Interesting question. Here are two thoughts/questions:
1. For those in the past who invented "the next big thing" ... of course, they were passionate about it and believed in it enough to overcome all the hurdles and challenges, and to keep going, but did they
know it was going to take off and become the next big thing?
2. now, thinking about what the next big thing would be, here are two (there are definitely more) obvious characteristics that I came up with just now:
a) it has to touch very hot buttons for a large portion of the target audience
or
b) it has to solve an important problem or make something a lot simpler or more convenient.
Given that I am already working on the next big thing, I won't share any more specifics here! just kidding, of course
sort of
Sherif