Many entrepreneurs spend countless hours searching for the next big market opportunity.

But some of the world’s most successful businesses didn’t begin with market research—they began with someone trying to solve their own problem.

Think about it.

When you experience a frustration firsthand, you understand it better than anyone else. You know what’s broken, what’s missing, and what a better solution could look like.

That’s how many breakthrough companies were born.

• Airbnb started because its founders needed a way to pay rising rent, so they rented out air mattresses in their apartment.
• Stripe was created because accepting payments online was unnecessarily complicated.
• Instacart solved the inconvenience and time commitment of grocery shopping.
• Canva made graphic design accessible to people who found professional design software overwhelming.
• Uber addressed the frustration of unreliable taxi services.
• Spotify offered a simple, safe, and convenient alternative to slow downloads and virus-prone music-sharing platforms.

• What frustrates me every day?
• What process feels unnecessarily difficult?
• What task takes longer than it should?
• What do I wish existed?I’ve experienced this myself.Back in 2015, I was running a six-figure business coaching company. Business was growing, but I had a problem: there weren’t enough online tools to help me scale efficiently. I was working hard, but I wanted systems that would allow me to serve more clients without sacrificing quality.Instead of waiting for someone else to sell me something, I searched for something that would help businesses they way I want to help business grow.
• That challenge eventually evolved into the software I currently utilize to help all my clients to understand their business successes and shortcomings.There’s an important lesson here for every entrepreneur and business owner.

  Instead of asking, “What business should I start?”

  Sometimes solving those problems simply makes their business more efficient.

  Other times, those same solutions become products, services, or platforms that thousands—or even millions—of other people need.

  The next great business idea may not be hiding in someone else’s industry.

  It might be hiding inside your own daily frustrations.