Ideation Path · notice, diverge, pick

Learn

Terms, tools, and why you’re here

Level 1 is personal ideation — problems you notice, ideas you might try for yourself, not paid offers yet. Write one sentence: why are you generating ideas this month?

Check these terms: friction (small annoyance worth noticing), idea (a possible way to ease a friction), proof (a tiny test — ask, show, or build for 10 minutes), who hurts (who feels the friction), mash-up (person × place × tool combos), scorecard (rate ideas on a few axes), Spark streak (honest log days in Progress).

Open a notebook, Doc, or Ideation tools in My progress. Safety: ideas that need adult money, travel alone with strangers, or risky stunts get flagged to a parent early — dreaming is allowed, unsafe shortcuts are not.

You’ll know it when: terms note + one-sentence goal + notebook/Doc link.

If stuck: Goal stuck? Try “I want one idea I could try this month without buying anything big.”

Parent tip: Listen first — don’t fix their list into your project.

Learn

School, home, friends, apps

Log five frictions — small annoyances at school, home, with friends, or in apps. For two frictions, note who hurts (you, a sibling, a classmate). Start a Spark streak with one honest log day in Progress.

Generate at least 10 personal ideas fast — wild, silly, and half-baked all go on the list. Use mash-up chips once (person × place × tool). Tag at least three ideas as boring on purpose — boring can ship later in Launch.

You’ll know it when: friction list + numbered ideas + mash-up note + streak day one.

If stuck: "Waiting for the bus in the rain" is valid — write it. Stalled at idea #8? Force five bad solutions in two minutes.

Parent tip: Cheer volume — don’t judge idea #7 mid-list.

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Scorecard, not vibes only

Narrow to your top 3 ideas, then score each on four axes (e.g. fun, doable, helpful, you-care). Star one personal winner you could try this month.

Save a short parent check note — safety, time, and “who else is affected?” You’re not asking permission to dream; you’re checking the edges before you invest weeks. Drop anything that needs adult money you don’t have yet.

You’ll know it when: scorecard + top 3 list + starred idea + parent note.

If stuck: If two tie, pick the one you can try this month. Vibes matter, but a scorecard stops endless scrolling.

Parent tip: Ask clarifying questions; don’t veto unless safety is real.

Learn

Ask, listen, adjust once

Run a tiny proof test — ask one person, show a sketch, or build for 10 minutes. Hear “no” or “meh” as data, not failure.

Capture one honest reaction in writing. Adjust the idea once based on what you heard — change the audience, the scope, or the next test. If safety flags pop up, pause and check with a parent before scaling.

You’ll know it when: proof test notes + one reaction quote + one adjustment line.

If stuck: Parent answering as a stand-in peer still counts. No time to build? A paper sketch shown for 60 seconds counts as show.

Parent tip: Help them hear “no” as data, not failure.

Learn

Pack the personal idea

Export a personal idea one-pager — problem, who, idea, proof so far, next tiny test. Celebrate finishing Level 1: noticing and picking beats a perfect pitch deck.

Choose a next route in writing: continue to Ideation L2 for paid offers, jump to Launch Path to brand and pitch, peek at Money for budgeting, or another path. If Launch is the route, write the one sentence you’ll paste into week 1’s brand sheet.

You’ll know it when: exported one-pager + route sentence (Launch-ready if that’s the pick).

If stuck: Undecided? Default to L2 if money might be involved; Launch if you already want to sell a tiny personal offer.

Parent tip: Celebrate the pick — finishing personal ideation is the win.

Learn

Terms, pain, and payment safety

Level 2 shifts to offers someone might pay for — parents, neighbours, clubs, busy classmates. Write one sentence: what pain might someone pay to ease?

Check these terms: paid pain (annoyance + willingness to pay), offer (what you give for money or tip), brief (one-page who/offer/price/safety), who pays (customer, not just you), boss scenario (tough customer practice), handoff (passing a brief to Launch Path), privacy gate (no faces in photos without OK).

If money feels weird, say so — that’s useful honesty before Launch. Safety: location, payments with strangers, and photo walls need a parent check before you promise anything publicly.

You’ll know it when: terms note + named paid pain + safety flags if any.

If stuck: Ask a parent what they gladly pay to solve at home. One real household cost beats ten app ideas.

Parent tip: Share one real household cost you gladly pay to solve.

Learn

Offers, not just apps

Draft three offer variants for your paid pain — different audiences, prices, or scopes. Keep them teen-safe and local-first. A clear service beats a vague “I’ll build an app.”

For each variant, write who pays and why in one sentence. Circle anything you could demo in under an hour — those are Launch Path candidates. Flag anything that needs adult presence early.

You’ll know it when: three offer variants + who/why lines + one under-one-hour circle.

If stuck: Copy a neighbourhood service and change the audience. Lists too digital? Force one offline service variant.

Parent tip: Flag anything that needs adult presence early.

Learn

Pack who, offer, price guess, safety

Pick one offer to brief — the variant that passes your gut check and a parent/safety skim. Star it on your shortlist.

Export a one-page business brief Launch can use on day one: who pays, offer in one sentence, price guess, safety notes, and proof from your L1 habit of asking. Optional photo wall: only with a privacy gate (no faces without OK) or skip entirely — a text brief still graduates this phase.

You’ll know it when: starred offer + exported one-page brief + privacy choice noted.

If stuck: Skip photos — a text brief still counts. Brief too long? Cut to five lines: who, pain, offer, price guess, safety.

Parent tip: Default private photos; public is a later choice together.

Learn

Stress-test before Launch

Ask two people if they’d try your offer — or a parent proxy if peers feel hard. Capture yes, no, or maybe with one reason each. Adjust your promise or price guess once based on answers.

Complete one boss scenario card — tough customer, late delivery, or “can you do it cheaper?” Practice calm answers; this foreshadows Launch’s sales week without requiring a pitch deck yet.

You’ll know it when: two ask notes + one adjustment line + scenario answers.

If stuck: Role-play with a parent for five minutes — awkward is fine. Write the answer you’d wish you’d said, then practice once more.

Parent tip: Play the tough customer kindly — teach negotiation, not fear.

Learn

Pack the brief for Launch Path

Update your business brief with ask notes and boss scenario proof. Write a 10-word promise sentence you’ll paste into Launch week 1’s brand sheet.

Handoff → Launch Path to brand, sell, budget, and pitch. Choose Money L2 only if you need deeper pricing practice before branding. Celebrate the handoff — finishing Ideation is the win. Default private photos; public is a later choice together.

You’ll know it when: updated brief + handoff card + 10-word promise + privacy choice.

If stuck: Launch feels big? Do Money L2 price practice first, then return to the Launch handoff card. Skip photos — text brief still graduates.

Parent tip: Celebrate the handoff — finishing Ideation is the win.