Opportunity Basics: Always carry a notebook
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March 29, 2022
Opportunity is everywhere.
If you watch Shark Tank on a regular basis, you’ll see a pattern:
- Someone becomes frustrated with a problem
- They find/make/invent/build a solution for their problem
- Other people who have the same problem offer to buy their solution
- They start a business
What are your problems?
Opportunity for businesses is everywhere. It could be a product, it could be a service. Look around – what “unmet need” is there?
See a need
Identify a solution
Build/make/invent the solution
See if other people are willing to pay for your solution
The huge advantage that entrepreneurs have today is that social media and the internet quickly allow us to test-market a product or service. If nobody is willing to pay – then it might be a great idea, a great hobby – but maybe not a great business.
Always carry a notebook (even if it’s electronic)
Some people prefer paper notebooks to jot down ideas. These can range from the $1 “composition books” that you used in Elementary school, to middle-of-the-road lined journals (Paperage, Deziliao) to the fancy Moleskin limited editions…
Or, if you prefer, you can use an app like Evernote. This has the advantage of being able to store pictures, text, links, and more. You can also synch it between your phone and your desktop computer, so if you put things into Evernote on your phone, it automatically shows up on your computer. Oh, and the basic functionality is free.
Look for opportunity. It’s there.