20 ways to come up with business ideas

How TO GENERATE BUSINESS IDEAS

Everyone has great ideas. The problem with most people is realizing that event the silliest or outrageous idea they come up with could still work. Generating ideas – useful ideas – is a skill, and, like any other skill, it can be learned, the more you practice, the easier it will be to come up with ideas whenever you need them. There are several ways in which you can generate successful ideas that work in most of the fields., the following principles are my little pieces of advice on generating business ideas:

1. ALWAYS CARRY A JOTTER

The only thing worse than not being able to come up with an idea is thinking of an amazing idea, not writing it down, and then forgetting it. You may think you will remember, but you won’t. Having a small notepad or digital recorder with you al all times guarantees that those ideas will not escape. Keeps one in your glove compartment, on your nightstand, and in your desk drawer, keeping a few spare sheets of loose paper in your wallet or purse is a good idea, too.

2. BE A GOOD LISTENER

Listen to people talking along the road, on the bus, at the coffee shop, or in the elevator at work. You will get a good feel for what people care about: their concerns, wishes, and interests and you may also hear a great idea or two in the mix. Build on the snippets of conversation you overhear to create a story and let that story lead you to a brilliant idea.

3. MAKE A LIST & CHECK IT TWICE

This is a tried-and-true method proven to work wonders. Get out a notepad, or fire up your computer, and write down everything you can think of related to your issues, for example, if you need a new name for your product or services, write down every feature and benefit you can think of, the types of people who need the product or service, the problems it solves, and so on. Pull out a thesaurus and start looking up synonyms, when you are done, you will not only have your name, you will have a library of words and phrases you can use in your marketing and publicity.

4. DISCOVER THINGS THAT ANNOY YOU

What annoys you? When you think about the list of things you wish were different, the chances are those things also annoy other people, Keep a running list of all things that bug you and find solutions that will make them better.

5. MERGE IDEAS TO FORM ONE

Take two ideas and put them together to make one new idea. Think beyond the obvious connections to come up with something truly innovative.

6. DO PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Movement increases the flow of endorphins, as well as sending more blood to your brain. I am not a doctor and I don’t plan to be one but I do know that getting helps me think. Running, skipping, jumping, climbing stairs, etc. help to get your pulse rate up to get your brain moving, too.

7.GET OTHER PEOPLES OPINION

There are times when you are so close to project that it creates a mental block for idea generation. Bringing in fresh perspective can make all the difference. Get someone who is not familiar with your situation to ask you questions about it. It may be over dinner with friends, with a colleague at the water cooler, or in line at the grocery store with a stranger! They may ask things that lead you to an idea that you overlooked because it was too obvious. No one around? Imagine that someone is coming to you with the problem you are trying to solve. What would you tell them? Your answer may be the solution you are looking for.

8.LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS

it may sound obvious, but really listen when customers talk to you. When you do, you will hear ideas for new products and services, ways to improve customer service, and uses you never considered for your products that can open up new markets for you. Your customers may not recognize when they are giving you ideas, but you need to be able to spot them. Are several customers making the same comments or asking the same questions? Act on it! You can get great ideas this way.

9. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE

New surroundings and new experiences can help your brain to shift gears and get you to think differently. Drive a new route to the office; try a new restaurant for lunch, start work a little earlier (or a little later), work in a different place, or anything that busts you out of your rut.

10. LISTEN TO MUSIC

You may find that a little song awakens your creativity, or you may respond better to a little gospel music. Whatever works for you, fire up your iPod, get into the groove and let your mind work.

11. TAKE A BATH

How many great ideas do you get in the shower? It’s not a coincidence that great thinking happens in the shower. Bathing is a mindless activity the only thing you really have to think about is, Have I already repeated, or just lathered and rinsed?). And the warm water is relaxing. Other mindless activities are great for brainstorming tool to Wash the dishes, walk the dog or find the laundry. If you give your mind the chance wanders, you’ll free yourself to come up with a brilliant idea.

12. FILTER BY WHAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE IDEAS

Starting a successful business takes a lot of drive and persistence, and is likely to take at least a few years. This is why people who choose to start businesses that they are not passionate about, generally give up after hitting the stumbling blocks and challenges that come with getting any new business off the ground.

No entrepreneur is able to be good at everything, know the areas you are good in and find people to help you with your weak areas. If you have an idea and are passionate about something – you can look to others to handle the parts that you’re not good at.

13. TRY NEW THINGS

Sign up for a class, take up a new hobby, listen to a different kind of music, or do anything that is new to you. Not only will it get new parts of your brain humming, you’ll meet and connect with new people- which is a great way to find great new ideas.

14. BE A READER

Read everything you can get your hands on business books, novels, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and everything else. The more raw materials you take in, the more you learn, and the more you know, the better you will become at putting together seemingly unrelated concepts to create something new.

15. SLEEP ON IT

Just before going to bed, think about the ideas you want to generate. Be specific: Tell yourself you will come up with a solution while you sleep. Keep a pad and pen or a recorder next to your bed so you can capture the ideas as soon as you wake up.

16. GO TO GOOGLE

When you are stuck on an idea, try entering a few words related to what you are looking for. Google will try to automatically complete your query and may come up with just what you need, and then look at some of the search results to see what inspires you.

17. DON’T BE BIAS

Too often, we let biases creep in and influence our thinking. Start fresh, without preconceived notions of what you must do or what is impossible be open to anything and everything.

18. IMPORT IDEAS

Everyone thinks that their business is not like anyone else’s. The truth is that all of our businesses are more alike than they are different. Look at what others are doing in other industries and see how you can apply their ideas to your own business. If a solution is working for someone else, there is no reason it won’t work for you, too. By the time, you adapt their idea and tailor it to precisely fit your business, it will be unique.

19. EMPLOY A CONSULTANT

If you really and truly stuck on something, or if a deadline is rapidly approaching, there’s no shame in hiring a little outside help. Hiring a consultant can be a great investment. Often times, they don’t even have to come up with the ideas for you. They simply ask the right questions that will lead you to the great idea that is buried in your brain.

20. DON’T ALLOW PEOPLES OPINION TO PIN YOU DOWN

Everyone thinks that their business is not like anyone else’s. The truth is that all of our businesses are more alike than they are different. Look at what others are doing in other industries and see how you can apply their ideas to your own business. If a solution is working for someone else, there is no reason it won’t work for you, too. By the time you adapt their idea and tailor it to precisely fit your business, it will be unique.

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