[zackattack]

I'm familiar with the basics of the customer development process (c/o Eric Ries's blog, of IMVU), and intend to read the book soon. But one question is -- how do you come up with an idea for a product people want to pay for?

[potatolicious]

I generally come up with my ideas via my own needs (disclaimer: I have yet to make my millions...) - these ideas tend to be within a realm that I understand deeply, and thus I'm in a unique position to execute better than random other hacker down the street.

Not to mention that, as a consumer of the product, you'd be more in touch with the needs of the product and where it needs to go.

[rjurney]

By asking them if they'll pay for it, and iterating until you come up with something they will?