Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Next Big Idea
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Next Big Idea
Visit the “A Bedtime Story” show website to submit your story ideas for a future episode!
Ethan Miles stared at the glowing screen of his laptop, its cursor blinking like a metronome, measuring the beats of his stalled creativity. As an app developer with a couple of modest successes under his belt, he was now haunted by the pursuit of something greater—an app that would not just trend but transform. But inspiration was elusive, slipping through his fingers like grains of digital sand.
He began his days with rigorous routines: black coffee, morning runs, and endless scrolls through forums, tech blogs, and app stores. Each idea he jotted down felt derivative—another to-do list manager, another photo filter app. The spark he craved remained dim, hidden behind the noise of saturation.
One evening, frustrated and restless, Ethan left his cluttered workspace for a walk through the bustling city streets. Neon signs flickered stories of cafes, bookshops, and late-night diners. He noticed people engrossed in their phones, faces illuminated by the soft glow of apps designed to entertain, connect, or distract. But beyond that glow, he observed subtle moments—an elderly man struggling to translate a street sign, a teenager doodling ideas for a school project, a street musician unable to find a nearby gig.
It struck him then. The next big idea wasn't about creating something flashy or addictive. It was about solving a problem, even a small one, that mattered.
Ethan returned home energized. He began sketching an app concept—a platform that would connect local artists, musicians, and creatives with community spaces seeking talent. Simple, yet powerful. It would help hidden talents find audiences, foster collaborations, and build community connections.
Months of coding, testing, and refining followed. The app, aptly named "Spotlight," launched quietly but grew organically. Users shared stories of newfound opportunities, collaborations born from chance connections, and communities enriched by local talent.
Ethan never called it his "big break." But in solving a small, meaningful problem, he found not just success but purpose. And that, he realized, was the spark he’d been searching for all along.
View all episodes
By Matthew MitchellVisit the “A Bedtime Story” show website to submit your story ideas for a future episode!
Ethan Miles stared at the glowing screen of his laptop, its cursor blinking like a metronome, measuring the beats of his stalled creativity. As an app developer with a couple of modest successes under his belt, he was now haunted by the pursuit of something greater—an app that would not just trend but transform. But inspiration was elusive, slipping through his fingers like grains of digital sand.
He began his days with rigorous routines: black coffee, morning runs, and endless scrolls through forums, tech blogs, and app stores. Each idea he jotted down felt derivative—another to-do list manager, another photo filter app. The spark he craved remained dim, hidden behind the noise of saturation.
One evening, frustrated and restless, Ethan left his cluttered workspace for a walk through the bustling city streets. Neon signs flickered stories of cafes, bookshops, and late-night diners. He noticed people engrossed in their phones, faces illuminated by the soft glow of apps designed to entertain, connect, or distract. But beyond that glow, he observed subtle moments—an elderly man struggling to translate a street sign, a teenager doodling ideas for a school project, a street musician unable to find a nearby gig.
It struck him then. The next big idea wasn't about creating something flashy or addictive. It was about solving a problem, even a small one, that mattered.
Ethan returned home energized. He began sketching an app concept—a platform that would connect local artists, musicians, and creatives with community spaces seeking talent. Simple, yet powerful. It would help hidden talents find audiences, foster collaborations, and build community connections.
Months of coding, testing, and refining followed. The app, aptly named "Spotlight," launched quietly but grew organically. Users shared stories of newfound opportunities, collaborations born from chance connections, and communities enriched by local talent.
Ethan never called it his "big break." But in solving a small, meaningful problem, he found not just success but purpose. And that, he realized, was the spark he’d been searching for all along.