5 Tips for Coming Up with Entrepreneurial Ideas by Jonah Engler

5 Tips for Coming up with Creative, Entrepreneurial Ideas

Being an entrepreneur isn’t just about being charismatic and daring enough to venture into making your own business. It takes creativity and imagination to be able to actually come up with a business idea that’s worth having. So, if you’re getting the itch to do something new and want to try your hand at making something of your own, it’s time to break out your thinking cap and start thinking about how to become an idea machine.

Here are five tips that can get you started on coming up with the entrepreneurial ideas you’ve been waiting for.

1. Read. A lot.

The greatest writers are often prolific readers and the same can be said of successful businessmen and women. They spend time reading to gain not only new information, but also

new perspectives. Try reading books in genres that you don’t usually read. Read authors you’ve never read before. Expose yourself to worlds both real and imaginary.

2. Carve out idea generating time.

Setting aside the time to actually sit down and crank out ideas makes you feel more accountable to move forward with them. So start by setting aside time every day to just write down your ideas, no matter how silly they may sound. Don’t edit them and don’t stop yourself from just letting whatever is in your head out. And then, stop. Don’t write down more after that time. Do this every day each week and at the end of that week, look at your ideas. Weed through the list and see what looks worthwhile. The key is to motivate yourself into actually producing ideas – refining them and finding the most creative ones can start from there.

3. Interview other successful entrepreneurs.

Talking to others about how they came up with their business idea can be inspiring, so don’t be afraid to ask questions of others who have come up with the creative ideas you’re envying.

Interview them, listen to their interviews or podcasts, read their books, ask them questions on social media. Use their knowledge to fuel your own imagination.

4. Meditate.

Research shows that meditation can help with mood, memory, and creativity, so try quieting your mind to actually unlock your creative side. Start with giving yourself quiet time and space to just…be. Need help? Try a guided meditation, meditation music, or a meditation app on your phone or tablet. Whatever you do, just try not to think for awhile. Your brain will thank you – and may be able to more easily generate ideas in the future.

5. See what’s out there.

Don’t be blind to the competition – instead, let it spark your own imagination. Look at what other companies are doing and see if you can do it better. Examine how they approach their business and see if there’s a way you can improve or change that concept. Assess what’s happening in the market by using data, user behavior studies, and other research so that you know how people might use your products or services. Have this information handy and it’s easier to get the creative juices flowing!