IdeaSpotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea [Paperback]

Sam Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 2006

THE NEXT BIG IDEA IS OUT THERE—YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SPOT IT Creativity is crucial to business and design success. How do you unleash bursts of creativity, increase occurrences of spontaneity and ultimately find great ideas? Through anecdotes, interviews, quotes, tips, creative exercises and success stories from the biggest corporations in the country, author Sam Harrison shows you how to think outside the box—then throw away the box for good. You’ll be encouraged to: *Listen and observe *Step outside your daily routine *Explore through travel *Find ideas in nature *Break out of ruts *Learn from mistakes *Get past the surface *Connect existing ideas Busy professionals CAN learn how to peek under the mundane to find the magical, to find insights rather than information, and to learn what makes their clients laugh, cry, scream—and ultimately buy.

"One good idea is all you need to change your life; this book shows you how to find it." —Brian Tracy, author of Getting Rich Your Own Way "

If the best way to find a good idea is to find lots of ideas, then here’s the best guidebook I know for your hunt."
—Brian Collins, Collins Design

"Exercise for the brain is just as important as exercise for the body. In Ideaspotting, Sam Harrison stretches your mental muscles in a way you’ll never forget."
—Al Ries, author of The Origin of Brands

Editorial Reviews

Review

One good idea is all you need to change your life; this book shows you how to find it. -- Brian Tracy, author of Getting Rich Your Own Way

Exercise for the brain is just as important as exercise for the body. In Ideaspotting, Sam Harrison stretches your mental muscles in a way you'll never forget. -- Al Ries, author of The Origin of Brands

If the best way to find a good idea is to find lots of ideas, then here's the best guidebook I know for your hunt. -- Brian Collins, Ogilvy & Mather Brand Integration Group

About the Author

Sam Harrison has more than 20 years of diverse, successful experience in creative roles, including product innovation, branding, advertising, public relations, direct marketing and event planning. He is also a former senior vice president with an S&P 500 firm and has worked with clients and affiliates including Major League Baseball, NFL, Hasbro, American Express and more. He is currently a professional speaker and workshop leader for firms, associations and conferences throughout North America and beyond. He is also an instructor at Portfolio Center, a graduate-studies program focusing on brand communications. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: How (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581808003
• ISBN-13: 978-1581808001
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Business & Investing > Marketing & Sales > Marketing > Industrial
  • #66 in Books > Business & Investing > International > Global Marketing

More About the Author

Sam Harrison speaks and writes about creativity in the business world - and he speaks from experience. Throughout his career, Sam has banked on his creativity for success, whether developing new products and promotional events or devising marketing plans and brand partnerships.

He has more than 20 years of diverse, successful experience in creative communications, including product innovation, advertising, PR, direct marketing, special events, affinity marketing, brand licensing and consumer catalogs.

His energetic, real-world talks and seminars on creativity, brainstorming, finding inspiration, pitching ideas and other topics receive rave reviews from audiences everywhere. He is a recommended, all-star speaker for the International Association of Business Communicators and a frequent, popular speaker for the annual HOW Design Conference.

Sam is the author of "IdeaSpotting: How to find your next great idea," "Zing! Five Steps and 101 tips for creativity on command" and "IdeaSelling: How to pitch your ideas to bosses, clients and other decision makers."

He is also an instructor of creative process, creative writing and presentation skills at Portfolio Center, a graduate-studies program focused on creative brand communications.

Previously a senior vice president with an S&P 500 firm, Sam has worked with a variety of clients and affiliates, including the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Hallmark Cards, U.S. Humane Society and John Denver Environmental Groups.

His articles on creativity and related topics have appeared in a variety of trade and professional publications, and his feature articles and fiction pieces have appeared in regional and national publications.

He is a member of the National Speakers Association, American Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communicators, Association of Professional Communications Consultants and was a founding board member of the Atlanta Chapter of the International Special Events Society.

