I’m going to show you how to find great ideas, the kind that are already hiding in plain sight, right next to you.

I struggle with ideas. Especially good ones. And I know I’m not the only one who wakes up thinking:

“What should I work on?”

After thinking about this a lot, I realized something simple:

An idea is just a solution to a problem.

So instead of chasing ideas, start noticing problems.

Here’s a simple system that worked surprisingly well for me.

A Tab at a Time

Look at your browser right now.

Too many tabs open?

Good.

Pick any one of them and ask yourself:

How can I do what I’m supposed to do here faster and more accurately?

This one question is powerful. When I started doing this, my idea list didn’t just grow, it exploded.

Capture the End Goal

Don’t get stuck in what people are doing. Focus on what they’re trying to achieve.

For example:

  • Gmail: People are trying to figure out what to do next
  • Slack: Teams want alignment and clarity on execution
  • OTPs: How to verify human identity
  • Phone: What needs my immediate attention

It’s not about the tool. It’s about the intent.

Group Them

Now take it a step further.

Group similar tabs together.

Same type of tools, same workflows, same purpose.

Then ask the same question again.

You’ll start noticing patterns and more importantly, gaps.

Your goal here is simple:

Extract common problems.

And trust me, there are always more than you expect.

Listen to What People Are Saying

Every product has a community.

Forums, Reddit, Discord, Twitter, people are constantly talking.

Complaining. Suggesting. Struggling.

If you want to move faster, use LLMs to scrape and summarize these conversations. You’ll save hours and uncover insights you would probably miss manually.

What to Actually Build (Filters)

Having ideas is easy. Choosing the right one is hard.

Here’s how to filter them:

Is There New Tech Unlocking This?

Ask yourself:

“Is something now possible that wasn’t possible before?”

That’s where big opportunities live.

AI is a perfect example, but don’t force it everywhere.

Not every problem needs AI. Pick the right tool for the job.

Can You Actually Finish It?

Let’s be honest.

Most projects don’t get finished.

The ratio is heavily skewed.

So be picky.

Don’t jump randomly between ideas. And on low motivation days?

Do the smallest thing possible.

Even fixing a typo counts.

Does It Connect With a Community?

Building for a community changes everything.

It gives you feedback, motivation, and direction.

For me, that’s cloud and self hosting. That’s what drives me and led me starting my company.

If you want better ideas:

Stop just browsing. Start engaging.

Talk to people. Observe them. Understand them.

The easier it is to interact with your audience, the more valuable insights you will get.

Final Thought

Good ideas aren’t rare.

They’re just overlooked.

They’re sitting in your tabs, your tools, your daily frustrations.

All you have to do is pay attention.

I hope you enjoy this process as much as I did.

If you try it, I would genuinely love to hear what you discover.