Carry a notebook wherever you go. A business in one part of the world is an idea in another and you just never know what you may spot as you go around your daily activities, for little things observed can spark large ideas.
Write down all the things you can think of that inspire you and are something you consider you’d be good at producing, selling, marketing, etc. Don’t be too limited at this stage by your skill set. You can always learn new skills if needed. However, be realistic about your enthusiasm, because it will underpin your energy levels and determination to keep trying. Throw your dreams into the business ideas pile. They may seem sky high or unrealistic but they may eventually be achievable or they may indicate elements of what you could be doing. Don’t discard anything at this brainstorming stage.
Ask why something hasn’t been addressed yet. Is it too hard? Is it just overlooked? Is it so new that people are scared to try solutions? Add these considerations to your mix of ideas. Don’t forget that many areas are evolving. For example, “information products” is a large and expanding area of business, ideas for which can include anything from blogging and vlogging to software, ebooks and digital boot camps. You might even invent new products and services that don’t yet exist but will enhance people’s lives when created.
Listen to TED Talks, attend webinars and do online courses to assist with your ideas. There is plentiful material available in the online sphere for you to draw on to assist with your brainstorming and learning.
If you can build, glue, make, sew, bake, create, etc. , mock-ups or prototypes of your idea, go ahead and do so. This can add to the realization of how the business idea might look and/or work. It doesn’t have to be anywhere near perfect at this stage, just enough to help you realize the idea’s worth.
