4 Ways to Find The Next Big Idea
These opportunities are hard to see because of what psychologists call "status quo bias." For the most part, status quo bias is a good thing. The quicker we can adapt to a "new normal," the quicker we can get on about our business. This is why happiness researchers have come to the surprising conclusion that, generally speaking, people living in the slums of India are about as happy as people living in California suburbs. The people living in really unpleasant conditions have gotten used to it, so it really doesn't feel so unpleasant.
But unfortunately, it works the other way as well. The people living a very nice lifestyle get used to that, too, and it quickly goes from feeling spectacular to feeling pretty normal. For innovators and app builders, this presents a unique challenge—and opportunity.
Cultivating the Habit of Observation
Overcoming status quo bias requires us to hone and cultivate our powers of observation. Becoming more observant starts with practice. There's no better way to practice observing than keeping a notebook. It doesn't have to be huge; in fact, it probably shouldn't be. You want something that you can keep with you all the time, in your pocket or your bag.
Now, obviously, the point isn't just to have a notebook; it's to write in it! We recommend starting with a goal of writing something in your notebook three different times each day. At this stage, quantity and consistency are what we're after, so try not to give yourself too hard a time about the quality of what you're writing. The point is to get yourself comfortable with the habit.
Once you do have yourself in a steady rhythm, there are four key things you want to be on the lookout for.
Jobs
The first thing to be on the lookout for is jobs. No, we're not talking about occupations, but rather the goals people have for a particular task they're working on. Thinking about the activities people perform as "jobs" was pioneered by Tony Ulwick and popularized by Clayton Christensen. The message they're trying to get across is not to focus on the products people use, but rather what people are using them for.
It's the classic "people don't need a quarter-inch drill, they need a quarter-inch hole" way of viewing the world. So when you're taking down your observations in your notebooks, don't just record the products people use, or the processes they're following. Most importantly, include the jobs that these people are trying to accomplish with those products and processes.
Workarounds
The next things to focus your observations on are workarounds. Workarounds are when people use products in ways that they were not at all intended for. So when you see someone using a newspaper to shield their head during a rainstorm, that's a workaround. When you see someone using a book as a doorstop, that's a workaround. When you see someone propping up a webcam on a paper towel roll, that's a workaround.
So why is it important to be on the lookout for workarounds? Well, workarounds are a sure sign that there's an area of someone's life that could be improved. After all, the product they're using was not at all designed to fulfill the job they've given it. Surely, a product specifically designed for that job would do a better job of it and ultimately make for a happier customer.
Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.
This is precisely where modern app building tools become valuable. When you spot a workaround, you've identified a potential app opportunity. Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Its AI-powered features let you rapidly prototype solutions for these observed problems. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from simple descriptions—tell it about the workaround you've observed, and it creates database structures, screens, and user flows automatically.
Surprises
The third thing to look out for in your observations is surprises. What things do you observe that were totally unexpected? Scientists refer to these kinds of surprises as "anomalies." Philosopher Thomas Kuhn argues that anomalies are at the heart of scores of scientific breakthroughs, from the heliocentric solar system to the discovery of oxygen.
Why is this? Well, if we see something surprising, what that really means is we didn't understand it all that well in the first place. If we understood it, it would have behaved exactly as expected. The more you focus on surprises and use them as an opportunity to learn about the world around you, the more knowledge you'll have in your toolkit when you're designing something.
Feelings
The final things to watch for are people's feelings. There's a particular part of your brain that plays a big role in helping to understand what other people are feeling—the fusiform gyrus. (Normally we try to avoid getting too specific with the anatomy stuff, but we really liked the name of this one.) Like any part of your brain, you can strengthen it with training.
Observe people's tone of voice and body language, then record what emotions you think they might be feeling. In particular, you want to be looking for extreme feelings. Innovations should take their users on emotional journeys. To do that, you need to understand what evokes strong feelings.
When you find things that truly delight people, capture these moments, and find what sparked them so you can add these to your design repertoire. But it's not just the happy moments you should pay attention to. Look for moments of extreme anger, fear, disgust, and even boredom. These people are having trouble. They need someone (maybe you) to come up with something to make their life better because it's not all that hot right now.
