Looking for your next idea

[MJ DeMarco]

A lot of ideas are also found within the operations of existing companies. This creates the value skew.

So you're not fixing "external problems", you're fixing a problem that another company isn't doing well.

XYZ Company exists to solve problem Z. But while they fix problem Z, they are too expensive, too slow, or too inconvenient.

If XYZ sucks at SOLVING Z, do better in that area and you have a good skew.

Any dissatisfaction with an existing company and their offering is an opportunity.

 

[dennisgerik]

As I am considering my next project - I am really thinking about what MJ teaches about finding a problem to solve and solve it for a group of people. As I consider what this means, I have been looking for ways to identify and focus upon different groups of people. To this end, I found a few of different ways of identifying large groups of people. Here's a few to get you started - along with a few websites to jump start your brain and get your research flowing.

1) Look for Careers or Professions - people tend to group around different types of tasks or activities. Search for Lists of Top Careers, Careers in Demand, High-Paying Careers, etc.

List of Careers and What You Need to Get Hired

List of different types of careers, including job information, education and experience requirements, salary information, and how to get hired.

www.thebalancecareers.com

List of over 12,000 Careers

List of over 12,000 Careers, including descriptions, educational requirements, job outlook, and work environment

www.careerplanner.com

2) Look for College Majors - people spend a lot of money to get educated in a particular field, specialty, or discipline. Search for College Majors in Demand, Highest Paying College Majors, Hardest College Majors, etc.

List of College Majors

The Largest Listing on the Web. Over 1,600 College Major Descriptions

www.mymajors.com

Explore College Majors

Explore college majors and find the best college for each major.

www.niche.com

3) Look for Professional Certifications - people want to make themselves stand out in the particular careers. So, many will pursue specialized knowledge requiring extra education and demonstration of such knowledge. Search for Professional Certification in <CAREER from #1), Professional Certification Exams, Professional Certification Training, etc.

List of Professional Certifications by Industry - The Corporate Minority

Getting certified allows you to demonstrate competence, experience & dedication in your industry. Here's a list of professional certifications by industry and cost of certfication.

corporateminority.com

List of Professional Designations - Job Seekers Blog - JobStars USA LLC

Professional Designations for job seekers of all industries and experience levels for pursuing continuous learning and professional development.

jobstars.com

If you are struggling to find people to learn about, research and speak with - I hope these three ideas will help you as it is helping me.

What other methods of research do you use to identify groups of people to learn from?

 

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[socaldude]

I think it’s also helpful to think why a product or service fails. It’s because the actual act of setting up that business within an economic system is a mis-allocation of resources and an inefficiency. It’s incompatible with the macro and micro forces constantly trying to maximize utility.

It’s helpful not to think of entrepreneurship in terms of cash money stuffed in duffel bags and woman dancing in bikinis but rather who can identify gap inefficiencies in markets or mis-allocation of resources. It’s possible for a market to be out of equilibrium and participants not aware. That’s how it’s possible to do something “that’s never been done” or “something that’s already being done”.

Filling the gap is where money gets allocated. You make money cause you actually made the effort to imitate parameters outside yourself. Abstract economic concepts I know but they serve as powerful axiomatic tools for altering perception. Gives a little clarity as to the chaos around you.