Solve a Problem You Have and Can't Stop Thinking About
Every product in his portfolio came from a problem he personally experienced and couldn't find a good solution for. Not a market research exercise — a genuine frustration. He argues that building from personal pain gives you three advantages: you understand the customer better than any research, you stay motivated during the hard periods because it's your problem too, and you can spot the right solution faster because you know what would have actually helped you. 'I can't build well for a customer I've never been. I build extremely well for past versions of myself.'
The play
List the top 5 problems you've personally experienced in your professional life where the existing solutions were inadequate. For each one, ask: how many other people have this exact problem? What would a complete solution have been worth to you?