>>> Hire Sam to provide an energetic, inspiring and info-packed talk or workshop to your organization or conference!
_________________________________________________________________________________

"Sam is a natural in front of an audience. He is warm, friendly, humorous and most importantly, informative. He knows his topic and delivers it in such a way that is both understandable and enjoyable. And his southern charm doesn't hurt!
I would recommend Sam as a speaker any day." - Heather Griffin, Conference Manager, HOW Design Conference
_________________________________________________________________________________

Visit his website: www.zingzone.com

Follow Sam on Twitter: @zingzone


(author's photo by Greg Newington www.newingtonphotography.com)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get those creative juices flowing, March 27, 2007

By 

Roger Bauer "http://smbconsultinginc.com" (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: IdeaSpotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea (Paperback)

A very quick read (could easily be knocked out in a weekend), this book is a good mixture of actionable items and creative stimulation. Get out of your comfort zone and pay attention to everything around you is one of the themes of this book along with taking good notes in some fashion because your creative thoughts and ideas may not be as easy to remember as you believe they will be at a later time. Anyone can be creative if they put themselves in a postion to encourage it.

Overall, I really liked the book and appreciate the advice and action items contained within. If you're looking to stimulate your creative juices, get and read Idea Spotting. I also read Zing, and Idea Spotting contains similar material so if you're wondering which book to choose--go with this one.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep your sketchbook close, but keep this book closer!, May 8, 2006

By 

Alissa M. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IdeaSpotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea (Paperback)

As a writer I'm constantly in search of ideas: how to structure a story, which fact-finding methods to use, what sources to interview, and, most importantly, where to look for new topics to write about. As a freelancer I have to keep myself motivated enough to continue hacking away at the iBook even when all inspiration has fled. And as a creative person, I've got the "Negative News Network" constantly broadcasting in my head, worrying my next idea will never be as good as my last.

Ideaspotting is three books in one: a handy collection of advice from all the greats to console me in troubled times, a set of exercises sure to dump all the excess slush from my brain, and honest-to-god new ways to think about my work, my passions and my life. Ideaspotting is a philosophy about how to open yourself up to all the world has to offer. And it works.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth every penny - but..., December 11, 2006

By 

David Howse "dhcc" (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IdeaSpotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea (Paperback)

Here's the skinny...
This book is by far the easiest of all idea books to read, most relevant, most thorough, but potentially most dangerous. Before I make a couple critiques, don't let what I'm about to say dissuade you from buying this gem, these are just caveats and the book is still a deal!
Page 25 - Alcan/CocaCola and Ethnography: When I read this I though, "Great, I'll use ethnography to solve my innovation problems." Being the information pig that I am I checked this "idea" out with a professional, a doctor of Anthropology at the local university. We had a 30 minute chat and I came away with the thought "Alcan doesn't have a clue what they are talking about." What was described on page 25 was single variable observation, not ethnography. In fact, single variable observation has lead to problem after problem for marketers, Dr. "C" gave me these examples, 1) `Got Milk?' when marketed towards the Hispanic population translated into "Are you Lactating?" 2) McDonald's in parts of China had Ronald McDonald march in a parade, this was analogous to having the grim reaper march in the Santa Clause parade. 3) Chevy Nova in Mexico - we all know that one. And he gave me many other examples of major blunders that were directly attributed to single variable observation.
Page 47 - Hasbro and the "Alpha Pups": This is an excellent example of a major short coming with this book - there is no depth. The book summed up a major research and development initiative in a hundred or so words.

I chose the two examples because they are familiar ground for me. If you want to know how well a book is written analyze what was said against what you know. If there are faults then there are probably faults with the other sections. I can't fault the other sections because I'm not an expert on them or know an expert to discuss them with. Therefore there are probably other faults in the other articles as well. Is this a moot point because the book is intended to be an overview on a couple hundred techniques? Maybe. But then that's for the prospective readers to decide and measure their needs against. [...]