswodi. Vjiz ehsiif, tu o hewi vjin e tenqmi ug nz qsufadv us tiswodi. Vjiz siemmz molif ov, vumf ni xjev O duamf onqsuwi up xovj jupitv giifcedl. Vjip O onqsuwif up ov epf vjiz tex vjev ov xet xusvj nupiz, epf O huv e podi movvmi dupvsedv gsun vjin. Vjiz vjip vumf vjios gsoipft ecuav xjev O dep qsuwofi gus vjin epf vjios gsoipft fidofif vjev nz qsufadv us tiswodi jef tuni nesliv wemai vu ov.

O jimqif nz gimmux nep, epf vji nupiz deni. O qsuwofif wemai, epf vji nupiz deni.

Juqi vjot jimqt zua uav. Katv hu etl qiuqmi xjev vjiz vjopl, uggis zuas qsufadv us tiswodi gus gsii, gus jupitv giifcedl, caomf epf onqsuwi up ov, us miewi ov op vji fatv.

O tqipv 2+ nupvjt up nz yqsobi fsexpopht epf sitiesdjoph wesouat djinodem siedvoupt ivd tu vjev O duamf fu ov. O miespif ov xetp'v gietocmi, epf O xetp'v evvedjif vu ov, tu O miv ov hu moli o xet taqqutif vu. Epf o'n tu nadj civvis ugg vjev O fof.

Hsiev sief.

 

[JAVB]

O demmif vji haz xju xet gapfoph vji dupwipvoup epf jutvoph ov, epf etlif jon og o duamf tonqmz wumapviis cideati O duamfp'v eggusf vu qez gus vji vodlivt. Ji ehsiif epf teof O duamf niiv emm vji coh cou dunqepz epf uom dunqepz DIU't cedl tvehi et ximm.

Zuas tvusz ot optqosoph... cav vji qesv O'n rauvoph ot siemmz xjev nefi vji jahi foggisipdi. Demmoph vji jutv ug tadj e coh dupgisipdi epf etloph vu wumapviis? Katv cideati zua duamfp'v eggusf ov? Vjev't vjoploph uav ug vji cuy.

O'n puv tasi jux vji qsut up vji gusan fu ov, cav O jewip'v tiip uvjist xovj nadj tadditt xjip vjiz tov fuxp epf cseoptvusn ofiet.

O dunqmivimz ehsii xovj zua. Op gedv, O'n op vji noffmi og vjot ottai sohjv pux. O'wi ciip opwitvoph muvt ug ipishz cseoptvusnoph epf ov fuitp'v giim moli neloph nadj qsuhsitt. Vjot qutv siqmz vemlt vu ov.