[TTringas]

Answers to this could go on forever but...

I think the more important part is to build a subtractive methodology, a way of editing out and whittling down ideas that won't work.

Use the James Altucher idea machine strategy and go sit in a coffee shop with a pen and paper and almost anyone entrepreneurial can come up with 50 ideas for possible businesses.

Then you need to go work editing those ideas and brutally crossing them off the list. And don't get attached to those ideas. Be comfortable having 50 ideas and crossing all 50 off the list. But having the mode, of taking every idea that comes to you and then really thoroughly scrutinize it, can help you know when you've hit on something really good.

Odds are, that really good idea originates from some random source, not necessarily a system for finding a good idea, but because you're already in the mode of evaluating them properly you'll be ready to pounce on it.

[pan69]

I think this approach might work better for something who's been around the block a few times than for someone who recently graduated college. I mean, life and business experience is kinda important in this context.

[jxm262]

Well, to clarify, I've been working as a programmer for about 2 years now (which to me is still pretty new). Was hired before I graduated ;)

But yes, in general I do feel like I have _alot_ more professional development ahead of me.

To me this approach seems like it would work really well. But yes, I definitely think experience would help in the "editing" part of the list. Although, I imagine there has to be creative ways to get feedback on what works or won't work, even if I'm new to an industry.