If you’ve ever stared at a blank notebook or laptop screen thinking, I want to start a business, but what the heck should I do first?, welcome to the club — I’ve been there. Actually, I’ve had season tickets to that club.
Starting out as an entrepreneur is both exhilarating and terrifying. It feels like skydiving with a backpack you packed yourself. You think you folded the parachute right, but you’re about to find out the hard way. The good news? You don’t need all the answers to jump. You just need a place to start — and that, my friend, begins with an idea.
But where does a good idea come from?
Start With a Problem, Not a Product
Too many people (myself included, once upon a time) try to force an idea out of thin air. We sit around thinking things like, What’s the next Uber? Or the next big tech startup? And that’s the trap: we chase unicorns before we even learn how to saddle a horse.
If you really want to build something that sticks, look for a problem. Not just any problem — look for a nagging, annoying, why-doesn’t-anyone-fix-this type of problem. Bonus points if it’s a problem you experience. Because when you live the problem, you’re more likely to understand it better than anyone else.
Sometimes that problem exists right in your own backyard. Think about your neighborhood, your workplace, your community. What’s broken? What’s inefficient? What’s outdated? What’s just plain annoying?
I once worked with someone who turned their frustration over long DMV wait times into a business that helped people schedule, prep, and breeze through their visits. Another friend launched a dog poop removal service because — well, nobody wanted to pick up poop in the summer heat. (He’s now rolling in it — pun absolutely intended.)
The point is: ideas grounded in real needs (especially local ones) tend to gain traction faster than those pulled from the clouds.
Passion vs. Profit: Why Not Both?
Now, does your idea need to set your soul on fire? Not necessarily. But it should spark some interest. If you’re solving a problem that you can’t stop thinking about — or if it’s a solution you wish existed — that’s fuel. And let me tell you, that fuel is going to come in handy when the days get long and the bank account gets thin.
On the flip side, don’t fall so head-over-heels for your idea that you ignore the realities of the market.
Which brings me to…
Market Saturation and Barriers to Entry (a.k.a. The Buzzkill Section)
Let’s talk about competition — because yes, your brilliant idea may already exist. And that’s not a reason to panic.
Competition isn’t a stop sign. It’s more like a yellow light. Proceed, but pay attention. If an idea has competitors, it usually means there’s demand. That’s a good thing. Your job is to find your angle.
What makes you different? Is it the way you deliver the product or service? The niche audience you target? The price? The speed? The personality behind the brand? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — you just need to make one that rides smoother for someone.
But be honest about barriers to entry. Is your idea easy to launch on a shoestring budget, or do you need a small country’s GDP to get started? Will regulations or licensing slow you down? Is it an industry where trust and reputation take years to build (like finance or healthcare)? These aren’t reasons to quit — but you need to know what you’re signing up for.
My Advice? Start Small, But Start Smart
Entrepreneurship isn’t about betting everything on one spin of the roulette wheel. It’s more like a series of small bets that get smarter over time.
Start by testing your idea. Talk to people. Run a tiny version of it. Pre-sell. Build a simple website. Ask your neighbor to be your first customer. Learn fast, fail cheap, and keep tweaking.
Remember, Amazon started in a garage. So did Apple. Airbnb started on an air mattress. Your idea doesn’t need a glossy pitch deck or a million-dollar investment. It needs movement.
In Conclusion…
Start where you are. Look around you. Listen. Observe. Solve a problem you care about. Then learn everything you can about your market, your competitors, and what makes your idea matter.
Entrepreneurship isn’t about waiting for the perfect idea. It’s about starting with a real one — and being bold (or foolish) enough to act on it.
So, what’s bugging you today? That might just be your million-dollar opportunity.