Unexpected Moments Often Yield Entrepreneurial Opportunities - They Might Unveil Innovative Concepts You Didn't Expect
Building a "Surprise Radar" for Entrepreneurial Success
In the world of entrepreneurship, being open to surprises can be a game-changer. Aytekin Tank, the founder of Jotform, believes that surprises test assumptions and expose blind spots, and if paid attention to, they can reveal what should come next [1].
Tank suggests that entrepreneurs can develop a "surprise radar" by consciously cultivating curiosity, adopting a beginner’s mindset, and systematically paying attention to unexpected events or inefficiencies in everyday routines. This approach involves regularly questioning why things are done a certain way, staying open to new and unfamiliar fields, and treating surprises—both positive and negative—as signals revealing hidden opportunities or blind spots [2].
Key practices to build this radar include conducting time audits to understand where time is being wasted [2], adopting a beginner’s mindset to resist cognitive shortcuts formed by expertise and ask fresh questions [2], and recognizing patterns through exercises like timelines, mind maps, or brainstorming on random news stories [4]. Learning from pivots and case studies, seeking diverse perspectives, and connecting with other entrepreneurs in collaborative communities also play a significant role [4][5].
Tank's own journey as an entrepreneur began with a surprise. In 2005, while working as a developer, he encountered a surprise: there was no tool available to make the process of building custom web forms easier [1]. This surprise led to the creation of Jotform, a platform that simplifies the process of creating online forms for businesses and individuals.
Tank also encourages entrepreneurs to investigate when they experience surprise, as it often contains more insight than hours of brainstorming [1]. He advises talking to people in different industries to broaden perspectives [2], and suggests building a minimum viable product (MVP) and getting it into users' hands as soon as possible when an idea arises [1].
In the end, Tank considers surprise as a signal for entrepreneurs, indicating overlooked potential or faulty assumptions that could lead to breakthrough innovations [1]. By staying attuned to the unexpected, entrepreneurs can seize unexpected opportunities and drive their businesses forward.
[1] Aytekin Tank, "Entrepreneurship and the Power of Surprise," Forbes, 2020. [2] Aytekin Tank, "How to Build a 'Surprise Radar' for Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneur, 2021. [3] Aytekin Tank, "70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025," Inc., 2024. [4] Aytekin Tank, "Leveraging Surprises for Innovation," Harvard Business Review, 2022. [5] Aytekin Tank, "The Power of Collaborative Communities for Entrepreneurs," Medium, 2023.
- Entrepreneurship often thrives on surprises, as they can challenge assumptions and expose hidden opportunities.
- Tank believes that a "surprise radar" can be developed by regularly questioning everyday routines and adopting a beginner's mindset.
- Key practices in building this radar include conducting time audits, seeking diverse perspectives, and connecting with other entrepreneurs in collaborative communities.
- Successful entrepreneurs like Tank often start their businesses due to a surprise, such as realizing a need for a particular tool in the market.
- By investigating surprising events and ideas, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights that lead to breakthrough innovations and business success.
- Strategic planning, technology adoption, strong leadership, effective sales, financial management, and innovation are all crucial elements that entrepreneurs use to drive their businesses forward after identifying unexpected opportunities.
