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How to Find a Great Idea Inspiration for your next amazing business idea can come from anywhere, so pay attention!

By Dan Bova

Here are three ways that inspiration hit some very successful business people.

  1. Annoyance. Bothered by a $40 late fee on a rented video, Reed Hastings thought to himself that video rentals should work like gym memberships -- you get charged the same amount each month no matter how much you use them. And from that, Netflix was born.

  2. Noticing a trend and building off it. Gregorys Coffee founder and CEO decided to start his own business while sitting in a Starbucks. He realized he wanted to create an experience for people who like the speed of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, with the atmosphere of a boutique coffee shop.

  3. They recognize needs. House cleaning and dog walking don't seem like innovative ideas, but people have started lucrative businesses focused on giving people what they crave most -- time.

These tips and many more come from Start Your Own Business. Check it out and other great resources at the Entrepreneur Bookstore.
Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim and Spy magazine. Check out his latest humor books for kids, including Wendell the Werewolf, Road & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, and The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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