Behold the great idea: By itself, it’s worth nothing. When fully tested and developed, it can be worth millions, but how do you come up with great ideas for products and services that consumers want or need? The answer is, through innovation and by asking some important questions.

One of the major stimulants to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something very powerful about well-absorbed questions that often penetrates the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights. There are three questions in particular that stimulate creativity:

“What are we trying to do?” Whenever you become frustrated with slow progress for any reason, step back and ask again and again, “What are we trying to do?”

“Why are we trying to do this?” This goes to the heart of finding the needs and wants of the consumer, “Why are we trying to do this?”

“How are we trying to do it?” If you are experiencing resistance, perhaps your method is wrong. Be willing to objectively analyze your approach by asking, “How are we trying to do it?” Is this the right way? Could there be a better way?

Start by answering the questions of “what” and “why,” and then you’ll find the answers to your “how” questions when you need them, but most importantly look to the one person who counts for the answers; the consumer. What are your potential customer’s needs and wants? Identify a strong physical or emotional need and you’ll know what product to offer.

The second and perhaps the most important way to trigger great ideas is through innovation. Here are six ways to innovate:

1. Immerse yourself in your topic. Talk to experts and consumers. Read books and magazines that deal with your product category. Research your topic on the Internet and visit web sites that specifically deal with your topic. Absorb information until you’re the expert. Then you’ll be ready to find the idea that everyone else missed.

2. Forget your topic. After you’ve learned everything you can learn, do something else. Then, go shopping, play golf, or something relaxing. In some mysterious way, your mind will search for patterns while you think about things. A great idea could pop into your head when you least expect it.

3. Take a pencil or pen with you whenever you leave the house. Put another by your bed and a third in your bathroom. Ideas can appear at anytime, and disappear just as suddenly if you don’t capture them.

4. Go to the supermarket or mall. Examine the merchandise that’s currently available and think about ways that you could improve it. Notice which items people grab and which they ignore. Your sights could lead you to a great product idea. Also notice the service that people receive or don’t receive and how they react to it that could lead you to a great service idea.

5. Attend a variety of trade shows and wander through bookstores. Don’t limit your searches you’re working on. Force one technology into another and see what you get. For example, if you’re attending a computer trade show, you might get an idea for an automotive product.

6. Assign yourself a tight deadline. Don’t wait for the idea to visit you, give it an appointment. The resulting adrenaline rush should help you finish on time.

You may think of new products and services as radically new, but most successful new products and services are actually modifications of exiting ones. Breakthroughs are rare, and they’re the riskiest, because they can’t build on previous marketing success.

The key to finding great ideas of for new products and services is and always will be is to keep learning about your market. Always make sure you’ve got the latest information. If you lay the groundwork by researching consumer’s needs, explain your concept to them and get them excited, it’s hard to fail. After all, you know you’re selling something that your customer wants.

Copyright2007 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and success coaching programs. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in career coach training. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many businesses around the world, on the subjects of leadership, achievement, goals, strategic business planning, and marketing. Joe is the author of three books, Starting Your Own Business, Finding Your Purpose In Life, and The Guerrilla Marketing Workbook.