How to get an Entrepreneurial Mindset if you are a Developer?

The first thing to keep in mind if you are a developer is that you actually are a problem solver and that is one of the most important skill if you are thinking to start a business. However, resolve code problems instead resolve customer problems is very different kind of approach and that need a different set of skills.
Customer problems
If we are developers, in our daily jobs we are solving customer problems, like putting the button in another side of the webpage or eliminating inputs from our application because it’s very confusing or things more complicated like refactor all the core business process inside the platform because the customer didn’t understand certain things. Normally, the customer problems are very similar to that but the difference is that this kind of problems affects they daily lives.
The best technique for me has open eyes and Notepad app available on my phone when I get an idea. I get the best an big ideas in my daily work when I’m having problems solving something. For example, for me is super complicated be constant contact and maintain long-term relationships with other people. Basically I only make a call if I need a favor (I know, I’m a bad person and friend, but I’m working on that), but with this problem I could make an app to manage reminders, goals, conversations, interest, important dates and another kind of data that allows me to maintain quality contact with family, friends, and colleagues. Actually, I did it. This is a simple problem in my daily life and I decided to create a personal app for that. I’m running it and probably I will launch for other people, that depends if this app resolves my problem.
This idea born from my open eyes and my Notepad phone app. Just like that, I have plenty of ideas in a monthly base, but I can’t execute all of that, because I’m working in other big project but this type of exercise allows me to have an open mind to new ideas, a new point of views and maybe further create something amazing with that. It’s a simple exercise that you as a developer may do and create a great thing. You don’t know if one of them will finish with a great mass product. Think about the co-founder of Slack.
Stewart Butterfield had the Slack idea when he was working on a video game platform. They needed internal communication and built internal Channels for doing that. Later they were thinking about “what if this product will be launched to the mass customers” the rest is history.
The lesson here is: we as a developer need will be open eyes and something where we can write our ideas. Then execute the best ideas that you think it is. Once you built it enhance their behavior and then if you use it every day or you use it at least once per week, it’s a great product for you and maybe would be great for mass customers, you don’t know until you launch them.
See you soon again!
