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If you’ve ever said:
“I want to start a side hustle, but I just don’t know what to do.”
I have bad news.
You probably don’t have an idea problem.
You have an idea generation problem.
Most people wait for inspiration to strike.
They see someone on TikTok making £10,000 a month selling Notion templates and think:
“Damn. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Then they spend three weeks looking for the next Notion template.
This is the wrong way to find a business idea.
You don't need to sit around waiting for a lightning bolt.
You need a framework.
Here’s one I like because you can use it repeatedly and, with a timer running, come up with 20+ potential ideas in around 30 minutes.
The 3 × 3 × 3 Framework
Pick:
3 things you know
×
3 groups of people
×
3 problems or desires
That gives you 27 possible combinations.
Not all of them will be good.
You only need one.
Step 1: Write down 3 things you know
Don't overthink the word "know."
You don't need to be the world's leading expert.
You might know:
How to get a job
How to use Canva
How to train a dog
How to organise a holiday
How to cook cheap meals
How to use AI tools
How to sell on Vinted
How to grow a social media account
Pick three.
For example:
AI tools
Travel
Social media
Step 2: Write down 3 groups of people
Again, these can be people you already understand.
For example:
Students
Small business owners
Parents
Step 3: Write down 3 problems or desires
This is where the money usually is.
People want to:
Save time
Make money
Save money
Get healthier
Look better
Find customers
Learn something faster
Reduce stress
Pick three.
Let's say:
Save time
Make money
Get more customers
Now start combining them.
The magic is in the combinations
AI tools + students + save time
→ A collection of AI workflows for studying.
AI tools + small business owners + make money
→ A paid database of AI side-hustle ideas.
Travel + parents + save money
→ A newsletter or digital guide for affordable family holidays.
Social media + small business owners + get more customers
→ A pack of 30 ready-to-use content ideas for local businesses.
Social media + students + make money
→ A guide to becoming a UGC creator while at university.
You get the idea.
Or, rather, you stop waiting for ideas and start manufacturing them.
Give yourself 30 minutes
Here's the challenge.
First 10 minutes: Write your 3 things, 3 audiences and 3 problems.
Next 15 minutes: Combine them as quickly as possible. Don't judge the ideas yet.
Final 5 minutes: Circle the ideas that meet at least two of these criteria:
You would enjoy working on it
You understand the audience
Someone already spends money trying to solve the problem
You can test it without building a huge product
That last one matters.
Your first version doesn't need to be an app.
It could be:
A £10 digital product
A paid newsletter
A template
A database
A service
A workshop
A simple website
A social media account testing whether people care about the topic
The goal isn't to find your billion-pound idea in 30 minutes.
The goal is to generate enough ideas that you can stop treating every single one like a marriage proposal.
Because here's the thing about people who seem to have endless business ideas:
They're usually not more creative than you.
They just have a better system for noticing combinations.
So grab a piece of paper.
Set a 30-minute timer.
Write down:
3 things you know.
3 groups of people.
3 problems they have.
Then start mixing.
You might get 20 terrible ideas.
Perfect.
Idea number 21 could be the one worth testing.
And unlike waiting for inspiration, you can run the framework again tomorrow.
Your challenge for this week:
Come up with 27 combinations.
Pick your best 3.
Then ask one simple question:
“What is the smallest possible version of this idea I could test this weekend?”
That's where things get interesting.