‘The Decisions That Made Me‘ is a recurring mini-series and interview strand on the BBC Radio 4 business discussion program The Bottom Line hosted by Evan Davis in which he asks entrepreneurs and business leaders about the most crucial moments in their lives and careers. At the begining of an episode I listened to he said:
Finding a gap in the market and stumbling upon just the right idea to fill it is pretty much every entrepreneur’s ambition. But what’s remarkable I think is just how often the inspiration for these new business ideas comes from a very personal frustration or irritation. From the invention of flat packed furniture, when an Ikea employee couldn’t fit a table into his car; to the creation of Netflix, born out of frustration of having to pay late fees on returning VHS tapes. Stories of ‘aha’ moments are often satisfyingly every day.
This resonated with me because I think that’s very true and that’s exactly what I found. A couple of my business ideas were born out of personal frustrations (I’ve mentioned this one on the blog before). I think it’s easier to explain why you’ve pursued an idea if it comes from something you’ve experienced. Also, if you’re able to articulate it well and someone else relates to it, there’s a greater chance they may buy your product or service.
My Excerpts 