The Simple 2-Step Test To Know If Your Idea Will Make Money (Before You Waste Years On It)

Hi, I’m Noman, and this is The Book Nerd.

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Most people think a good business starts with passion.

But passion alone isn’t enough.

You need something people actually want to pay for.

Chris Guillebeau calls this convergence. The overlap between what you love (or are good at) and what others find useful.

That’s where real businesses grow.

Here’s his simple formula:

Passion or skill + usefulness = success

Think about it.

You might be passionate about eating pizza, but no one’s going to pay you to do it.
But if you use your passion for food to teach people how to make better pizza at home, or create tools that make it easier, now you’re in the overlap.

Brooke Snow was a photographer and musician in Utah. She loved teaching, but her small-town classes weren’t making much money.

One day, she realized she could move her classes online.

That simple shift, teaching something she loved in a way that reached more people, doubled her income from $30,000 to $60,000 in one year.

Her passion (photography + teaching) met usefulness (helping people worldwide learn the craft).

That’s convergence in action.

How To Apply This Today

1. List your passions and skills.
   Write down what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at.

2. List what people pay for.
   Think about problems people complain about, services they hire, or tools they buy.

3. Find the overlap.
   Circle anything that appears on both lists. That’s your sweet spot.

4. Test small.
   Offer a tiny version. Could be a one-hour workshop, a small digital product, or a consulting call.

5. Watch for signals.
   If people pay, even a little, you’ve found convergence. If not, adjust and test again.

The Takeaway

Don’t chase passion alone. Don’t chase money alone.
The sweet spot is where what you like to do meets what people are willing to pay for.

That’s where your $100 startup begins.

Until next time,

Noman Shaikh

P.S. If you found this useful, please share it with a friend who might need it.