Pockets. As a guy, I’ve almost never had to deal without pants without pockets. One time, and exactly one time, I got a pair of shorts without pockets. They were returned within a week, and I have checked for pockets in every pair of pants I’ve purchased since.

Apparently, females aren’t as lucky. Unlike men’s pants, pockets are not often standard on women’s pants. What a pain this must be – I could not imagine not having a pocket to put my wallet, phone, and anything else I happen to be carrying around.

Sofi Overton noticed this problem – she witnessed her cousin put her phone in her boot because she didn’t have a pocket in the pants she was wearing. This observation lit a spark in 13-year-old Sofie’s mind: since a good percentage of woman’s pants don’t come with pockets, why not give women the power of pockets in socks instead? Based on this inspiration, Sofi formed a company called “Wise Pocket.” The Wise Pocket would safely hold a phone, giving a lady (or guy) wearing a pair of pocketless pants a place to put their phone. However, Sofi didn’t just stop with the Wise Pocket. She went on to create a line of leggings that also include pockets. Though it appears that they are not yet up for sale, the Wise Pocket website lists them as “coming soon.”

Wise Pocket is a great example of why it is so important to observe the world around us, looking for pain that needs solving. Sofi found a pain point – women’s pants typically do not have pockets – and created a solution: a sock with a pocket. Had Sofi not been observing the world around her and been oblivions to the struggles to her family, friends, and peers, she likely would not have created this product. So… keep your eyes open; you never know great business ideas you might discover!