Ask HN: How do you come up with ideas when your to-do list is empty?
Fellow entrepreneurs. What do you usually do when you are out of tasks? Where do you get new ideas? Actionable advices preferred, thanks.
5 comments
To quote Alice in Wonderland
`Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. `Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
`I don't much care where--' said Alice.
`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
What are your goals? If you break your goals down, you generally end up with more tasks than you can possibly action, which is where time management and methodologies like lean come in.
Those methodologies generally break down to one question "what is the best thing you can do now to advance you towards your goals?", where best is tricky to measure but includes reducing uncertainty, maximising reward, minimising investment, and so on.
What is the best thing you can do now to advance you towards your goals? Once you know that, why would you want to work on anything else?
Remember not to fall into analysis paralysis: meta-tasks like working out your goals or which task is best are tasks too, so evaluate them against your goals too. Don't be afraid to go with your gut and re-evaluate afterwards.
`Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. `Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
`I don't much care where--' said Alice.
`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
What are your goals? If you break your goals down, you generally end up with more tasks than you can possibly action, which is where time management and methodologies like lean come in.
Those methodologies generally break down to one question "what is the best thing you can do now to advance you towards your goals?", where best is tricky to measure but includes reducing uncertainty, maximising reward, minimising investment, and so on.
What is the best thing you can do now to advance you towards your goals? Once you know that, why would you want to work on anything else?
Remember not to fall into analysis paralysis: meta-tasks like working out your goals or which task is best are tasks too, so evaluate them against your goals too. Don't be afraid to go with your gut and re-evaluate afterwards.
Grab a notebook or keep your phone handy. Write down some inefficient or problem you are faced with or observed.
OR....
Partner with an "idea" guy and steal... borrow? s/he ideas :) ha! - But seriously, there are a TON of real problems that just need a better technical solution. - Go attend a conference or meetup that you would never think about - Nontechnical - e.g. education/teachers or a space your interested in working in - city council meetings.
Just a thought - good luck!
OR....
Partner with an "idea" guy and steal... borrow? s/he ideas :) ha! - But seriously, there are a TON of real problems that just need a better technical solution. - Go attend a conference or meetup that you would never think about - Nontechnical - e.g. education/teachers or a space your interested in working in - city council meetings.
Just a thought - good luck!
Take a quick look at the news (in your sector/from your competitors), and then take a walk. It's amazing what will mix around in your head while you're out doing something else, away from a screen.
Watch a user use your widget. If that doesn't generate ideas of things to improve you're just not paying close enough attention.
Check out the competition.