Entrepreneurs don’t have to be inventors.  They don’t have to be programmers.  They don’t need to be PhD’s and MBA’s.  They need to solve problems.

One way to get ideas is to borrow a solution to a completely different problem and apply it to yours.  Microwaves were not invented to nuke popcorn.  The iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner is a riff on military robots that look for IED’s.

In his book “Steal Like An Artist”, Austin Klein points out how great musicians learn their craft by copying their musical heroes, learning their style, sound and riffs until one day, they alter it with their own sound and style.

Look around for great products and solutions to thing you run into along your path.  Look for products you love to use and tell others about.  Ask yourself why you love it.  Then ask if some flavor of that solution could be applied to your chosen problem.

Blogging Gazelle is published daily by Shawn Carson

• Creativity