Profitable Ideas Framework - How to Find and Validate Your Next Big Business Idea

The Three Profitable Markets: Where Money Actually Flows

If you’ve ever dipped your toes into digital marketing, you’ve probably heard this before: The three biggest money-making markets are health, wealth, and relationships.

Or as I like to call them:

• "Make me healthier" – Fitness, nutrition, mental well-being
• "Make me wealthier" – Business, investing, career growth
• "Help me connect" – Dating, networking, self-improvement

Why do these work? Because people are always willing to pay for these three things. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you just need to find a way to insert yourself into a profitable market.

But wait, there’s more! Entrepreneur Colin Dowling simplifies it even further. He argues that every purchase boils down to four things:

1. Time – People pay to save time or get more of it.
2. Money – They pay to make more money or avoid losing it.
3. Sex – Anything that makes them more attractive or desirable.
4. Approval / Peace of Mind – Feeling accepted, secure, or less stressed.

When brainstorming ideas, ask yourself:

• Does my idea save time?
• Does it make or save money?
• Does it enhance attractiveness or desirability?
• Does it offer approval, belonging, or peace of mind?

If the answer is no to all four, your idea might need some tweaking.

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The Four-Question Framework for Finding Your Business Idea

So, you’ve got the big markets down. Now, let’s talk about how you can find your place in them. Answering these four questions will help you uncover business ideas that align with your skills and interests.

1. Practical Experience - Monetizing What You Already Know

Think of all the things you’ve done at work. Your 9-to-5 might be your biggest asset. Here’s how:

• Accountants can create online tax consulting services.
• Digital marketers can go freelance and help businesses grow.
• Salespeople can teach others how to close big deals.
• Graphic designers can sell branding services to content creators.

💡 Real Example: Zach Wilson was a data engineer at Airbnb. Instead of just working for a salary, he started writing about data science on LinkedIn. Today, he runs a six-figure business selling courses and coaching programs.

👉 If you’ve been paid for it before, chances are people will pay for it again—but this time, to YOU directly.

2. Learned Obsessions - Profit From What You Can’t Stop Thinking About

What topics do you geek out about? If you read blogs, watch YouTube videos, and get lost in Reddit threads on a subject, you’re already doing the research for a profitable business.

• Love travel hacking? Teach people how to fly first class for cheap.
• Passionate about Spanish cuisine? Start a food blog or online cooking classes.
• Into SEO and website flipping? Help businesses improve their Google rankings.

💡 Real Example: Jake Ward became obsessed with SEO at 18. Without ever having a marketing job, he started flipping websites. Today, he runs Content Growth, helping companies turn blogs into revenue machines.

👉 If you’re constantly consuming content about a subject, you’re halfway to being an expert. Monetize it!

3. Advice People Ask You For - Your Hidden Expertise

You might not even realize you have marketable skills. If friends or coworkers constantly ask you for help on a topic, you might have a business idea.

• People always ask you about your diet? Sell a meal plan or fitness coaching.
• Coworkers want help with marketing? Offer 1:1 strategy calls.
• Friends want to start a podcast? Create a course on interview techniques.

💡 Real Example: Danny Miranda runs a successful podcast. He realized people kept asking him how he gets high-profile guests and deep conversations. Now, he sells a course on podcast interview prep.

👉 If people are already coming to you, that means there’s a market. Find a way to package and sell that knowledge.

4. Problems You’ve Solved - Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

If you’ve overcome a challenge in life, there’s a business opportunity hidden in your journey.

• Lost weight and got fit? Sell a personal training plan.
• Built an AI chatbot to save time at work? Teach others how to do it.
• Mastered the art of networking? Offer LinkedIn profile makeovers.

💡 Real Example: Holly "The Twister Sister" teaches people how to make balloon animals—yes, balloon animals! She turned this into a six-figure online business. If balloons can make money, your niche can too.

👉 Your past struggles are your future revenue streams.

Bringing It All Together: Your Next Steps

Now that you have this two-part framework, here’s what to do next:

1. Pick a market (Health, Wealth, or Relationships).
2. Ask yourself the four questions and write down business ideas.
3. Validate your idea by checking if people are already paying for it.
4. Start small—freelance, offer coaching, or sell a tiny product.
5. Scale up by creating courses, digital products, or an agency.

👉 The best business idea isn’t the one you dream about. It’s the one you start.

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Real-Life Examples: From Employees to Entrepreneurs

Let’s look at more real-world success stories of people who used this framework:

• Anthony Natoli – Sales expert who turned his knowledge into a LinkedIn coaching business.
• The Boring Marketer – Shared "boring" but profitable marketing advice, now sells coaching sessions.
• Jake Ward – Self-taught SEO expert who turned his passion into a thriving agency.
• Holly the Twister Sister – Built a YouTube empire around making balloon animals.

These people monetized their expertise, passions, and experiences. If they can do it, so can you.

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Next Steps: Validating Your Idea Before Going All In

Great—you’ve got a business idea. But before quitting your job and investing all your savings, make sure there’s actual demand.

Here are three simple ways to test the waters:

1. Post about it on social media – See if people engage with your content.
2. Pre-sell a small offer – Offer a beta version of your course or service to gauge interest.
3. Join relevant communities – Hang out in Facebook groups, Reddit forums, and Discord channels to understand your audience's pain points.

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Your Next Big Idea Is Waiting

• Find your market (health, wealth, relationships).
• Use the four-question framework to generate ideas.
• Validate before diving in.

Remember, you don’t need a groundbreaking idea. You just need a profitable niche and a way to deliver value. The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time? Right now. 🚀