course, and City Slide®, our 500 m urban waterslide, all across Europe. It seems as if one of our shows is taking place every weekend, somewhere on the continent. From Ibiza to Amsterdam, our guests experience unforgettable moments. My co-founders and I live together. We work hard, travel often, laugh a lot, and live our dream!
2019
I’ve been asked repeatedly: “How does it work? How do I get to live your life?” So, now I’m sitting down and writing a book.
Matthew’s Q&A
•What few people know: I always take ice-cold showers.
•Favorite music: Depends on the situation. At the gym—electronic. For work/focus—classical or binaural beats. In the shower—’90s Pop. Driving, walking, or cooking—audiobook/podcast.
•Food: healthy (sushi/Thai/salad/Italian)
•Vacation: Muskoka, Canada
•Coke or Pepsi: none, just water
•Weakness: Difficulty saying “no” to new business opportunities. I’ve learned something important along the way: If it’s not a “hell, yes,” it’s a “no!” (Thanks, Derek Sivers.)
•Strength: Discipline. I’ve never been the best/most intelligent/strongest /most talented, but I always work harder and more consistently than expected. My advice—create winning habits!
•Proudest Moment as an Entrepreneur: Knowing when I’ve done enough.
•Aha! Moment: When life blossoms from the inside out.
•Best Advice: Help your dreams and those of others come true.
•Favorite Book: Tao Te Ching by Laozi
•Favorite Film: The Little Prince
•Favorite Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” (Gandhi)
I focus on two principles to guide you to success: Substance and Practicality.
This book is intended to help you generate the highest return on investment (ROI) in terms of time and money, and as quickly as possible. During the research for this book, I was inspired by two basic theories of physics—to create optimal “Stability” (or “Substance”) and “Impact” (or “Practicality”).
I had a clear conceptual vision while writing this book: I wanted to structure it in a way that I, as a reader myself, would enjoy it. I usually prefer to absorb knowledge in short bursts; I prefer short articles or chapters, as opposed to long passages. Because of my passion for systemization, efficiency, and high-leveraging, I focused on the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule: “Which 20 percent of my experience is responsible for 80 percent of my success?” (More on that later.) In other words: “What is the essential?” When I listen to (short) interviews with experts, I expect dense content, and I’m interested in the essentials. I conceived Your Next Big Thing as a collection of important and clearly structured ideas and action steps—no fluff and no confusion. This structure was a no-brainer for me.
Let’s go back to our basic principles: Stability and Impact. I wanted this book to “be like a nail”!
Wait… a nail?! Let me explain.
(I have attached a definition of the word “nail” to the end of this chapter in case you are unfamiliar with it.)
Stability
Imagine an old fakir lying on a bed of nails. Why do none of the sharp tips pierce his skin? Because his weight on the board is evenly distributed. Through distribution, the pressure is relieved, redistributed, and the danger averted. Tada! Similarly, the information contained in this book is organized in a way that keeps you from being overwhelmed by the incisive ideas needed to bring your most brilliant ideas to fruition. Although every idea in this book is important (sharp), what makes it work is the arrangement of these ideas (the nails), which together create a truly stable platform. Confusion becomes clarity, and to your enthralled audience, you become a seemingly invulnerable fakir, with fascinating magical tricks.
Impact
Carefully chosen and properly arranged, the individual “nails” of this book are indispensable tools for constructing your most creative work—and your best life. The ideas I share allow you to cut through the fog, use your resources to create new structures, and break the status quo. These ideas are both the foundation and the results of any endeavor. Together, nail-by-nail, you and I will examine the structure of success, back to its logical source. Every method in this book helps you construct “your next big thing.” Our examination of your inner life will change your perspective forever.
Nail
/nāl/
noun
A small metal spike with a broadened flat head, driven typically into wood with a hammer to join things together or to serve as a peg or hook.
What Is a “Next Big Thing”?
Before you can understand how to develop your “next big thing,” I should first clarify what attributes make something a truly “next big thing.” We will use those attributes (or values) as a guide or checklist when considering different proposals. A real “next big thing” includes all or some of the following features:
Meaning/Value
A real “next big thing” costs time, energy, and attention. It becomes an integral part of its founder’s life, and is closely connected to a team, an environment, customers, and partners. Questioning the meaning and value of the “next big thing” opens the dialogue about the conviction (the “why”), and the vision that form its foundation. In any company, the emotional appeal of a project (the “BIG” in “next big thing”) is missing unless there are enduring values and “real” meaning.
Fairness
Right is right, and wrong is wrong. A real “next big thing” must consider the principles of morality and ethics—whether it’s legal, fair, and honest.
Problem-Solving
Big problems set the stage for big ideas. How big is the question that will be answered? How big is the problem that will be solved? Your next big problem will open up a market that has big potential.
Scalability
A true “next big thing” is always bigger than the single brain behind it. Can the idea really scale, function, and grow, even without the founder standing next to it? Scaling-up creates exponential growth and paves the way for long journeys.
Optimized Risk
The market rewards risk and brilliance. A smart “next big thing” generates profits inversely proportional to the risk. A true “next big thing” is smart, doesn’t financially paralyze you, and clearly tells you when to collect your chips and leave the table.
The System Behind the Chapters
Read the table of contents like a blueprint. It is a set of systematic building instructions for successfully constructing your next big idea. An important note: