All businesses start with one simple thing—an idea. This doesn’t have to be the boldest idea in the world. It doesn’t have to be life-changing. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be novel at all. What your idea does have to be is right for you and the market you plan to work in.

Great ideas can come from anywhere. Most business owners, however, point to three basic places where they found their inspiration.

  1.  Work Experiences. The idea for a solid, profitable business venture doesn’t have to come out of no where and hit you like a ton of bricks. Sometimes the right idea can slowly develop from an obvious place, like your current job. Maybe you’ve noticed some shortcomings in the way your employer does business and you feel you could do it better on your own. The nice thing about generating your idea from a current or past job is that you already have experience doing that sort of work in a professional, real-world setting.
  2. Leisure Activities. The activities that you do outside of work can also be inspirational. This typically involves taking an activity that you enjoy and turning it into a business venture. For example, if you really enjoy mountain biking, perhaps you could open a bike shop. Or if you’re great at making pottery, consider opening a studio and teaching pottery classes.
  3. “Aha!” Moments. We’ve all had those moments when the light bulb instantly flickers on. Aha! Sometimes it comes when you have an urgent need but can’t find the right product or service to fill it. Other times you might be tinkering around with something and discover a new or better way of doing/using it. These moments can be the perfect start to a profitable business.

Once you have that idea, then all it takes is turning it into a business. To learn more about getting started, check out our post, So You’ve Got a Business Idea, Now What?

Have a great weekend!

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