For founders and entrepreneurs, niche discovery is self discovery.

As a product manager, it's my job to guide all types of founders, leaders and teams figure out what value we're uniquely capable of contributing to the world. The process of dialing into your authentic niche takes time, experimentation, and reflection.

While it is a highly ambiguous space, there are structured questions you can ask yourself to create clarity through this process.

If you had to give a TED talk tomorrow, what would it be on?

It's something you're just drawn to and find yourself researching in your free time.

You might not even realize you're "researching," it's just something you know a surprising amount about where the average person does not.

Maybe you're someone who's really interested in calming, aesthetic interior design and the importance that light fixtures have on the vibe of a room.

Not only have you designed your own home this way, but you're familiar with all the best and affordable brands out there and could easily go on for hours on this subject.

What are you a (relative) expert on?

This is typically what you do for a career, but it doesn't have to be. It can be a specific skill.

If you have expertise in something but hate it, break it down into the components you're good at and like.

For instance, maybe you're a researcher and you really don't like the paperwork, but you really enjoy researching new solutions and problem solving.

What would it look like to combine the two?

Maybe you decide to put together a well-researched guide of which interior lights to get for specific types of rooms.

Not only do you want to explore the different combinations of those two items, you should identify specific demographics of who your customer is.

Oftentimes we build for people like us. If that's the case, describe your own demographics.

Are you a female in her late 20s/early 30s who expects products that are not only extremely useful but also aesthetic?

tl;dr

1. Take note of what you're naturally drawn to in your free time

2. Identify what you have experience & natural talent in

3. Targeting a smaller niche increases your likelihood of success.