How to find the way out?
Hi,
I've been trying to find some ideas to build SaaS products but no luck. I tried to find my own pain and address it but was not able to find any REAL problem. What do you guys and gals do in such case?
I have a tech. skillset and I CAN build (enterprise level) products. But I do not know WHAT to build. Maybe I can become your tech co-founder or maybe I'll be able to find some idea that will worth pursuing it...
Any comments on how do you solve this situation?
There is one potential problem and one definite problem here.
The potential problem:
Could the pain points you are addressing be too large in scope? Can you narrow them to define an actual product? In other words, to build Facebook, if you start out saying "I want to build a giant world-wide social network that can connect everyone in the world" you are going to fail miserably. Even Facebook started at just one school and grew from there. See if you can narrow the scope and you may find your pain points would make for a great product to address them.
The definite problem:
Any problem is a "REAL" problem. YOUR problem is that you haven't executed on solving those problems, not that they aren't problems in the first place. Pinterest lets you save some cool things you like. That isn't what, in this context, you would consider a "REAL" problem because there are a billion services for that already and who really cares? But what they did is execute well and create a product that people like. It doesn't matter if your problem is forgetting to go out and check your mailbox. Every problem is a real problem. You just need to execute (easier said than done, I know, but it is what you need to do).
Thank you, Austin for such details. I think you are right and I didn't determine the problem correctly.
Sounds like you have the equivalent of writers block for coders. It's not fun, I've been there and at times have gone months without building stuff despite having the best intentions.
My advice - either get off the computer, or build something, anything! Just get yourself moving in the right direction.
I would support this idea.
Get off the computer.
Spend a week doing new things and going to new places.
You'd be surprised what you might encounter when you roam. You'll find something and then think to yourself 'I could do that better'. Or, why isn't there a solution for that?
Do you think I am burned out? If I am how can I identify that?
Do you think I am burned out? If I am how can I identify that?
If you aren't working on new projects you probably aren't burnt out by them. But I don't know you well enough to answer that with 100% confidence.
That type of thing is just a label. Don't give power to what you're going through by naming it.
I am in the exact same situation. I am starting to ask friends working in different industries to see what problems they face day to day.
Finding an idea is really hard. People make it sound easy, but my cofounder and I struggled and went through several failed ideas before we found one that stuck. And we got lucky - several smart, creative friends of ours tried the same thing and failed, ended up going back to work at a big company. Some tips:
I really like these suggestions. Thank you!
I'm in the same boat. I've been building non-stop but either I can't market it or people just have no need for what I'm building.
But anyways, I'll keep building and launching and hope for my tipping point.
good luck with your attempts,
Thanks
Hi,
I have the exact opposite problem - I have so many ideas I don't know what to do with all of them, but I am not a developer. I am a product manager. I'll pick out 3 or 4 ideas, post them here, and see what you think.
BTW, I also have a method of finding pain points, if you would be interested in that.
Cheers!
-Pmox2018
Would you mind to share your method of finding pain points? This sounds interesting.
Yes, but I need to write it up in way that is easily consumable. :)
Shoot 'em straight away. Would love to hear them.
Here are a few really random ideas which I am intentionally keeping short in order to see if just the words i put here intrigue anyone.
"Booksmarts" - Machine-learned book summaries published in mindmap format. Monetization: app + content
"Save me a seat" - Algorithmic/ML scheduling of specialty medical devices such as MRI machines, dialysis machines, chemotherapy stations. Monetization: app
"Let me buy" - idea validation service which uses negative UX to evaluate just how far your potential customers would go to purchase your product/service. Monetization: productized service
"Babybit" - Ankle-fitted device for infants which monitors temperature, sleep patterns, heart rate. AKA "fitbit for babies". Monetization: device + app + subscription
"Bumpercast" - Keyword or theme searchable bumper music for podcasters to utilize between segments. AKA "giphy for podcasters" Monetization: app + subscription.
Thoughts?
Great that you are sharing - I shared a few here. http://ideas.apsion.com
I like Babybit idea. I think there might be some solutions already. We have been thinking about inventing a "surveillance" cam for babies with voice transfer and an iphone app to monitor your baby if you are out and have found an app of the year (back in 2015) from the UK who did the same and got millions of $.
Second vote for booksmarts
Booksmarts sound cool, i'm not a ML expert but that's probably very difficult to implement, anyway if somebody developed it, I'd definitely use it.
Ok, thinking out loud about Booksmarts - I have an idea that I think will work. But I need a book suggestion to test it out. Preferably a book that you have read and I have not. :) So perhaps something a bit obscure, and doesn't matter if it is recent or old. Suggestions?
I have an approach to Booksmarts based on a combination of speed reading techniques + business book patterns which would lower the difficulty level considerably. Anybody want to play around with this and deep-dive it in some kind of forum?
Sure, I'd be interested to play with it. Just sent you an email.
I will reply through email later today. Thanks!
This comment was deleted 8 years ago
So your life is perfect? Surely there's something you wish or strive for...
@akim Are you interested in exploring this option - http://climb-lean.com/courses/find-pain-that-is-worth-your-time ?
User research seems to be the answer in your case.. Have you considered reading some books or joining a user research course?
I am in the same situation and this is my process:
Does this make sense? If you have any questions let me know.. ;)
I never did that so I am not sure.
Ultimately you are always producing value for other people. I think the common approach of "scratching your own itch" is an easy way to find a real problem to solve but that I think is limiting and limited to your needs.
Another (better?) way to create something really new is to find a group of people and search in that group for problems to be solved. As I progress with this method (which is common in the design thinking realm) I was thinking to share a practical approach with others. If you are interested let me know..
Maby create a service that helps poeple find what kind of product (including saas) to build.
would help people in the same situation you're in