I spent way too long picking 'the perfect idea' before I ever made a dollar online. Here's the filter I wish someone had given me on day one — three questions, in order:

1. Do I actually know this, or do I just like the idea of it?

Big difference. Liking fitness content isn't the same as knowing enough about programming to coach someone through it. Pick something you could explain to a friend in 10 minutes without googling.

2. Will someone pay to skip the trial and error?

People don't pay for information they can Google. They pay to skip months of confusion. If your 'idea' saves someone real time or real money, you have something.

3. Can I test this in a week, not a quarter?

If your validation plan takes 3 months, it's not validation — it's procrastination with extra steps. Talk to 5 people this week. Post one piece of content. See if anyone bites.

Most people skip straight to building (a course, a product, a service page) before they've answered these. That's the #1 reason side hustles die before they start — not lack of effort, lack of a filter.

Curious what filter (if any) you used before starting yours.