The best way to find something valuable to do: Do something!
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There was a time when people were genuinely worried that Google and Facebook wouldn’t figure out how to make money.
That might sound silly to us today. But we are looking back. Value is often visible in hindsight.
I’m not saying founders and inventors are walking completely in the dark. After all, why would they persevere if they didn’t believe in what they are doing?
Most innovators walk by the candlelight of their dreams and passions, not by the floodlights of potential future earnings. Realizing the thing can be monetized well, or figuring out how to do so, comes later.
We also forget that most businesses fail miserably. The stats are always changing, but at one point 80% didn’t last 5 years. Of the few survivors yet another 80% don’t make it to 10 years.
But looking around we do see lots of valuable new things. Published books. Beautiful art. Game changing software. Innovation in business. So... how did these people know they were going to create something valuable?
They didn’t.
The truth is they followed their curiosity. They kept going on those hunches. Their instincts turned to actions. The successful innovator has typically tried and failed many times.
So what then is the best way to find something valuable to do?
Do something!
Most innovators walk by the candlelight of their dreams and passions, not by the floodlights of potential future earnings. Realizing the thing can be monetized well, or figuring out how to do so, comes later.
We also forget that most businesses fail miserably. The stats are always changing, but at one point 80% didn’t last 5 years. Of the few survivors yet another 80% don’t make it to 10 years.
But looking around we do see lots of valuable new things. Published books. Beautiful art. Game changing software. Innovation in business. So... how did these people know they were going to create something valuable?
They didn’t.
The truth is they followed their curiosity. They kept going on those hunches. Their instincts turned to actions. The successful innovator has typically tried and failed many times.
So what then is the best way to find something valuable to do?
Do something!