Ask HN: How did you get past the analysis paralysis for startup ideas?

4 points by gyani95 8 years ago | 4 comments

A few friends and I have been talking about doing a startup as far as I can remember. After University all of us took jobs and now we feel fairly comfortable to start a business/something on the side. Only problem : Can't decide on an idea.

We create spread sheets and Google docs of ideas but can't zero in on anything. In University we would hack on anything and release it. I feel we are romanticizing the perfect idea too much.

Are we using ideas as an excuse to not start something?

Should we randomly hack on things that we like?

How did you get past your stage of analysis paralysis?

Some advice, I have received is to not look for ideas but to solve problems that you see in this world. How do you pick what problem you'll be spending the next few years on?

How did you find your idea?

madamelic 8 years ago |

>Are we using ideas as an excuse to not start something?

Yes

>Should we randomly hack on things that we like?

Yes

>How did you get past your stage of analysis paralysis?

Start building something I love

>How do you pick what problem you'll be spending the next few years on?

Don't. It is far too hard to predict what is and isn't going to be a hit. If you really hate something, it'd be really dumb of you to pursue it just because you think you'll make money.

Build something you are passionate about.

I just keep a Trello list of any idea I have. I don't prejudge. I put ideas on there even if I think they're dumb because some day they might stop being or might morph into something else.

gyani95 8 years ago | |

How do you pick what to work on from your Trello list?

madamelic 8 years ago | | |

Some kind of combination of what is currently feasible (I have the space to work on it), interesting to work on and occasionally, has the potential to be monetized.

I sometimes work on stuff that don't have a clear monetization path. Generally those turn into experiments that I can feed the lessons into easier to monetize projects.

saluki 8 years ago |

Most profitable ideas are something that solves a problem you or one of your founders and who's customers would be businesses or individuals who could save/make money using your service in their own business.

For Inspiration Checkout the businesses on indiehackers. Listen to their podcast too. https://www.indiehackers.com/products

Good Advice - DHH Startup School https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CDXJ6bMkMY

Listen to the archive starting at episode 1 Rob goes from drop shipping beach towels and jobs websites through a couple successful software products to founding and exiting with Drip. http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/archives