#73: How to Be More Creative and Have Big Ideas with Samuel Sanders
Want to hear some super sad statistics? 75 percent of people think they're not living up to their creative potential, and we’re a whopping 96% less creative than we were as children. Even though these stats make me want to go weep in a corner, I’m going to persevere — because this episode’s guest is sharing tons of good stuff on being more creative and finding big ideas.
Samuel Sanders is an award-winning entrepreneur who has seen innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and ideation in action at many different levels, from a Fortune 500 company to an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company to incubators. He also co-founded the company Wundershirt, which did plenty of cool things, including selling athletic training clothing to Olympic athletes preparing for the 2016 Olympics. Today, Samuel runs Heard, LLC, a software application helping governments and large companies get targeted and reviewed feedback from their citizens and employees to improve their decision-making.
Now it’s your turn. Samuel’s debut book, Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving, provides tools for you to amp up your creativity, solve problems, and figure out ideation so you can turn those seedlings of ideas into real, tangible things.
We’re also talking about how to write a book that people actually want to read, the best board games to play (whether you’re a casual or hardcore gamer), and which rollercoasters are worth writing.
Highlights of our conversation include:
Why Syracuse basketball is always such a force in the NCAA Tournament, even when they barely sneak into the field. (1:52)
The reason Samuel decided to write Your Next Big Idea and what he hopes to help other people achieve. (4:36)
The most unusual idea for a business Samuel has ever come up with. (6:20)
How to find a new idea and the two words to listen for when you’re generating your seedling ideas. (8:11)
The writing process for Your Next Big Idea and why you NEED to hire an editing team if you’re writing a book (or anything, really), and how to make a book cover that stands out. Shout out to David Miles, Samuel’s designer. (12:50)
How Samuel got involved with the Nonfiction Writers Association. (18:04)
The keys to book marketing and how to market a book in the post-pandemic era. (19:42)
Where you can find your next big idea — and why you need to ask “Why?” more often. (23:07)
Samuel’s all-time favorite board game and the new board games he’s played during the pandemic. (25:37)
The top three rollercoasters Samuel has ever been on. (30:36)
Where to find Samuel Sanders:
Grab a copy of Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving and learn more about the book here.
Follow Samuel on LinkedIn and give him an email on his website.
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