1 simple step to unlock progress
There are many times when trying to make progress is difficult, but it is not clear why. We ½ know what we want but find it difficult to narrow it down.
One solution to the problem is to think in the opposite — in other words define what the thing is not. This frees up your mind as it can be much simpler to define what something is not in helping you find the shape of the thing you are looking for.
Start by writing broadly all the things you are not looking for. As an example if you are trying to target a niche, rather than define the exact requirements for the niche, make note of all the categories you are not interested in. This will start to bring to categories you are looking for into focus.
There is a phrase in Japanese to describe this — Ma (間). This refers to negative space and how it can be just as important as the space itself.