How I Come Up with Creative Business Ideas That Work

Ever think you aren’t creative?

Or maybe that creativity and business don’t mix?

Creativity seems mysterious, until you start using it in your life.

It’s not something you have or don’t have.

Everyone has creativity within them.

And everyone can come up with creative business ideas that work. I don’t see myself as particularly creative.

I simply do what I do, and results follow.

Disclaimer: Some of the Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means I get a small share of any purchase at no extra cost to you.

What is a Creative Business Idea?

When we think about a creative business idea, we tend to picture something innovative, groundbreaking, and genius.

We think Mozart, Einstein, Steve Jobs, or Richard Branson.

But what is a creative business idea if not something that helps someone else? Something that provides value in the world.

Creativity is the act of looking at things from a different perspective. It’s about asking questions and experimenting.

As Peter Sims says in his book Little Bets:

Most successful entrepreneurs don’t begin with brilliant ideas–they discover them.

A creative idea doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. It can be a tiny step in one direction.

On top of that, I don’t have to know where my creativity comes from.

All I have to know is how to harness it to grow my business.

How I Come Up With Creative Business Ideas

So how do I come up with ideas for my courses, books, membership, and my clients?

How can I keep writing and producing new content after all this time?

Instead of me telling you what you should do, let me share three examples from my life.

Example #1: Wake Up Cloud

The idea for Wake Up Cloud, this blog, bubbled up to the surface because I wanted to do what I truly loved.

I wanted to share what I had learned in life, and how I was making a location independent income. And I wanted to do it through words.

I’ve been interested in writing ever since I was 7, and my mind lends itself to the written word, so it was natural for me to try that avenue first.

I didn’t know what this would look like. All I knew was that it felt magnetic. Alive.

I began looking for what I could do. I eventually stumbled on blogging.

I joined a training course. I began taking action, and with each month I discovered more about what worked and what didn’t. The idea gradually revealed itself to me.

I simply had something within me that I wanted to express.

I had felt something for years, but I had held myself back by believing in my fears.

However, when I was ready to take action, the next step was obvious: To start a blog.

So, Wake Up Cloud began as a craving to express my heart. As I took action, it evolved.

Example #2: Do What You Love

My book, Do What You Love, was born out of the emails I get on a daily basis.

I began helping people find and follow their passion in 2009.

Since then, I’ve noticed that we all struggle with the same questions, fears, and worries.

I’d already written two books on the topic (Find Your Passion and Follow Your Heart).

But I hadn’t covered the obstacles we face on this path, hence Do What You Love was born.

I had the demand (emails), the drive (it felt exciting), and the know-how.

You see, creativity for me isn’t something magical. It’s incredibly practical.

I notice what feels alive to me, and where I can help, and I take the next step.

I try not to worry too much about getting the idea perfect before I start, because I have enough experience to know that I don’t have to know everything.

Example #3: Lifestyle Liberation Academy

Let’s take one more example.

I started a membership site in 2013 (closed in 2022).

It’s a membership community that contains on-going training and support for people who want to do what they love.

Before the membership site, I had courses, training, and books. But I noticed a problem: People had information, but they didn’t always apply it. They were getting stuck somewhere.

I couldn’t give everyone 1-on-1 support, but I wanted to do something.

I wanted to create a solution that was both affordable and that worked.

The answer didn’t come right away. It came months later. I gave up on the idea for a bit, but I kept wondering what I could do.

Eventually, I began bumping into membership sites. I began seeing how other people were using membership sites with success.

I began seeing possibilities.

So the site began by me wondering: How can I help?

After letting this question simmer, the answers came.

Video on Discovering Your Creativity

Here’s a video with a different perspective on creativity.

Takeaway

For me, coming up with creative business ideas comes down to focusing on how I can be of service.

But it’s not just about me helping you.

I listen to myself, and I listen to you.

Creativity happens naturally when you become curious about how you can help, and the problems you can solve.

Ask questions. Wonder. Explore. Experiment. And then let go.

A big part of harnessing my own creativity has been to realize that I am creative, then allowing things to unfold naturally.

That’s it.

That’s enough.

All the best,
Henri

Ready to Do What You Love?

Join my newsletter and get exclusive articles only shared with my subscribers.

Plus, get instant access to my report 5 Steps to Finding and Following Your Passion (audio version included).