Discover how media exposure and comedy shape Sam Sanders’s entrepreneurial success
Sam Sanders discusses his book Your Next Big Idea, emphasizing creativity, media influence, and comedy’s role in entrepreneurship, while offering advice to aspiring innovators.
In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and innovation, few voices resonate as powerfully as that of Sam Sanders. A multifaceted entrepreneur, acclaimed nonfiction author, and dynamic keynote speaker, Sanders has carved a niche for himself by championing creativity and problem-solving as the cornerstones of successful business ventures. His award-winning book, Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving, has not only garnered critical acclaim but has also become an essential guide for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to unlock their creative potential. Sanders’ contributions to prestigious publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Smithsonian Magazine further underscore his expertise and influence in the field. As a professor of entrepreneurial development and a seasoned innovator, Sanders continues to inspire and educate, drawing from his rich experiences across various business landscapes.
We at Reader’s House Magazine are thrilled to present an interview with Sam Sanders, delving into the insights and inspirations behind his ground-breaking work. In a world where the ability to generate innovative ideas is more crucial than ever, Sanders’ approach offers a refreshing perspective on nurturing creativity and identifying opportunities. Our conversation explores the genesis of Your Next Big Idea, the impact of media attention on his career, and the unique ways in which his comedic pursuits inform his entrepreneurial endeavours. Join us as we uncover the wisdom and wit of Sam Sanders, a true visionary in the realm of creative entrepreneurship.
Sam Sanders is a visionary author whose work inspires creativity and innovation, transforming how we approach entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
Your Next Big Idea has garnered significant recognition and won multiple awards. What inspired you to create this business workbook, and how did your experiences at various companies shape the content and structure of the book?
I am a firm believer that everyone has the ability to be creative. Once someone hones and practices their idea generation and problem identification skills, they will be able to come up with new business ideas regularly. In current entrepreneurship teaching, many people skip educating on the ideation process and instead focus teaching on how to get a business up and running. This approach ices out people who might be excellent entrepreneurs but don’t know how to find an idea! These could-be and should-be entrepreneurs missing from the current landscape inspired me to write Your Next Big Idea. Your Next Big Idea is a clear, step-by-step process on how to identify business ideas based on my lived experience at businesses at all stages, from startups to Fortune 500. I hope this playbook empowers readers to tap into their hidden creativity engine.
The book emphasizes the importance of creativity and problem-solving in entrepreneurship. Can you share a personal story where creativity led to a breakthrough idea in your own ventures?
Last year, as I was reflecting on the next stage of my career, I felt torn on my next professional direction. While I wanted to build on the success of Your Next Big Idea, I also had a craving to tackle more socially conscious topics. To brainstorm on potential paths for me, I reflected on Chapter 9 in Your Next Big Idea about stigmas and play. This chapter helped me to connect dots that I had not otherwise connected, paving my new research focus on how play can be used to reduce interpersonal and political conflict. This focus area applies my professional experience with board gaming and board game design while applying my expertise in journalism and creative problem-solving. I’m currently writing my next book on this topic. I would not have identified this opportunity area without Your Next Big Idea pushing my creative thinking further.
You’ve been featured on platforms like ABC’s Good Morning Washington and Publishers Weekly. How has the media attention impacted your career and the reach of Your Next Big Idea?
I am an author, but I understand that to be successful, I need to be an effective marketer. In the world of book publishing, you need to hustle to break through the vast amount of noise. Given this, I quickly grew my skill set to become the ‘Chief Marketing Officer’ of my book and my brand.
Now, following the success of the book, I use Your Next Big Idea to grow my brand and generate new professional opportunities. In fact, my journalistic pieces, my professor appointment, and my speaking engagements largely come from the commercial success of Your Next Big Idea.
In addition to your writing, you also engage in improv and stand-up comedy. How do these creative outlets influence your work as an entrepreneur and author?
What is most important to me is clearly communicating impactful messages to my audience, whether about tapping into hidden creativity or how play can make the world a better place. Comedy is another communication tool in my toolkit that allows me to reach a different audience than my nonfiction writing or business endeavors. I aim to further build any skill that enables me to be a more effective communicator overall.
As an adjunct professor and speaker, you’re actively involved in educating others about entrepreneurship. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who feel they’re just not creative enough to come up with game-changing ideas?
To generate an entrepreneurial idea, one must focus on how a business are typically built. Successful businesses are built off one of three scenarios: solving a problem, catering to a need, or fulfilling a want. For example, an umbrella solves the problem of “I can’t get wet or the rain will ruin my appearance and comfort. I have to find cover.” A pet-sitting business thrives because we can’t take our pets everywhere, so we need someone available to take care of them. A concert can be successful because people want an outlet to have fun.
If you want to identify a business idea, start looking for these problems, needs, and wants in everyday life. There are a couple of words I tell people to look out for (underlined in the above examples): ‘can’t’, ‘have to,’ “need,’ and ‘want.’. When someone uses these terms, they are likely about to share a problem they are facing that could generate a burst of creative problem-solving in your mind.
You can also approach problem identification through emotions; you may be really effective at identifying when someone is acting annoyed or angry. Can you solve that problem with a business?
When you start honing in on the problems people face, the needs they have, and the wants they desire, you will generate new business ideas. This is something I believe anyone can do with a little guidance, and Your Next Big Idea’s goal was to help all readers find their own game-changing idea!
