Some of the best ideas hide in casual conversations.
1. Pay attention when someone says:
“This is always such a pain.” “I still have to do this manually.”
If you reached out to your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues, you could easily talk to 30+ people from completely different fields and backgrounds. That’s a lot of real-world insight — and within all those conversations, there’s a good chance something valuable will stand out.
2. Ask Directly
Don’t just wait to overhear problems — go and ask. Tell people you’re thinking about starting a business and would love to hear what’s frustrating in their job or daily routine.
Try this:
“What’s something annoying or inefficient in your work?”
3. Notice What People Ask You For
If people often ask you “How did you do that?” or “Can you help me with this?”, that’s another signal of value. It means you’ve solved something others struggle with — and that solution could become a product, service, or course.