Turn Your Everyday Ideas into a Million-Dollar Business: It's Easier Than You Think (And Here’s Why)

The landlord was going to throw them out.

Broke and with no money coming in, they decided to rent out three air mattresses in their apartment to attendees of a conference in San Francisco.

Fortunately for them, it was successful because every hotel in the city had reservations.

Jokingly, they called their service “Air Bed and Breakfast.”

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In a couple of years, this little experiment of theirs became the hotel industry disruptor Airbnb.

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The three co-founders, Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczysk, now have a company that lists over three million lodgings in nearly 200 countries.

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But it wasn’t all a bed of roses.

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Between the years 2007 and 2009, they had four failed launches, but the fifth one eventually took off.

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Today, the market capitalization of Airbnb stands at $92.75 billion.

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Which is worth more than Hilton, Wyndham, and Marriot.

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You see, in life, ideas are a dime a dozen, but it’s what you do with them that matters the most.

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These guys could have easily given up after the first launch, the second launch, or the fourth launch, but they didn’t.

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In Joe Gebbia’s interview on the Tony Robbins Podcast, he said they’d have kept launching until it worked.

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If this is not strong faith, then I don’t know what is.

The Formula for Success: Belief, Action, and Persistence

Strong faith works like this: you have an idea, you believe in it, and you consistently take action.

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You know for sure that “no” is not an answer you’re willing to accept.

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Of course, there would have been times when they felt like giving up.

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But that wasn’t even an option for them.

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Which reminds me of when I first started lifting weights.

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I wasn’t expecting to be muscular and shredded in a few months.

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And it wasn’t a case of “If I will ever look like a bodybuilder”.

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I knew for sure that I will at some point have the physique of a bodybuilder.

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However, it was only a matter of when.

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Now, I'm not sure exactly what idea you've been harboring in your mind for months or even years.

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It may be that you have been putting off learning that new high-income skill.

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It's possible that you've been wanting to start a side hustle.

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It’s time you started believing in yourself.

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Your seemingly insignificant everyday ideas could potentially transform your entire life.

How to Spot Million-Dollar Ideas in Your Everyday Life

The first thing is to live life with intention, be observant, and be discerning.

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Pay particular attention to the things you enjoy doing.

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A few weeks ago, a small group of about 15 people invited me to speak on in-demand professional skills.

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I’m pretty sure they weren’t expecting me to do yet another follow-your-passion spiel, but that’s exactly what I did.?

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I’ve been that guy who did the 9-5 in a field I couldn’t stand.

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I lived for the weekend and hated Mondays.

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Now, all I do is follow my passions.

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My passions are sales, marketing, masculinity coaching, and fleet management.

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And I'll be damned if I turn around and encourage people to pursue money through work they find unfulfilling.

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I wasn’t about to teach these people to go live a miserable life like I did in my 9-5.

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Think of it this way: The lady who enjoys speaking several languages should write an ebook on the easiest ways to learn multiple languages.

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She should start a YouTube channel to teach her subscribers the basics, and then sell how-to programs and one-on-one coaching to those who are truly interested.

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With social media today, you can reach millions of people through relevant, entertaining, and engaging content.

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I’ve said this many times, and I’ll say it again.

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In today’s business world, think media first before you think about your business.

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Gone are the days when people connected with brands; now, people connect with people.

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The jury is out.

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Personal brands are now the clear winner.

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Think Kim Kardashian? Skims

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Think Rihanna? Fenti

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Think Logan Paul and KSI? Prime Energy

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Think Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? Terema Tequila

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These billion-dollar brands were built by individuals with strong personal brands.

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Now, I’m not saying everyone can build a billion-dollar brand, nor do they even have an interest to build one.

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However, you could potentially earn $5k or even $10k per month by selling products on Amazon.

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You could earn $5k or $10k per month selling consulting and coaching services.

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And if you're struggling to identify your passions, consider the following questions:

• What annoys me during your day?
• Are there repetitive tasks that could be streamlined?

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Maybe it's the struggle to find a decent cup of coffee on your commute or the frustration of untangling Christmas lights every year.

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You can literally profit greatly from these minor inconveniences.

Taking Your Million-Dollar Idea from Rough Diamond to Polished Gem

Now that you have an idea, don't let it sit unpolished.

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Here's how to refine it:

• Market research: Find out if there is a demand. And more than likely, there will be. We humans are not as different as we think we are. Is there already a similar product or service? If so, how can yours be better, faster, or more affordable?
• Gather feedback: Have conversations with your family, friends, associates, or potential customers to bounce your idea off them. Gather feedback and see how much it resonates with them.
• Think outside the box: Look beyond the obvious. This is not the time to be lazy. Don't settle for the first solution that pops into your head. Strive to think creatively and unconventionally. Can you apply your idea in a completely different way?

Validating Your Idea: Making Sure There's a Market

Now comes the crucial step: validating your idea.

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Is there a real market need for your product or service?

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Make use of tools like surveys and focus groups to help gauge interest.

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And if you think all of this is too much for you to handle, then get a business partner.

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Find someone who is as passionate about your idea as you are, or at least willing to invest the time, energy, and resources.

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Next, consider creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—a basic, functional version of your idea—to test the waters with minimal investment.

From Idea to Reality: Taking Action on Your Million-Dollar Dream

Everyone gets inspiration at several points in their lives, but that’s not nearly enough to guarantee you’ll be successful.

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Don't be one of those who let their ideas gather dust.

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Here's a shot of motivation:

• Remember fidget spinners? A simple design based on a common childhood toy became a global phenomenon.
• What inspired him to think of the Roomba vacuum cleaner? He watched his wife struggle to clean under their furniture, and it sparked his inventor mindset.

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These are just a few examples of everyday ideas that blossomed into multi-million-dollar businesses.

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Again, yours doesn’t have to be a multi-million-dollar or a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

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You can literally make thousands of dollars every month and live very comfortably.

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You may not travel first class, but you could travel business class on special occasions.

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You can buy a fairly new vehicle and live in some of the upper-middle-class neighborhoods.

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Not everyone was born to be mega-rich.

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Some people are fine with being simple and comfortable.

The Journey Begins Now: Turn Your Idea into a Reality

If you’re going to build a successful venture, it will take time and dedication, regardless of how big your idea is.

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There will be lots of bumps along the way, but with perseverance and continuous improvement, you can turn your everyday idea into something extraordinary.

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In September 2022, I launched The Fleet Gazette, a weekly fleet management newsletter.

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It’s been nearly two years of writing articles, and boom!

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Citi FM’s TotalEnergies Auto Show reached out to do a sit-down with me.

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They wanted to discuss driver safety in Surviving Accra’s Dangerous Roads.

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I’m sure you’ll agree now that hard work, consistency, and patience eventually paid off.

Conclusion

I can confidently say without an iota of doubt and truly believe in my heart that you can create a successful enterprise.

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How big you want to take it is completely up to you.

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Whatever works for you is just fine.

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Your community wants it.

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Your community needs it.

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Your community is literally begging for you to start.

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But the power to create something incredible all lies within you, and it starts with you.

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From today on, start observing, brainstorming, and taking the first step toward turning your million-dollar idea into reality.

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This is Christopher Njokanma, signing off.

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Every week, I stay committed to providing value for you. Remember, my daring reader, to Like, Comment, and Share this article, for it might be the boost someone needs to turn their ideas into gold. Stay tuned for more awe-inspiring insights and discoveries in the captivating world of unconventional success.

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Christopher is the President @ Cloud 98 - We power your brand's growth by harmonizing content and conversion.