21 Days to a Big Idea Book Summary - 21 Days to a Big Idea Book explained in key points
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21 Days to a Big Idea summary

Bryan Mattimore

Creating Breakthrough Business Concepts

4.2 (172 ratings)
15 mins

Brief summary

21 Days to a Big Idea by Bryan Mattimore is a guide for generating creative ideas in just three weeks. It provides practical exercises, tools, and techniques to help you unlock your inner creativity and develop innovative solutions.

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    21 Days to a Big Idea
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    Brainstorm to get your creative juices flowing and pinpoint your passions.

    Blank pages are daunting. They can make accomplished novelists, brilliant illustrators and successful business leaders nervous as they embark on new projects. Luckily, there’s one method that can help us conquer that blank page: brainstorming.

    In fact, some of the world’s greatest scientific geniuses relied on brainstorming to kick-start their biggest ideas; this includes Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb.

    An entry in one of his notebooks, dated January 3rd, 1888, contains a list of over 100 ideas that Edison scribbled down in hopes of finding the one invention he wanted to create. He came up with ideas for a snow compressor, artificial silk, synthetic ivory, an electric piano and many more.

    Brainstorming has been the go-to trick for creatives throughout history because it helps shut out internal criticism. When we brainstorm, we reconnect with our playful, imaginative selves. This, in turn, allows us to see new possibilities that we’d normally dismiss.

    On top of this, brainstorming helps us uncover our passions. If you brainstorm long enough, you’ll see patterns emerge that connect a handful of your ideas to deeper themes. This allows us to map out the areas that we’re passionate about, which we can then focus on and develop.

    We may even realize that we’re passionate about something outside of our profession or skill set. This can be confusing for some, who worry that they can’t delve into a particular field without sufficient technical knowledge.

    However, research into top-performing start-ups has shown that you don’t need to be a specialist in a given sector to come up with original solutions to problems. On the contrary, you may be in an even better position to kick-start innovation. When people know a lot about one specific industry, it may mean that they are too set in their ways to see new opportunities.

    If you’re ready to try brainstorming, where do you start? Just grab a piece of paper and write down 30 to 50 ideas.

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    Key ideas in 21 Days to a Big Idea

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    What is 21 Days to a Big Idea about?

    21 Days to a Big Idea (2015) is your guide to rekindling playful creativity and discovering the countless bright ideas your brain is capable of producing. These blinks share the secrets behind simple yet effective techniques to get your creative juices flowing, and provide helpful tips for turning your wild ideas into a viable business.

    21 Days to a Big Idea Review

    21 Days to a Big Idea (2022) is a book that helps readers unleash their creativity and generate groundbreaking ideas. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • Packed with practical exercises and techniques, it offers a step-by-step process to unlock your innovative thinking and come up with game-changing ideas.
    • With its engaging examples and real-life success stories, the book demonstrates how creativity can be learned and applied in various fields.
    • Through its interactive approach, involving daily challenges and reflection, the book ensures an exciting and interactive journey towards cultivating your creative potential.

    Best quote from 21 Days to a Big Idea

    As absurd or impractical as this wish is, is there some way I can make it a viable idea?

    —Bryan Mattimore
    example alt text

    Who should read 21 Days to a Big Idea?

    • Entrepreneurs who feel stuck in a creative block
    • Product developers seeking simple creative techniques to incorporate into their routines
    • Business-savvy readers looking for inspiration for a new project

    About the Author

    Bryan Mattimore is an innovation specialist and founder of his own company, Growth Engine, based in Connecticut. Mattimore has fostered creativity as a session leader for organizations and an advisor for major companies, including Ford, Unilever and Pepsi. He’s also the creator of Bright Ideas, a game designed to help us train our creativity.

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    21 Days to a Big Idea FAQs 

    What is the main message of 21 Days to a Big Idea?

    The main message of 21 Days to a Big Idea is that anyone can cultivate creativity and come up with innovative ideas.

    How long does it take to read 21 Days to a Big Idea?

    The reading time for 21 Days to a Big Idea varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is 21 Days to a Big Idea a good book? Is it worth reading?

    21 Days to a Big Idea is a valuable read for anyone looking to boost their creativity. It provides practical exercises and insights to help generate fresh ideas.

    Who is the author of 21 Days to a Big Idea?

    The author of 21 Days to a Big Idea is Bryan Mattimore.

    What to read after 21 Days to a Big Idea?

    If you're wondering what to read next after 21 Days to a Big Idea, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Dear Founder by Maynard Webb and Carlye Adler
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    • How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
    • 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
    • AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan
    • Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT by Larry Wheeler
    • One Simple Idea by Stephen Key
    • Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
    • The Art of the Tale by Steven James
    • The Art of Reading Minds by Henrik Fexeus