Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving

by Samuel Sanders

🏆20 Awards🏆

• 2022 International Rubery Book Award Grand Prize Shortlist
• 2022 Eric Hoffer Awards First Horizon Award Winner, 2022 Eric Hoffer Awards Reference Category Winner, 2022 Eric Hoffer Awards Grand Prize Shortlist
• 2022 Independent Press Book Awards Best Debut Nonfiction Book
•2022 Global Ebook Grand Prize Legacy Award for Non-fiction
• 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Career Genre Book of the Year
• 2022 NYC Big Book Award Category Best How-To Book
• 2022 National Indie Excellence Awards - Education Book of the Year
• IndieReader 2021 Discovery Awards Business Category Book of the Year
• ReadFreely Top 100 Indie Books of 2021
• 2021 Living Now Mind Award Winner
• Nonfiction Authors Association Gold Medal Book Award
• 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest - Marketing Book of the Year
• Independent Author Network Book of The Year Awards - 2021 Business, Finance, and Sales Book of the Year
• Award Winner in Personal Growth & Development - 2021 International Impact Book Awards
• Best Book Awards - 2021 Interior Design of the Year
• Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner
• 2021 Nonfiction IndieReader Summer Book Cover Design Contest Winner
• 2022 International Book Awards Winner - Best Cover Nonfiction
• How-To Category Winner - Summer 2021 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
• Award Winner in Business - 2021 International Impact Book Awards

🌲This book is carbon negative🌲
(see yournextbigideabook[dot]com for details)

From an author who has written for Business 2 Community & Advertising Week comes a book featured by Yahoo!, Booklist Magazine, Publishers Weekly, ABC's Good Morning Washington, Thrive Global, Modern Professional, NBC's Good Morning NWA, Young Upstarts, IndieReader, Technically, Elephant Journal and multiple affiliates of CBS, Fox, and NBC.


This non-fiction business and self-help creativity guide encourages innovation in aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. Have you ever looked at a product and thought, 'Why didn't I think of that?' or, 'I'm just not a creative person!' Improve problem-solving skills and increase the effectiveness of knowledge management in your organization to come up with the next game-changing idea to hit the market!


"Your Next Big Idea ignites the imagination with a kaleidoscope of ideas and exercises. Even if you have no intention of pursuing “the next big idea,” this book is sure to give you an exciting and fresh perspective of the world around you.”- BlueInk Reviews

“[A]n easy-to-follow road map for ramping up innovation… Sanders isn’t short of ideas himself in this treatise on turning ideas into reality, and the “Big Idea Journey Map” that structures the book works nicely. Entrepreneurs wanting to get their creative juices moving should give this a look.” - Publishers Weekly

"This book is a breath of fresh air in letting people let their creative minds run wild... I would recommend this book to people of all ages who want to feel that spark of an idea again." - Manhattan Book Review

“Practical, insightful, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, [Your Next Big Idea] is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Business Management collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate administrators, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject” - Midwest Book Review

"If I still taught, this book would definitely be integrated into classwork!... Highly recommended for creatives, and those who want to cultivate creativity, alike!" - Portland Book Review

“This is an inspirational yet instructional guide to becoming more inventive in solving everyday problems…[Your Next Big Idea] applies this step-by-step process to entrepreneurs, employees, executives, and anyone interested in keeping their mind sharp.” - Eric Hoffer Book Award Committee via the US Review of Books

“Everyone can use a little more creativity, and [Your Next Big Idea] is the jumpstart to take it from stale to stellar.” - Readers' Favorite

“Your Next Big Idea will challenge the way you think. This unique book is engaging, even "customized" to fit the needs and purposes of every reader--whether an individual or a team.” - Nonfiction Authors Association Book Awards Program

"[Samuel Sanders] sets lofty goals, promising "By the end of the book, you'll be equipped with the skills to come up with 100 meaningful ideas a week that you can apply to your career or personal life." But readers will be pleased to find that the...

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Personal Development, Creative, Writing

279 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2021

About the author

Follow along on Bookbub as well! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/samue...

Author of "Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving" (2021)

So, what makes me someone to learn about the creation of ideas from?

Throughout my career, I have seen how the idea process works in all different sized companies.

I have started multiple startups both as part of a team and by myself. One of the companies I was a co-founder of was Wundershirt, which at its peak sold athletic training clothing to Olympic athletes prepping for the 2016 Olympics. During the startup growth process, I have been part of multiple incubators and have watched and observed how many startups came to be.

I also have worked for a company that was part of the INC 5000 fastest growing companies. Here I was selected to be a part of the R&D team to help work towards developing new products. Working at a fast-growing company you can see how the ideas come to be and problems are handled by members of a successful small business team.