This is a great opportunity for you to practice empathy using a version of a Buddhist technique called tonglen. Imagine yourself feeling the way they must be feeling. With every breath in, visualize yourself taking in their pain. Then, with every breath out, imagine sending love and compassion their way.
Don't Get Too Comfortable
As you're working on these four different types of observations, remember to also make yourself the object of observation. What jobs are you performing? What workarounds have you created for yourself? What surprises are you experiencing? What causes you to have extreme feelings? (Basically, what things frustrate the hell out of you?)
Now, we're not suggesting that every time you're frustrated or see someone who's frustrated, you should drop everything and come up with the next great innovation that's going to change their life. No, their problem may not be in an area that you're passionate about or have developed field-specific skills in. And that's fine. The point of these exercises isn't to solve every problem; it's to develop the habit of observing, so when you do encounter the perfect problem for you to solve, you're ready to capture the moment and jumpstart innovation.
From Observation to Action
Status quo bias is a particular problem for innovators. To innovate, you need to believe in constantly introducing change to the world. But that's a tall order if you've become blind to the opportunities to make things better. This is why it's so important for innovators to constantly be observing the world and searching for opportunities for change.
The gap between observation and action has never been smaller. Once you've identified a problem worth solving, you can move from insight to working prototype remarkably fast. Over 3 million apps have been created on Adalo, with users describing the visual builder as "easy as PowerPoint." The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with millions of monthly active users, with no upper ceiling—meaning the observation app you build today can grow alongside your innovation practice.
Unlike platforms that cap database records or charge usage-based fees that create unpredictable bills, Adalo's paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage charges. This matters when you're building an observation tracking system—you want to capture every insight without worrying about hitting limits or surprise costs.
Magic Add lets you expand your app's capabilities through natural language requests. Noticed a pattern in your observations that suggests a new feature? Describe what you want, and the AI adds it. X-Ray identifies performance issues before they affect users, ensuring your innovation capture tool remains responsive as your observation database grows.
The best part? One build publishes to web, iOS App Store, and Android Play Store. Your observation notebook can live in your pocket on any device, ready to capture jobs, workarounds, surprises, and feelings whenever inspiration strikes.
FAQ
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?
Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store—handling the hardest part of launching an app automatically. With unlimited database records on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you avoid the surprise bills common on other platforms.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building let you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and the platform handles the complex App Store submission process—no wrestling with certificates, provisioning profiles, or store guidelines.
Can I easily build an app to capture observations and overcome status quo bias?
Yes. With Adalo's visual builder, you can create a digital notebook app to record observations, track jobs, workarounds, surprises, and feelings throughout your day. Design custom forms and categories that align with the four key observation types, making it simple to cultivate better observation habits.
What is status quo bias and why does it matter for innovators?
Status quo bias is a psychological tendency that causes people to quickly adapt to their current circumstances, making both good and bad situations feel "normal." For innovators, this bias can be particularly problematic because it blinds them to opportunities for improvement and change. Overcoming it requires deliberately practicing observation skills and documenting what you see.
What are the four key things I should observe to find innovation opportunities?
The four key observation areas are: jobs (the goals people are trying to accomplish), workarounds (when people use products in unintended ways), surprises (unexpected occurrences that reveal gaps in understanding), and feelings (extreme emotions that indicate either delight or frustration). Recording these observations consistently helps you identify real problems worth solving.
How can I use workarounds to identify business opportunities?
Workarounds are a clear signal that someone's needs aren't being met by existing products. When you see people using items in ways they weren't designed for—like using a book as a doorstop or a newspaper as an umbrella—you've found a potential market opportunity. A product specifically designed for that job would likely perform better and create happier customers.
Should I try to solve every problem I observe?
No, not every frustration you observe should become your next project. The goal of observation exercises is to develop the habit of noticing opportunities, so when you encounter a problem that aligns with your passions and skills, you're ready to capture it and innovate. Focus on building the observation muscle first, then apply it strategically to problems you're best suited to solve.
How much does it cost to build an observation tracking app?
Adalo's web and true-native mobile builder starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and app store publishing. Unlike competitors that charge based on database records or workload units, Adalo's paid plans have no record limits and no usage-based charges—so your costs stay predictable as your observation database grows.