"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo Before you begin rounding up the financing, designing the pages, developing the site, and researching the technology, you need an idea.
The idea will be the impetus for all your efforts. If you can intellectualize it, you can create it.
Great ideas are all around you but the key is identifying which one will have an impact on your future. Here are some suggestions for brainstorming the next big idea:
- Turn a hobby into a business but be aware that this conversion may lead to the diminished enjoyment of your favorite leisure activity. Trading fun for profit could wind up having a negative effect on your productivity.
- Think about what interests you and convert it into a viable business. If you''ve always been intrigued by magic tricks, you can develop an e-commerce site that distributes disappearing ink, trick decks of cards and other magician tools of the trade.
- What are your areas of expertise? Teach those skills to others or create an e-zine or e-book that is based on your knowledge of a specific subject.
- If your idea is best produced offline, develop your site to drive traffic to your physical location.
- Create a service that capitalizes on the tasks others need but don''t necessarily have time to do. For instance, develop a business letter writing, resume or reminder service; generate sales leads for companies; become an e-mail distribution center, etc.
- Find another way to utilize an existing product. How about turning outdated computers into terrariums?
- Take an existing product and make it better. Build a better mousetrap or even a better mouse.
- Use your research skills to compile specific information into a universal database.
You can possess endless amounts of talent, determination and drive but without a great concept to propel your abilities, there is little chance of success.
Some related articles on start-up opportunities:
What Sells Well?
"Dust it off, Diversify, Dedicate Yourself"
Some information on how to protect your intellectual property:
Beware the Dot Clones
A Body Guard for Your Ideas
IE 7
Firefox 2.0
