Find the Right Idea that You Can Turn Into a Business

You want to start a business, but you’re lost.

You don’t know what you want to do, and you’re not sure how to find out.

This is a common problem. You may ask: I want to start a business, but how do I know what to start?

Following is a series of questions to lead you to the answer.

There are three parts to making the right choice.

1. Define your vision
2. Find your purpose and passion
3. Validate your idea

1-Define Your Vision

Since starting a business is your goal, you clearly want something different in your life.

It should begin with discovering your vision and how you want your life to look.

The following questions will help to clarify what you desire. The Free Finding Your Business Idea Worksheet is available.

• What would you do if you had the money and time to do whatever you want?
• How do you see yourself when you daydream? (where are you, who are you with, how do you look, how do you feel?)
• What kind of people would you spend time with?
• What do you want to spend time doing, and learning?
• Describe an ideal day.

What are you seeing? Does a clear picture emerge?

Spend time to think about your answers, they form the basis of who you are and your desires.

This is so important. If you’re going to create this new venture, make sure it fits in with your dreams.

Next is to find what you want to pursue that complements the life you describe.

2-Find Your Purpose and Passion

The next part is to know what you’re passionate about and how you see your purpose.

They don’t have to be the same thing, but possibly one is linked to the other.

For instance, your passion may be as a backyard gardener. You love to grow dozens of organic varieties of fruits and vegetables. It is how you spend your spare time. You have also made this your purpose. In part, you donate the excess to the food bank.  But you also write and teach others to successfully produce their own food. You see your purpose as helping others become self-sufficient.

Of course, your purpose may be what you do every day, and your passion may be what energizes you.

The point is to find what you want to make into a business, either your passion or a driving purpose.

If you don’t have the right idea for a business, answer the following questions and see what you can discover.

Answer these questions on the free worksheet available here.

• What are your interests?
• What do you read and learn about?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What are you absorbed in so deeply you don’t notice time passing?
• What would you like to study more?
• What work do you do now? Is it enjoyable or a burden?
• What talents and skills do you have?
• What special knowledge do you have?
• What are you passionate about?

When you look at these answers do you see any exciting possibilities?

Does anything here align with your life vision?  Can you turn that passion or purpose into a business?

If no, you have more soul-searching to do.

If you did find something you want to pursue, be certain that you’re excited about it. You will need to be deeply interested to carry you over the difficult times of running a business.

It takes time and commitment to build a successful business. The most important factor in starting this business will be your determination and follow through.

Now that you have a vision for your life and a solid idea to create a business, the next step is to establish if there is a market for your idea.

3-Validate Your Idea

Your idea may be the perfect one for you, but you need to know if there is a market for what you want to provide.

The following questions will be a start to evaluate whether the business you’re planning is well-founded.

• Who is your audience?
• What is the problem they need to solve?
• Are they willing to pay to overcome their problem or satisfy a need?
• Is there competition? Who is your competition?
• Can you offer a better product or service?
• How can you provide a better service, or put a different twist on it so people see you as the better solution?

If you’re looking for more ways to decide if your idea is credible, read  How to Validate Your Business Idea