Ask HN: How to Find Interesting Problems? I want, so desperately, to find a new problem or space that I can truly feel passionate about. But it seems like nothing I see really captures the entirety of my interest. I’ve not been able to find anything that I can engross myself in or truly care about. Does anyone have any recommendations for how I can go about finding something? |
I can only give you my anecdote… I identified that I’d like to have positive impact on society through technology. I’m patient, and due to other factors (skills, personality, lack of capital and dependence on my salary) my best option is to build something myself. So far I’ve been building small side projects which haven’t come to fruition yet. If that doesn’t get me there I will find relevant not for profits or corporations with the right values and try to have impact by that means.
Don’t rush yourself, think about what values are important to you, if you need to speak with a career coach or life coach, or read books on it (what colour is your parachute was one I liked)
If it’s just a coding problem you want - have a think about the things you do or use regularly and what’s wrong with them.. there’s likely something in your life which you could improve and turn into a product for others
Good luck
Looking for problems is a way of avoiding the hard work of making something.
There is never a guarantee that what you make will even work, never mind be useful, never mind do something important.
Good luck.