In our high-speed world, everyone’s hunting for the “next big thing.” We admire people like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk for spotting ideas that aren’t obvious to the rest of us. This raises an important question: Could the next big breakthrough actually be something super obvious?
The short answer? Absolutely, yes. There’s no need for suspense or a big reveal. The reality is that the ideas that make the most difference often tackle a simple need, solve an existing problem, or fill a gap. They don’t have to be shrouded in complexity.
Entrepreneurs sometimes overlook these obvious ideas, thinking they’re too plain to be groundbreaking. But that’s a mistake. Those ‘obvious’ concepts could very well be the next big thing, just waiting for someone to execute them brilliantly.
The Power of Simplicity
Real success isn’t about complexity; it’s about clarity. Take Twitter, for instance—short messages transformed how we share thoughts. Then there’s Amazon, beginning its journey by selling just books online. And consider the iPhone—it merely combined existing tech into a device that’s friendly to use.
The real challenge isn’t inventing something entirely new. It’s about doing an existing thing in a way that outshines the rest. Many times, the most apparent ideas are gold mines just waiting for the right person to tap into.
Timing Matters
When you start doing something is important. Do it too early or too late, and it might not work. Remember when people tried to make touch-screen tablets in the 1980s? (That’s right, Atari beat Apple to it.) Those didn’t work out. But now, we can’t live without them. The idea stayed the same, but the timing got better.
If your idea is really simple, maybe now’s the right time for it. The big question is: Can you make it happen the right way?
People Want What Works
Customers don’t care if your idea is one-of-a-kind. They care if it helps them. Simple ideas often solve simple problems. You don’t have to teach people that they have a problem; they already know it. You just have to offer a fix.
Simple Ideas Get Missed
Here’s a funny thing: sometimes, we don’t see ideas that are right in front of us. We’re so busy trying to come up with something new that we miss the easy ideas that could work really well.
If you’re hesitating over an idea because it seems too obvious, think again. The value of an idea isn’t in how groundbreaking it is, but in how well it solves a real-world problem or makes life easier.
Don’t get stuck trying to come up with something entirely new. Instead, focus on perfecting your obvious idea, nailing the timing, and delivering what people actually need. Obvious ideas, executed brilliantly, can change the game.
In the end, you don’t always have to invent the wheel to make a splash. Often, the best moves are about noticing what’s already there and making it better. Don’t discount an obvious idea—it could be the winning ticket you’ve been looking for.
