The document outlines a free brainstorming tool designed to help individuals identify their business ideas by focusing on personal goals and passions rather than just skills or experience. It introduces the 'creem' concept to categorize various aspects of life, encouraging users to reflect on what energizes them and what they dislike in their work life. Finally, it guides users through a structured process to identify patterns and create a business idea that aligns with their preferences and goals.

1. BUSINESS IDEA PLANNING TOOL.
FREE brainstorming tool to identify YOUR KIND OF BUSINESS.
No Email Registration required!

2. • Deciding to start a business is a big step and can be overwhelming.
• The first step is identifying the ‘business idea’. Our article here provides tips
on how to do that: http://www.injust5.com/2016/02/23/the-business-idea/
• A key part of our article is that you should in fact ‘Start with YOU not the
idea’.
• This brainstorming tool can help you identify what you really want from a
business first – rather then jumping to a business idea that ‘makes sense’
based on your skills and experience.
• A business is more likely to successful if you love what you do, rather than one
that ‘makes sense’.
• Using this tool you will drill down into what you love doing and what you
don’t like doing as well as your personal goals.
• You can use it to inform the process of identifying the business idea as
outlined in: http://www.injust5.com/2016/02/23/the-business-idea/
• We use the CREEM concept to guide this brainstorming process as it captures
all the different aspects of your personal and working life.
The Business idea

3. CONNECT – activities where you engage with others or community
RELAX – looking after and rewarding yourself and own needs – self-care
EVOLVE – things that will improve or grow you, your business or life
ENERGISE – things you LOVE doing
MAINTAIN – things that HAVE to be done, but you’d like to delegate or get rid of.
FIRST THOUGH YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS!

4. MY PERSONAL GOAL(S)
TIMEFRAME
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MY GOALS
What I want out of my business and life
MY WORK GOAL(S)
TIMEFRAME
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MY OTHER GOAL(S)
TIMEFRAME
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5. CONSIDER THIS
• Before moving on to the next step ask yourself these questions:
• What are you passionate at?
• What energises you and makes you happy?
• What do you love doing? AND What are good at? REALLY good at!
Now consider these questions.
• What don’t you like about your current (or previous) work life?
• What aren’t you good at?
• What do you hate doing?
• What drains you?
• What challenges to you have in your personal and/or business life that
you would like solved?
Don’t overthink these questions, just stick to the first thing
that comes to your head. CONSIDER your answers from a personal
and work perspective.

6. Print out the CREEM swirls on the
following pages. You can use a SWIRL
for each category or the combined one
page option. The swirls are great for
visual learners who want to brain
dump their ideas in no particular
order. Use the words in the swirls as
prompts. START BRAIN DUMPING!
If you prefer though you can use the
list option to capture your thoughts
more formally.
With the questions and answers from the previous page in mind you will
brain dump activities or things for each of the CREEM categories:
CONNECT – activities where you engage with others or community
RELAX – looking after and rewarding yourself and own needs – self-care
EVOLVE – things that will improve or grow you, your business or life
ENERGISE – things you LOVE doing
MAINTAIN – things that HAVE to be done, but you’d like to delegate or get rid of.
NOW LET’S
BRAINSTORM! “
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7. Brain dump
CONNECT

8. Brain dump
RELAX

9. Brain dump
EVOLVE

10. Brain dump
ENERGISE

11. Brain dump
MAINTAIN

12. Brain dump – 1 page option

13. connect relax evolve energise maintain
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
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LIST OPTION

14. NOW YOU’RE READY FOR THE IDEA!
• Review your answers to above and identify any patterns. Look for must haves/
dos and must not dos when it comes to business.
• What are your non-negotiables, what are your negotiables in a business?
• What kind of business would build on the things you want to do and are
truly good at?
• Industry or sector; Retail or professional services; Online or shopfront
or both.
• Drill down into what products or services would help you with your
personal and business challenges?
• What tasks in this type of business, that you don’t like doing or aren’t
good at, can you get rid of, delegate or outsource?
• Double check with yourself will this type of business help me achieve my
goals and make me happy?
• What problem(s) exist that your business can solve?
• Then get specific, test your idea and evaluate your business readiness.
See our article for help these steps:
http://www.injust5.com/2016/02/23/the-business-idea/

15. injust5.com
Don’t forget to check out our other free business resources at www.injust5.com. No email address required.
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