Why Ideas Feel Riskier When They’re Real
Picking an idea when it’s just hypothetical? Easy.
But when it’s real, when you’re putting your name on it, asking people to pay for it, suddenly it feels like you’re defusing a bomb.
That’s where the 3-E Test comes in. It’s not a branding exercise or a personality quiz. It’s three simple gut-check questions:
Do I have real experience here?
Does this actually excite me?
Can I easily find the information I need to evolve as needed on the topic?
If you can answer “yes” to at least two, especially experience and excitement, you’ve got a green-light idea worth building
Step 1. List candidates (3–5 ideas).
Write one line per idea. Keep it simple.
Look at What You’ve Actually Experienced in your life
Step 2. E1: Experience (0–3).
Write 2–3 proof points (projects, results, reps).
Score: 0 none • 1 light • 2 solid • 3 deep, repeatable.
You might not even see the value in your own experience, but others do. Your past conversations, lessons, and problems try are currently trying to solve can become the exact framework someone else is searching for.
Read next: Lessons You’ve Already Taught Without Realizing It — shows how everyday stories and tips you’ve shared are already raw material for a course.
Only Build What You’re Excited to Teach
Step 3. E2: Excitement (0–3).
Score: 0 dread • 1 mild • 2 energized • 3 can’t shut up about it.
If your idea drains you before you’ve even outlined it, that’s a red flag.
Energy matters. You need enough excitement to carry you through the tough parts of building.
How do we know if we are excited enough about this?
Follow the Energy, Not the Trend - explains why choosing the idea that excites you is more sustainable than chasing what’s popular
Your Course Should Fix Something - helps you shift from “teaching information” to delivering the specific transformation people are already searching for.
Can I find the Information I need When I need it?
Step 4 — E3: Easy to Research (0–3). (15-minute signal scan)
3+ active threads in Reddit/FB/Quora in last 60 days
2+ recent YouTube vids >10k views
Existing books/courses (competition = demand)
Score: 0 crickets • 1 light interest • 2 clear interest • 3 hot.
Understand this more: Is Your Topic Easy to Research? (It’s a Spectrum, Not a Yes/No)
Try It Out Before You Go All-In
You don’t need to gamble everything on one big launch. Start small, test the waters, and see if real people resonate with your idea before building the whole product.
Related resource: 3 Ways to Try a Niche First — low-risk ways to test and validate an idea before going all in.
The Invitation
The 3-E Test isn’t about finding the “perfect” idea. It’s about finding the right one for right now.
If your idea…
Comes from real experience
Excites you enough to stick with it
Shows visible signs of interest in the wild
…you’ve got something worth building. That’s not a maybe, that’s your green light.
When you’re ready to refine your path, start with action, not theory.
Practical tool: The Small-Batch Pre-Sale Method — a focused way to validate your idea, earn early income, and test demand before scaling.
If you need perspective, revisit these foundational lessons:
The $99 Clarity Test — a fast way to prove if people will actually pay for your idea.