Embracing Crazy Ideas with Kobi Yamada

From digital health services in healthcare, and drone delivery services in technology, to creating a biliteracy instructional framework in education, innovators, change-makers, disruptors, and idea people create the solutions that make a difference in the world today.

Is there ever an idea that’s too crazy? Not in Kobi Yamada’s book, it’s not. Embracing crazy ideas is what Yamada is all about. He is a New York Times Best Selling Author and the CEO of Compendium, Inc. Yamada started Compendium thirty years ago to bring thoughtful and inspiring gifts to the masses. And then he had a crazy idea to write a picture book. That book, What Do You Do with an Idea, led to others.

Because Yamada’s books talk about creativity, courage, and persistence, they are often referenced, discussed, and taught in college and business settings.

Dustin Odham, host of Change Starts Here, spoke with Yamada about his career, the concept of embracing crazy ideas, and how he uses his books to foster that idea growth within people.

Odham and Yamada discuss:

  • The nature and value of ideas
  • Putting action into inspiration
  • Yamada’s company, Compendium

“Compendium, at its heart, wants to make gifts,” Yamada said. “And they want to make gifts for people to share, connect, appreciate, and celebrate. We make journals, gift books, greeting cards, pop-open cards, and children’s books. We love the power of words. We love inspiration, and that inspiration is sort of in the DNA of the company. It’s something that ties and threads each product together.”

About Kobi

Kobi Yamada is a multiple New York Times bestselling author, including the award-winning picture books: What Do You Do with An Idea?, What Do You Do With A Problem?, What Do You Do With A Chance?, Maybe, Trying and Because I Had A Teacher, Because of You, Mom, Because of You, Dad, Finding Muchness and The Candy Dish. His books have sold millions of copies and inspired a dance performance, a symphony performance, a musical theater performance, and an upcoming animated film. His books appear in over thirty languages. Kobi also serves as the President/CEO of Compendium, Incorporated, an inspiring gift and publishing company.

Get a discount on all of Kobi’s books!

Compendium: https://www.live-inspired.com/
Discount: 20% off, expires 6/30/23
Promo Code: STARTHERE20

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

Read More
Inside the Spot Freight Shift: How Manifold Is Simplifying a Fragmented Logistics Market
April 21, 2026

The freight market is in the midst of a notable shift. With national tender rejection rates approaching 14% by the end of Q1, freight conditions have shifted back in carriers’ favor, often coinciding with increased activity in the spot market. At the same time, logistics teams are juggling an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of portals, emails,…

Read More
healthcare 2026
Healthcare’s 2026 Reality: Growing Workforce Gaps, Tiered Access, and the Rise of AI Support
April 20, 2026

Healthcare systems are entering 2026 under mounting pressure. A growing, aging population and rising disease burden are colliding with persistent workforce shortages—highlighted by projections that new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. will surpass two million this year alone. The stakes are no longer theoretical: delays in care, limited specialist access, and widening disparities are…

Read More
Mental Health Care
Policy, AI, and New Funding Models Are Reshaping Mental Health Care Delivery
April 16, 2026

Mental health care isn’t a new problem—but it’s finally being treated like an urgent one. After years of being sidelined, the cracks in the system are becoming impossible to ignore: overstretched clinicians, long wait times, and entire communities without consistent access to care. In the U.S., the scale is striking—more than one in five…

Read More