Finally, I have worked on business development for a company part of Fortune’s Future 50 list and Fortune’s Fortune 500 list.

In my career, I have been watching and creating ideas for all levels of business from the startup phase, to the high-growth phase, and even for large companies.

This has allowed me to have a unique perspective on the idea process and allowed me to look at the whole idea of creativity, problem-solving, ideation and innovativeness from an angle that most people have not seen.

While most of the time I am at work when I am not working though you probably can find me at an amusement park, playing board games or drinking coffee from a local coffee shop. If you have any shared interests or questions on my writing please reach out to me at sam@yournextbigideabook.com

Reviews

[Haley Kulakowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had so much fun reading and actively engaging with this book. It had been a while since I’ve read a book that asks you to actively participate and to test out what you’ve read and learned. The activities in the book were truly fun and I found myself wanting to share and discuss them with my friends and family. Truly a quick fun read to jumpstart the creative part of your brain! A book that I will definitely pick up again.

[Kristi Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Next Big Idea is the perfect book for anyone who wants to tap into their creative mind. The author does a wonderful job of breaking down how ideas are formed and giving the reader exercises and activities throughout the book to spark new ideas and encourage them to step out of their comfort zone.

The book is divided into six sections, each building one on top of the other. The first section is about identifying problems that our ideas can solve. The section on stigma may be my favorite chapter of all because many times people do things or think a certain way because of the stigmas that are ingrained in their lives. They may not even know why they do something a certain way, because it's just the way they've always done it and the way their mother or father before them has done it as well. Being able to identify the stigmas in our lives and get past them can open up new doors for creative ideas. The author teaches the reader how to identify stigmas and how to erase them.

The activities the author includes in the book are fun and creative. One of the activities that I will be going back and doing is the one in which the author says to invent "The Worst Company Idea." His examples include "smelly, used underwear outlet" or "mattresses made of bee nests." This is such a great way to get the reader to really think outside the box. In the next part of the activity, the reader is to exchange their favorite "worst company" idea with a partner and present it to an investor for a new company. This activity could easily turn very silly and I can even imagine it turning into a board game one day.

Your Next Big Idea is not just for people who are looking for ideas on how to start a business, although the author does include a section on that. Many of us do the same thing day in and day out. This book is a breath of fresh air in letting people let their creative minds run wild. Your Next Big Idea has fabulous suggestions for both adults and children. I would recommend this book to people of all ages who want to feel that spark of an idea again, no matter how unrealistic or silly it may seem. You never know what your mind will come up with!

Thank you to City Book Review, Samuel Sanders, and Heard Publishing, LLC for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[BookTrib.com]

YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA is an easy-to-understand workbook and guide that’s a quick read, but don’t let that fool you. It’s also a roadmap for the long route to mastery, both in business and in life.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/05/03/book-...

[Liv liskowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable, insightful, quick read that left me feeling empowered and motivated. Personally, I got the most out of the ideation aspect of the book. The author does a great job of addressing common assumptions around others' ideas, such as "chalking it up to luck or natural creativity." He then opens the door and proves that ideas are all around you, if you know where/how to look. The exercises in the book make it an engaging, fun challenge and empower you to be more proactive in your thinking, whether in your professional or personal life (or both).

Once you've made strides in your ideation process, the author walks you through various other aspects like feasibility checking. The publication is filled with helpful exercises, charts, and techniques to make you a better thinker, entrepreneur, and leaves you feeling empowered to make "your next big idea" a successful reality.

[Megan J. Walvoord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like to learn how to come up with new ideas? Do you struggle with figuring out how to do things better for your business or creative endeavors? Then Your Next Big Idea is the book for you. Learning this method, with practice, will help you get up to having over one hundred new ideas a week.
This book takes you on a journey to teaching you how you get from an idea to the best ideas. It includes a variety of methods, tons of ready-to-go exercises, and wonderful information on how to get started on your journey or creating new ideas. Each exercise was immensely helpful and well worth the time.
The author seemed to have done the research and used the methods that he discussed in the book. I loved that he used kids as a good example of their brains being wide open to not stigmas. I think the idea of using play as adults to help free their minds is brilliant.
An example of one exercise is to identify your problems. This began with just what is going wrong with you today. Then the author moved to things that we hate. Lastly, things that we find annoying.
Later in the book, there were some great exercises about stigmas and exercises to help you see past the walls they built for certain situations. The first was finishing pictures that looked like they were scribbles and make them into anything. The next one what are some stigmas that are causing you problems. What are the solutions in your life?
I found this book not only helpful in my pursues of becoming an author, but also in other parts of my personal life. It helped me figure out some ideas for time management. Solutions for some things that I have been wanting to do better like communicating with others, spending more quality time with my kids, and husband. I enjoyed the chapter about finding problems that need a solution and the circle exercise where you just draw in and around the circles and let your mind wander.
The materials in this book could be put to use anywhere from a business to a non-profit organization to a single person trying to decide what they want to pursue next. The formatting is very professional. It was one of the best practical books that I have read. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to get better at anything from business practices to make your personal life better.

