Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

When Focused on Mundane Problems, Entrepreneurs Find Opportunity Big, splashy, entirely-original ideas are great but entrepreneurs do something important, and prosper, just making life easier for people.

By Sujan Patel Edited by Dan Bova

Entrepreneur+ Black Friday Sale

Our biggest sale — Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.*

Claim Offer

*Offer only available to new subscribers

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In 1923, Leo Gerstenzang invented and created a company that sells what are now known as Q-tips after seeing his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks. His product wasn't, and still isn't, sexy but I'll bet you have Q-tips or an off-brand of Q-tips in your house. That's what I call success. It's the ability to recognize a problem, come up with a solution, build a company, market and sell a product that's make people's lives easier or better.

Related: 5 Steps for Turning Your Idea Into a Product

A common misconception exists in business that, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to come up with "sexy" business ideas. It's the absurd belief that if you want to make it in today's fast-paced, super-connected, ultra-viral world of entrepreneurship, you better come up with a flashy idea or product that falls under the category of "cool", has never been thought of before and is sure to wow the masses overnight.

It's a misconception that too often prevents would-be entrepreneurs from ever getting any idea, product or company off the ground. People lack the confidence to move on good ideas because they're busy waiting for that one phenomenal, earth-shattering idea that they think they need in order to be successful as an entrepreneur.

But, as long as your idea or product solves someone's problem, you're on the right track. You have the potential to do great things, even if the people around you don't find your idea or industry to be awesomely exciting at first. Here are six entrepreneurs making waves in enterprises a lot of people might think are boring.

Vanessa Green is working to solve a computer equipment problem that annoys us all. Green is the CEO and co-founder of FINsix, a company that has developed a solution for a problem that annoys us all: clunky laptop power adaptors. Green started the company after teaming up with three MIT electrical engineers who had been working on developing high-frequency power conversion technology that could significantly reduce the size of electronics inside something like a laptop charger.

Together, the group founded the company, pitched their idea to investors, landed $5 million in Series A funding and launched a Kickstarter campaign. They've begun work on a small, stylish and lightweight laptop power adapter called the Dart that the company will start shipping this fall.

Related: How To Market A New Product

Raad Mobrem is making inventory management and fulfillment better for businesses around the world. Raad Mobrem is the CEO at Lettuce, a company that has developed a better and easier way for businesses of all sizes to manage and fulfill inventory and order requests.

Here's the back story: Mobrem and two college buddies started an eco-friendly dog toy company called Dura Doggie as a class project. As business ramped up and orders flooded in, they struggled to keep up. When they couldn't find an affordable solution for their inventory management problems, they decided to build their own cloud-based inventory software, now known as Lettuce. It didn't take long for other businesses to take notice when they heard about or saw the app in action. The rest is history.

Brittany Hodak and Kim Kaupe are making CDs cool again. Hodak and Kaupe are co-founders at ZinePak, a company that has developed a way for musicians, sports teams and other brands to connect with fans on a unique and new level.

The two founders created ZinePak in the beginning as a way to help musicians grow their fanbase. Their magazine-style packages include everything from limited edition CDs and exclusive story booklets to temporary tattoos and other items geared toward specific audiences. Thanks to Hodak's background in the music industry and Kaupe's background in the publishing industry, the two were able to successfully launch a business that puts a new spin on media production and public relations.

Joshua Tetrick and Joshua Balk are saving chickens and making food healthier and more affordable in the process. Tetrick and Balk are co-founders at Hampton Creek Foods, a company that has developed a way to make healthier food more affordable and more environmentally-friendly by eliminating the need for high-cost ingredients like eggs in recipes and food products.

They started by creating a mayo that uses a plant-based product in place of eggs. Tetrick co-founded his company, Hampton Creek, and developed their first product after spending a number of years working for nonprofits that addressed food supply issues around the world. He teamed up with Balk, who was working with the Humane Society, to reduce the country's dependence on factory-farmed chickens and eggs. Together, the two came up with a solution that eventually allowed them to create products like mayo without the need for eggs.

Once they had a working product and business model, they pitched investors and raised $30 million in funding and landed contracts that put their first product on the shelves.

Your business idea, company, or industry doesn't have to be revolutionary, the first-of-its-kind or "trendy" for you to succeed. Don't be afraid to move on your ideas. Chances are, they're worth moving on. It just comes down to whether or not you have the guts to move on them.

Related: Look Before You Leap

Sujan Patel

Entrepreneur and Marketer, Co-founder of Web Profits

In his 14-plus years as a marketer and entrepreneur, Sujan Patel has helped hundreds of companies boost online traffic and sales and strengthen their online brand reputation. Patel is the co-founder of Web Profits and Mailshake.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

I've Spent 20 Years Studying Focus. Here's How I Use AI to Multiply My Time and Save 21 Weeks of Work a Year

AI is supposed to save time, but 77% of employees say it often costs more time due to all the editing it requires. Instead of helping, it can become a distraction. But don't worry — there's a better way.

Money & Finance

Why Donald Trump's Business-First Policies Trump Harris' Consumer-Centric Approach

President Donald Trump's pro-business agenda is packed with policy moves encouraging investment to drive economic growth. The next Congress has a unique opportunity to support entrepreneurship and innovation, improving U.S. competitiveness with the rest of the world.

Business News

The Two Richest People in the World Are Fighting on Social Media Again

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk had a new, contentious exchange on X.

Starting a Business

Why Are So Many Course Creators Struggling if It's 'Such an Easy Business'? Here's the Truth Behind the $800 Billion Industry

Creating an online course is so easy — at least, that's what many "gurus" would like you to believe. There's a lot of potential in the $800 billion industry, but here's why so many course creators are struggling.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Says This Is the Interest Rate Magic Number That Will Make the Market 'Go Ballistic'

Corcoran said she praying for lower interest rates and people are "tired of waiting."

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.