The problem I seem to have when trying to find a business opportunity is that I’m unaware of the true problems that need solving. Sure there’s things like sustainable energy solutions, or improvements to urban planning, but these either already have billions pumped into research, or have a super high barrier to entry - be it financial or academical.
I’m well acquainted with first principles thinking, but it doesn’t serve much use when you have no problems to apply it to. I can create scenarios that’s I think are problems, but in hindsight they are just a means to an end - a problem for the sake of a problem, with no true benefit.
What piece of the puzzle am I missing?
Musk is a snake oil salesperson.
He didn’t innovate anything, he bought into other people’s innovations. He overpromises and is notoriously bad at delivering.
Don’t hold yourself up to this guy and run yourself down.
Don’t be fooled. Musk did not found Tesla (he bought it). He founded SpaceX after having bought access to decision makers via the Mars Society.
He co-founded several company, e.g. Paypal.
AFAIK, the only 2 companies he really founded alone was the original X (a bank from which he was removed by the Board because he was unexperienced) and The Boring Company (a company that -basically- prevented any serious investment in railway system in the USA, by promising and not delivering anything.
So don’t feel bad…
Now, to your situation. You need to talk to as many people as possible to understand what problems they have. Attend pitching events (eventually online) to see what problems create resonance with investors/incubators. Look incubators around you, and which startups are accepted in their programs.
You can’t find problems from your sofa, so you need to get out.
This is sage advice- talk to others find out what they struggle with, try to deeply understand what they’re struggling with.
Get more life experience and pay more attention to details, then you’ll start noticing small things to improve on.
And if you believe “Elon Musk has a ‘never ending explosion of ideas’, all of which I imagine would be huge successes”, it means you still have a long way to go kid.
I have ideas but no capital, musk has bought all his ideas with billions
Helps to have parents with emerald mines don’t it.
Care to share?
His father owns an emerald mine in South Africa
No he doesn’t. This has been a rumor since forever.
So what he owned then? A gold mine in Botswana, oil fields in Cabinda? What was he doing? Poor dish washer from Joburg probably :). Musk’s mother is/was a model, right? I am sure Musk’s father is not no-one having kids with a model. Mr. Insider please, tear down this wall of secrecy, stop playing funky games with us and reveal who is Errol Musk, now ! :))
You’re not missing a puzzle piece. Everyone’s mind works differently.
50% of people don’t talk to themselves in their head. Their brain isn’t wired for it.
Some people only see images and see words in their heads. My best friends mom thinks in Armenian. She is Armenian, so that’s not crazy.
Many people don’t dream.
So it’s perfectly reasonable to assume some people have constant ideas. Because I have constant ideas about random shit all day.
My brain didn’t even stop yammering while I read your comment. 😂
EVs or rockets are not even things you should even think of solving.
Your ideas are only useful as your funds and capabilities allow you to do. Money gets you the right talent or company.
Also, don’t get into worshiping entrepreneurs. As for Musk, starship earth to earth or hyperloop were the dumbest concepts i have seen so far.
You need to get involved in an industry… You’ll see the opportunities where there are inefficiencies.
I’ve worked in my industry for over 15 years, I know struggles i am solving intimately.
Elon Musk is a (great) salesman, and you’re agonizing because you internalized an image that’s been sold to you while simultaneously advertising it here on his behalf without compensation.
You know majority of people hate elon nowadays ,so you are only gonna listen bad about him on the internet .
but how if you try to get into deep , musk started by solving problems which were easy and possible for a young person, like Zip2
What is Zip2 used for?
Zip2, former American technology company (1995–99) that was the first enterprise founded by Elon Musk. It provided a searchable business directory that could be described as an Internet version of the yellow pages telephone directory with maps included.you start with easy problems with huge scalability ,then you can think of solving difficult problems ,and that’s how he did it.
Don’t forget the emerald mines.
Because he has amazing cognitive ability. He spent a lot of time reading broadly, and he is an expert in multiple things. If you are at the edge of your field you will too see manny patterns.
Ok I will give you one of my ideas. Rather than guzzle four gallons of water in the morning. I want to invent a water dripper that has a straw where I would be able to take a swig of water when I wake in the middle of the night.
Musk is an overrated MAGA bish boy.
The best way to get ideas, is just enjoy life. Eventually you’ll start to see problems or even small issues that bother you that you’ll want to fix.
Fuck Elon Musk
If your parents owned an emerald mind you’d have more ‘ideas’ too. Opens up the options quite a bit