I suppose that finding problems is not difficult. The most difficult is to find an audience that has the same problem and sell your product.
As Lead Startup Methodology tells us that we need to check our hypotheses after that create a solution. A lot of startups die because founders don't catch an audience.
And if you create a solution, it doesn't mean that you will get revenues so fast.
The best choice is to find a remote/local job at startups. If you're in London, I think it's not a big deal.
Or just having some projects on side. You will earn more incomes than you can do with a startup.
I use for searching projects Periodix [1] and Facebook groups. There are a lot of projects of startups. ALso, I saw the website that oriented on Positive Impact Projects Jobs [2]
Wow! That's an amazing idea! I share the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by the United Nations.
And I understood the value of this idea. It's pleasure to work for making the world better.
Moreover, I use https://periodix.net/ to search for remote projects. Because it's some popular job boards in one place. Perhaps, you can cooperate with them to get more potential candidates.
I mostly use this job aggregator service (https://periodix.net/). Because it shows me projects with my chances to be hired. I like this feature the most.
I have been working as a freelancer and a contractor.
I enjoy this lifestyle. But I still have different issues.
- A LOT of job boards and freelance marketplaces exist. I wasted plenty of hours to check them and find a relevant project. Approximately, I found a service that helps me to manage them. [1]
- Clients want to spend less money from a job. That's why you face a big competition on the freelancers market. Indian and European freelancers charge less money. Their rates are from $5 per hour till $40. When an American freelancer has to charge from $50 till $150+. [2] Fixed price really solve this issue.
- You can't anticipate how much money you can get for a month.
That's why I suggest finding long-time clients or full-time remote jobs as a contractor. Make your life easier.
I have the feeling as the author while I charged hourly rates. I see a tendency that more freelancers start getting money from a fixed price for a project. It helps to charge more and less work. Also, it is easier to get relaxed. You know when you should finish a project.
I shared here one research about the hourly rate of freelance developers [1]. They calculated that right now, it's about $68 of the US JavaScript freelancer. But I assume that American freelancers charge more. Perhaps, some freelancers charge fixed prices. That's why the rate is lower.
Thinking about time equals money really disturbs your life. You have to live for enjoying but not for getting money every minute.
As a lifehack, early I included my vacation/sick/holiday days to calculate my hourly rate. It helps me to have planned vacations and some days to sick without any thoughts about doing a job.
I work remotely and common work from home.
I try spending weekends with my family and some evenings too.
I practice yoga every morning and three times per week with yoga groups.
Want to change my schedule and wake up early. Because I understand that I spend a lot of hours just for sleeping and don't have time to obtain new knowledge
You can check them and find what you need.
I'm sure that freelancers with the high rate find projects.
BTW, This service https://periodix.net/ aggregates projects related to your budget expectations.
That's why you don't waste your time competing with $2hour freelancers.
I assume that a big company doesn't give the experience you to become a CEO. It a huge difference between big companies and start-ups. You don't feel there an atmosphere of a startup. I suggest you start working at a start-up. Because you will see all the issues there: how to get investments; acquisition; activation of users, retention. And all shit that happens there. So, you will prepare yourself as the CEO.
Yesterday, I had the same question. Asked it on Reddit.
I consider building my own website with Affiliate Links. I need to spend some time on development. And I chose a little bit tough niche.
As always it is buying property and index funds.
For extra money right now, I check freelance platforms and FB groups to get a gig. It's not passive but I'm glad to earn some cash.
A few weeks ago I found a new website https://periodix.net/ . It shows me projects from all platforms where I searched on a gig. (Upwork, WeWorkRemotely, Remotive etc.)
I see Buffer in the list with 100+ Companies with Remote Open Positions and I guess that important to see real information about a company that you'd like to be hired.
When you see Key Metrics of a company, you know how you can grow there and help it to be better.