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If I were to start a business with no money right now and had zero experience, zero connections, zero ideas, and no money, here’s exactly what I’d do.
Be forewarned: Starting a business takes work. Learning how to turn your ideas into a profitable venture won’t happen overnight. Making a quick buck is not the same thing as building a business that can sustain and last.
If you’re looking to get rich quick, this article is not for you (and neither is building an actual business). But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, build something awesome, and reap the rewards for your efforts? Keep reading!
think everyone has something they can build a business around. Where do you find this idea? It lives in a curious place between something you’re passionate about, something you know something about, and something you’re willing to put effort into. Notice I didn’t say “find your passion.” Just starting a business around a passion won’t cut it. Unless you’ve built a tribe of equally passionate people, you’re only going to be building something for yourself. That’s definitely not a bad thing, however, this article is about starting a business from scratch. How to generate a money making business idea using an exercise I call “Thrusness” Grab a piece of paper and make a three-column list. Don’t create an Excel or Google spreadsheet. Write this list out by hand. There’s something about the process of physically writing down ideas that creates more opportunities for ideas. Remove all other distractions and try to focus on this task for 15–20 minutes (maximum). Let’s call this exercise “Thrusness,” because naming things is fun and helps boost creative thinking. The three columns to fill out for Thrusness are as follows: 1. 10 things you like doing that involve some form of work (example: painting, writing, singing, building furniture, coding websites, helping old ladies cross the street, etc.). 2. 10 ways you could put your work out into the world (example: online course, in-person class, e-commerce website, retail store, series of books, videos, etc.). 3. Review the first two columns and in the third column try to write 10 business ideas down. One could be to teach a class about painting. One could be to create an e-commerce store that sells unique furniture. Just jot down 10 ideas. I want to be crystal clear in this next point. You may NOT find your big idea during this first exercise. That’s okay! This phase is similar to writing the first draft of anything—book, article, whatever. It will probably suck. The point is to go through the motions and allow space for your brain to start doing what it does. If you’re feeling advanced, feel free to sit down with another person or two and do a No Bad Ideas Brainstorming exercise.
Be forewarned: Starting a business takes work. Learning how to turn your ideas into a profitable venture won’t happen overnight. Making a quick buck is not the same thing as building a business that can sustain and last.
If you’re looking to get rich quick, this article is not for you (and neither is building an actual business). But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, build something awesome, and reap the rewards for your efforts? Keep reading!
think everyone has something they can build a business around. Where do you find this idea? It lives in a curious place between something you’re passionate about, something you know something about, and something you’re willing to put effort into. Notice I didn’t say “find your passion.” Just starting a business around a passion won’t cut it. Unless you’ve built a tribe of equally passionate people, you’re only going to be building something for yourself. That’s definitely not a bad thing, however, this article is about starting a business from scratch. How to generate a money making business idea using an exercise I call “Thrusness” Grab a piece of paper and make a three-column list. Don’t create an Excel or Google spreadsheet. Write this list out by hand. There’s something about the process of physically writing down ideas that creates more opportunities for ideas. Remove all other distractions and try to focus on this task for 15–20 minutes (maximum). Let’s call this exercise “Thrusness,” because naming things is fun and helps boost creative thinking. The three columns to fill out for Thrusness are as follows: 1. 10 things you like doing that involve some form of work (example: painting, writing, singing, building furniture, coding websites, helping old ladies cross the street, etc.). 2. 10 ways you could put your work out into the world (example: online course, in-person class, e-commerce website, retail store, series of books, videos, etc.). 3. Review the first two columns and in the third column try to write 10 business ideas down. One could be to teach a class about painting. One could be to create an e-commerce store that sells unique furniture. Just jot down 10 ideas. I want to be crystal clear in this next point. You may NOT find your big idea during this first exercise. That’s okay! This phase is similar to writing the first draft of anything—book, article, whatever. It will probably suck. The point is to go through the motions and allow space for your brain to start doing what it does. If you’re feeling advanced, feel free to sit down with another person or two and do a No Bad Ideas Brainstorming exercise.
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