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Idea Generation: I'm starting a company this year, but I need a business idea. Preferably in the enterprise software space.

Tom Williams, Clarity's top expert on all things startup answered:

I wrote an answer to a similar question today which you can find here: https://clarity.fm/a/2877

The one flaw to your current process is this premise: "Whereas, if I focused on a good idea the whole process of driving success would be easier." This - from my experience - is simply not the case. I'm working on what I believe to be the best idea I've ever had and it has been absolutely the most challenging time I've ever had in a career full of product challenges. So a "good idea" does not make the process any easier.

As I privately advised the person who asked the other similar question: I'd encourage you to define all your own pain points in your life and filter by most pain and also least addressed by existing solutions. Building what you know and what you're excited about building is the best that any of us can hope for. There's no path to greatness that isn't full of challenges ahead.

Happy to do a call to discuss further.

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Question

Up until now I have thought about ideas in the following ways:
-what pain points do I experience? What are the potential solutions?
-what software is horrible to use? How can I improve it?
-what is an old industry that needs disrupting or a market that most people aren't thinking about?
-what would be a 'cool' idea or product? Something I would love to use?
-what am I most passionate about in life?
...the list goes on and on.

Bottom line, I keep searching and searching, but I can't find the right idea that I would feel excited about working on for the next 5 years. A lot of people say "it's not the idea, it's the execution". I agree 100%, however I'm afraid if I pick the wrong idea my efforts will yield a much smaller result. Whereas, if I focused on a good idea the whole process of driving success would be easier. Sometimes I wish God would just slap me in the face with a good idea to work on. I know once I get started on an idea that I am passionate about I'll make sure wholeheartedly that the business is successful. However, getting off the ground just seems like an eternity. Any suggestions on how I should be thinking about the idea generation process? Or better yet, do you have any ideas that you would like to work on, but don't have time and you think I should work on? Your help / advice is greatly appreciated.

Idea Generation

Enterprise Software

Answer

Tom Williams answered

I wrote an answer to a similar question today which you can find here: https://clarity.fm/a/2877

The one flaw to your current process is this premise: "Whereas, if I focused on a good idea the whole process of driving success would be easier." This - from my experience - is simply not the case. I'm working on what I believe to be the best idea I've ever had and it has been absolutely the most challenging time I've ever had in a career full of product challenges. So a "good idea" does not make the process any easier.

As I privately advised the person who asked the other similar question: I'd encourage you to define all your own pain points in your life and filter by most pain and also least addressed by existing solutions. Building what you know and what you're excited about building is the best that any of us can hope for. There's no path to greatness that isn't full of challenges ahead.

Happy to do a call to discuss further.