Until an idea is generated, there is no product, and until there is a product, there is no business. Every successful business begins with an inspiring business idea. A product is a tangible and physical solution to customers’ problem, however, the process of creating a product does not begin with the product, it begins with an idea.
Ideas are initiators of business product. Ideas initiate creativity. All that we see today in their physical realities were first in the unseen realm of thoughts and ideas. Idea generation is the first step to starting a prosperous business, and without it, you will never establish what exactly to do.
Successful business ideas can be categorized into two:
1: An idea to solve small problems for many people. 2: An idea to solve big problems for few people.
Characteristics of business idea.
1: problem-solving. An idea is not a business until it has the potentiality to proffer solution to an existing problem. Every business idea must be aimed at solving a global or local problem for customers.
2: Add value (Increases standard of living). A business idea must have the capacity to add value and increase the standard of living of the customers. When problems are solved, hardship and pains is eliminated, and the quality of life improves.
3: Get people what they need. Zig Ziglar says, “If you get enough people to get what they want, you can get what you want.” A business idea must be geared to getting customers to exactly what they need for a happier life.
Factors that influence the generation of business ideas.
I have discovered four ways through which I generate ideas and such approaches apply also to business ideas. They are:
1. Prayer. I call this, ‘YOU &THE DIVINE’. When you pray for anything from God, one way He answers you is through the ideas He drops into your heart. In Jeremiah’s biblical account, God said, “Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know.” God gives you direction through the ideas that come to you, sometimes it comes like a flash, in the place of prayer.
2. Thinking. I call this, ‘YOU & YOUR MIND’. Ideas naturally flow when we think deeply in search for them. Deep thinking or meditation is no doubt an essential generator of great business idea. When you decide on generating a business idea, all you need is to start thinking about it, and your mind naturally or supernaturally begins to seek for the answer you are demanding in thought.
3. Association. I call this, ‘YOU & YOUR FRIENDS’. He that walks with the wise shall be wise and the companions of fools shall be destroyed, the bible says. You are the product of those that you allow into your life. The kind of friends you move with determines the kind of ideas you generate and possess. Choose your friends wisely. Choose those who love what you love so that when you discuss, you get to know more than you thought you knew.
4. Observation. I call this, ‘YOU & YOUR ENVIRONMENT’. It is possible for two people to see a situation in two opposite ways. This is because the way people perceives and interpret situations are very unique to their natural design and temperaments. What someone calls a problem, another sees as an opportunity. It is said that in the Chinese vocabulary, there are no words for problem, what they refer to a problem is opportunity. A story was said of two men who went to Indian, one of the men noticed that everybody was walking on bare foots, while the other saw a business opportunity by establishing a factory where shoes will be manufactured. One thing that affects the way we observe situations is our mindset or attitude, which can be positive or negative. A pessimistic person sees the problem in every opportunity, while an optimistic person sees the opportunity in every problem. Develop a positive attitude to life and you will begin to observe situations from a positive and business view-point. Thanks.
