Better still, look for big enough and relatively accessible markets that are in need for better solutions and then simply develop those solutions. Let the markets give you an idea, rather than you come up with an idea and then try to find a market for you. I'm a big believer in market-based approach for (most) startups.
I don't think the points are in contradiction. Opportunities are mostly found via markets. Without a market, there is no opportunity, just an infertile idea...
How I'm bringing myself up on RoR outside of my day job
1) In the middle of creating a simple CRM for a boutique marketing firm catering to startups. This is especially cool as they brought in a very sr. RoR dev to mentor me, although I'm doing the bulk of the work.
2) After that project is done, partnering with a friend who has a business that does project management for law firms, another CRM in that space. I want to have domain knowledge in that field and be exposed to his client base.
3) Further down the road looking to collaborate with a local well known Realtor here in downtown San Diego who is a data hound. I love the insights he draws from his monthly newsletters which are pretty much data driven/minimal fluff, and was surprised to find he hand compiles this data. Want to see if there is some opportunity to apply quantitative analysis to that data and make it more valuable as we enter the next real estate boom.
