Authored by Michael Collins, CEO of innovation agency Big Idea Group, The Million–Dollar Idea in Everyone describes how the old R&D labs and "lone inventors" are being supplemented, and even replaced, by "everyday experts" using blogs, podcasts, virtual communities, micro businesses, and more to bring an idea, insight, or invention to fruition.

Introduction. Acknowledgments. Part I. Getting To Know You. Chapter 1. Everyday Experts: How People Are Profiting From What They Already Know. Getting Into The Open Innovation Movement. Chapter 2. Think Big. Start Small. Thinking Big. Starting Small. Chapter 3. Pursue Your Passion, Let The Money Follow. Be Patient And Persistent. Let The Money Follow. Chapter 4. Uncovering Your Brand Potential: Personal Inventory. Ground Rules. It′s All About You. Putting It All Together. Part II. Putting Your Ideas Into Action. Chapter 5. Beginning Level: Test–Drive Your Expertise. Innovation Contests. User–Driven Businesses. Insight Opportunities. Finding Beginning Level Opportunities. Chapter 6. Intermediate Level: Find Your Sweet Spot. Create An Online Presence. Attract Visitors. Get Rewards. Do It For The Love. Chapter 7. Advanced Level: Kick It Up A Notch. When To Leverage Your Platform. How To Go To The Next Level. Checkpoint. Part III. Fine Tuning Your Everyday Expertise. Chapter 8. Be Good At Something: Pick A Niche. Fill A Need. Pick A Niche. Fill A Need. Chapter 9. Invent For Less. Think Big. Start Small. Pick A Niche. Fill A Need. Chapter 10. Sink Or Swim: Learn How To Sell. Get Over The Stigma. Learn How To Sell. The First Sale. Get Someone Else To Help. Chapter 11. Get Over It: Learn From Rejection. Reduce The Number Of Rejections You′ll Face. Take The Opportunity To Learn. Know When To Walk Away. Part IV. Tools, Tips, And Tricks. Ten Tips For Getting Started. Terminology. Where To Start. Getting Help. Blog Notes. Business In General. Contests. Creatives. Industry News. Inventing And Product Development. Places To Sell Your Stuff. Podcast Sites. Publicity And Promotion. Miscellaneous. Web Traffic And Ad Revenue.

Join the innovation revolution and turn your BIG ideas into BIG money! Before the Internet made instant communication and collaboration possible, inventing a new product or starting a new business was risky. Innovators and entrepreneurs were often faced with the daunting task of doing it all on their own discovering a market opportunity, thinking of the solution, getting funding, lining up manufacturers and distributors, marketing, and eventually selling the goods. Success hinged on having enough time and money to launch and grow the venture quickly something many first–time entrepreneurs are unprepared for. But today is the era of the amateur. Thanks to the Internet and the emerging phenomenon of open–source innovation, making money from your creative ideas and expertise is easier than ever. No longer do big ideas only come out of corporate R&D labs or from people willing to quit their jobs and go into debt to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Today, big ideas come from everyday experts just like you schoolteachers, construction workers, college students, computer–savvy teenagers, almost anyone. Yet people with big ideas can′t do it alone. The Million–Dollar Idea in Everyone is your guide to making a difference and a dollar. This information–packed resource includes practical, real–world advice to help you explore your ideas, test–drive them, put them into action, and turn them into long–term income without risking everything. Whether you dream of becoming a millionaire inventor or just want to earn a little extra on the side, this revolutionary guide will inspire you, inform you, and help you turn your BIG ideas into BIG money.

"both a manifesto for why you should embrace open innovation, and a manual." (The Guardian, Saturday 5th April 2008) "Whether you just want to make a few extra pounds or start a new business, this handy investor′s guide points the way." (Business Edge, February 2009)