[Paul]

Excellent. I've thought of myself as particularly creative, but always wanted to be creative; and I admire creative people. This is a bit like having a creativity coach in a book. The author has provided excellent step, suggestions, and ideas to help bring out the creativity in readers in accessible ways. Recommended.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

[Johnny Fitton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for anyone looking to think more outside the box- lots of achievable, tactical steps to make that happen... I particularly liked the strategies of mind mapping and visually charting out & linking short/medium/long term goals. Look forward to putting everything into action!

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have come across different exercises of developing an idea and allocating it to real surroundings and this book is a comprehensive guide on how to come up with and idea that will be relevant. We come up with a lot of ideas daily and this book can help to filter the useful ones, shape them and see how doable they are.

[Fred Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book to read for anyone who wants to be more creative and a better problem solver. This book takes you from start to finish. It also provides a workbook in the second half. You can work through the second half of the book to make sure you understand how to be more creative and better at solving problems.

[Barred Owl Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solve problems and spark more ideas! Inspire creativity to best your best entrepreneurial self!

[Kate Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

After months of quarantining, my brain was starting to run a little slow and to stagnate, and then I ended up with this book. The writing was engaging, holding my attention all the way through (though I saved the activities for a second run-through), and I find myself thinking of the author's tips and tricks whenever I do some brainstorming. The activities are light, fun, and mentally stimulating - vaguely reminiscent of a Jackbox game. All in all, the book delivers on what it sets out to do, and has fun doing so.

[Bogens Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Heard Publishing, LLC for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.

What is your next big idea? Do you know? This book might lead you in the right direction. With the brilliant title “Your next big idea”, Samuel Sanders will tell you just how to answer those two questions.

Learn to think more creatively. Yes - it is actually something you can learn. And get better at!

You can learn to do problem solving quicker and better. Being innovative is always a good skill to have around. So why not make your skill even better. You can use this skill in your career and in your everyday life. So why not just learn this skill?

It is actually possible to get 100 new ideas every day. That is 14 ideas per day. And you can learn how to in this book. Keep an open mind and learn how to create new ideas every day!

This book has a lot of great exercises that will help you be more creative. You might find the exercises hard to do at first, but be patient and keep doing them. And by time you will find it easier to do those exercises and you will find yourself being more creative every single day.
I loved those exercises. They were fun, and you can tell a big difference as you improve.

[John Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self help books fall into one of two categories, those that allow you to help yourself, and those that suggest a number of exercises that are designed to get you to think differently for the duration of the book, but that don't provide any impetus beyond the finishing of the book.

This book has a number of interesting exercises, but they're nothing that I haven't seen a hundred times before on management courses, brainstorming, and corporate gatherings. They're fine for getting you to look at things differently, but they don't cause a fundamental change in your thinking, which is usually what's needed to make a breakthrough.

If you haven't looked too much into different ways of thinking and working through things, this will be an interesting book, and on the positive side, It's well presented and clear, no one would have any issues following the exercises within. It won't give you your next big idea, but there'll be plenty of small ones, and then all you have to do is put them all together.

[Lila Diller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally decided to mark this one as finished, as I'm about 2/3 of the way through but never going to finish it. It's so great to use as brain exercises to jumpstart problem-solving and creative innovation, but after a while, it gets old. I think it would have been better formatted as a journal of some kind where you just took one exercise a day. And the stated purpose of getting the reader to be able to come up with 100 ideas is a bit arbitrary. But I would still recommend it as a way to bust through any problem you're stuck on or frustration you feel trapped in. And I have to say that I love the cover.

[Chel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful approach to more business creativity. I think of myself as a fairly creative person in business, and I still got a lot out of this book, in relation to its strategies for creativity. I also read a lot of non-fiction books, and would highly recommend this. It's an easy read with implementable strategies. You'll get the most out of this book if you actively participate in the activities/ questions and genuinely ponder your answers. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so technically I didn’t finish reading this book… a few chapters in, and quite enjoying it, there was an accident. A glass of water was spilled on said book, utterly destroying it.
So no, I can’t offer a proper review. All I can say is it did get some creative ideas flowing for me, even in that short time.

Notr: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy, modern, and practical. In-book activities added to the experience. Definitely a reference guide to problem-solving & recognizing/harnessing creativity.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just gave my brain the kind of jumpstart it needed after being in a slump for months.
It's got great brainstorming ideas.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samuel Sanders has written an inspiring and encouraging book that will have you view life in a different dimension. Readers will find encouragement to think outside the box and try out things that they previously would not have paid attention to. Samuel Sanders is a diverse author writing to readers of all levels. Whether readers are a student, starting a small business, or are in the corporate world, Samuel Sanders will share with readers how they can grow that small idea that they have been sitting on. The author has a guide that will enable readers of all kinds to grow as a person and as a brand.

Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving is a great book for both creatives and those that do not consider themselves to be creative. Samuel Sanders will bring out the creativity in those that read this intellectually invigorating book. The author directs his readers to think beyond their surroundings. The language and tone the author uses are friendly and welcoming, like having a conversation with a friend or colleague. This approach is helpful for getting outside of your comfort zone and really analyzing methods that will work to advance whatever project you are engaged with. These tools will benefit people across all areas in life and can be applied to more than just business undertakings. Reading this inspiring book will make readers aware that the next big thing in whatever project they are working on is achievable.

Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving covers topics like identifying problems and looking for solutions, how to be an inquisitive person in an intelligent manner, erasing stigmas, strategizing in different areas, welcoming ideas, and how to interact with those that have the same mindset. This is the ideal book for readers looking for problem-solving skills and how to be better in one’s craft.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving
Author: Samuel Sanders

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/5
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
18 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“If you happen to be struggling to come up with your next BIG IDEA, this book might help. Interesting, accessible, and packed full of helpful advice.” Male reader, aged 51
“Written in a relaxing, chatty sort of way, reading this book is like sitting in a cafe with your best pal discussing your latest business plan. I suspect anybody looking for a little inspiration along with practical advice on how to grow an idea will find this book invaluable.” Female reader, aged 38
“It´s so easy to think of a fantastic idea and never do anything with it; to always play it safe. This book pulls you out of your comfort zone providing you with a step by step plan to get things moving.” Male reader, aged 29

To Sum It Up:
‘Perfect for anybody who wants to be creative and GET THINGS MOVING! A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Next Big Idea is a dynamic, energizing, and highly practical guide for anyone looking to strengthen creativity, sharpen problem-solving, or unlock new possibilities in business and daily life. Samuel Sanders breaks down innovation into a clear, engaging, and repeatable process, empowering readers to become active creators rather than passive observers of ideas.

What makes the book especially compelling is its blend of actionable exercises, real world examples, and an accessible structure that supports both individual and organizational growth. Sanders’ “Big Idea Journey Map” gives readers a powerful framework to evaluate problems, generate fresh solutions, and develop the mindset required for consistent innovation.

The wealth of reviews and awards from Publishers Weekly to the Eric Hoffer Awards reflects the book’s credibility and impact. It manages to be both inspiring and immediately usable, making it valuable for entrepreneurs, teams, students, and professionals seeking a creative edge.

A refreshing, empowering, and intelligently designed guide that turns creativity into a skill anyone can master.

[Evelyn Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Your Next Big Idea” by Samuel Sanders is more than a creativity manual it’s a masterclass in thinking differently. With clarity, humor, and structure, Sanders breaks down the myth that creativity belongs only to the ‘naturally gifted.’ Instead, he shows that innovation is a process anyone can learn, practice, and refine.

I was especially impressed by the Big Idea Journey Map, a step-by-step framework that demystifies how ideas move from abstract spark to real-world impact. The book brims with actionable exercises that don’t just inspire creativity but sustain it ideal for entrepreneurs, managers, and even students seeking to reawaken their imagination.

What sets Sanders apart is his ability to blend practical business insight with an almost childlike curiosity about the world. It’s rare to find a book that’s both deeply instructional and delightfully motivating. “Your Next Big Idea” deserves a place not just on professional reading lists but on every desk where innovation begins.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interactive novel will take you down a journey of self discovery and idea. After reading this book I could not help but think of things differently, I even started writing down every idea I have had in a little notebook I carry around. If you feel like you are in a rut, grab this book and go to work.

[manatee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is utterly fascinating as it explores so many great ways to jump-start your mind. I never thought of myself as a creative person, but I was starting to really write down ideas in chapter after chapter. This book is fun and it's a revelation. Do you want to come up with more ideas? Read this book.

[Emily Zhao · Rating 5 out of 5]

YNBI was a fun read to have while traveling. The flow of the book was easy to follow and the strategies were unique. I enjoyed the thoughts of writing in the book and jotting down ideas and thoughts too. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn to be more creative and curious!

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving by Samuel Sanders has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.

[Joe Millye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just started reading this book, and can't say enough good things about it already. I will update this review after having a little bit more time to think about some of the ideas the author presents (all of which are truly excellent).

[MELISSA CORTEZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest. I have not finished this book. This is a book that I work thru a little each month.

[Amy Perrault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book with ideas & how to be more creative. It also has different problem solving for different peoples ways. Great book