Little Bets
How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries
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"An enthusiastic, example-rich argument for innovating in a particular way--by deliberately experimenting and taking small exploratory steps in novel directions. Light, bright, and packed with tidy anecdotes" (The Wall Street Journal).
What do Apple CEO Steve Jobs, comedian Chris Rock, prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, and the story developers at Pixar films all have in common? Bestselling author Peter Sims found that rather than start with a big idea or plan a whole project in advance, they make a methodical series of little bets, learning critical information from lots of little failures and from small but significant wins.
Reporting on a fascinating range of research, from the psychology of creative blocks to the influential field of design thinking, Sims offers engaging and illuminating accounts of breakthrough innovators at work, and a whole new way of thinking about how to navigate uncertain situations and unleash our untapped creative powers.
About this Author
Peter Sims is a bestselling author and the founder and chairman of BLK SHP (Black Sheep), Inc., a place and platform for making small bets and building new ventures. He is also an advisor at Google[x], The Moonshot Factory, Alphabet's semi-secret innovation laboratory. After working as an investor in venture capital with Summit Partners in London, Sims became an accidental author, as the coauthor of True North, the bestseller that has been selected as one of the top twenty-five leadership books of all-time. After that, he stumbled into Stanford's Institute of Design and learned product design and design thinking, an experience that helped Peter view himself as a creative for the first time, so he dedicated himself to writing his second book, Little Bets, for all those with untapped creativity. A top resource for innovators, it was selected as one of the six best advice books for entrepreneurs by The Wall Street Journal. Previously, he cofounded FUSE corps and was part of the initial team of collaborators that started Giving Tuesday, the global philanthropic movement that raised roughly $10 billion in over 100 countries for social good causes. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Stanford Business School. In all that he does, Peter feels most at home as a creative entrepreneur and innovator, contributing to making the world a bit more human.
Reviews
"Little Bets is a timely and compelling book that will change the way you think, a roadmap to success in the 21st century. And, a very enjoyable read."
"A fascinating and revealing journey through the real-life dynamics of the creative process. Vividly written and bustling with examples from comedy to architecture, Little Bets is a wonderful example of itself: a big idea that takes shape through many small discoveries. I highly recommend it for anyone with a serious interest in cultivating creativity in business, education or in their own lives."
"I have always believed that constant innovation is core to success. The methods Peter Sims provides in the highly engaging Little Bets will help you challenge the status quo and discover extraordinary new possibilities in whatever endeavor you're engaged in."
"Want a big idea? Start little. Whether you're an entrepreneur or an artist, Peter Sims shows you how big breakthroughs start with little bets."
"I really can't say enough about this book; Little Bets rings so true to my own experience at Teach For America. Peter Sims does a huge service by showing the world how big entrepreneurial and innovative successes come to be -- and in the process reveals ways of thinking that aren't the product of anything elusive or enigmatic but rather of traits we can all learn and foster, such as openness, inquisitiveness, and perseverance."
"Peter Sims buries the myth that big talkers with brains and big ideas move industry and science forward. This modern masterpiece demonstrates that the most powerful and profitable ideas are produced by persistent people who mess with lots of little ideas and keep muddling forward until they get it right. Little Bets is easily the most delightful and useful innovation book published in the last decade."
"With examples that range from traditional businesses to stand-up comedians, Peter Sims shows that the path to big success is lined with small failures. Behind every breakthrough idea is often a host of experiments that flopped -- and Sims shows how to leverage these "little bets" to produce lasting results. This is a powerful and practical book."
"In Little Bets, Peter Sims convincingly argues that we need a new model of creativity, focused around gradual improvement and constant innovation. If you're not learning while doing, Sims points out, then you're probably doing it wrong."
"Peter Sims' exciting new book, Little Bets,is replete with stunning insights about innovation and the remarkable benefits of backing many creative initiatives that yield the big breakthrough. Corporate leaders everywhere can benefit from his sound advice."
"'Little Bets' is a big idea. Here's my bet: if you're passionate about innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, you need to read this book!"
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