Jill Salzman

Jill Salzman logo with her name in black cursive text over yellow bars, accompanied by a pair of black-framed glasses
Speech bubble with a knot of squiggle lines.Illustrated thought bubble with a question mark in it.Thought bubble with a mess of arrows pointing in different directions.

No ifs or ands... just buts.

The Big But Book: A Graphic Novel About the Detours That Shape Us is not your average read. It’s a visually rich, emotionally honest journey through the messy middle—the “buts” that hold us back, reroute our plans, and ultimately shape who we become.

Told through bold illustrations and sharp storytelling, this graphic novel invites you to explore the internal monologues we rarely say out loud: “I want to grow my business, BUT I’m overwhelmed.” “I know I’m capable, BUT I keep procrastinating.” “I want more, BUT I don’t know what that looks like.” These aren’t excuses—they’re clues. And unapologetic truth-teller, coach, and author Jill Salzman guides you through them with wit, warmth, and a healthy dose of irreverence.

Whether you’re a business owner, a creative thinker, or someone standing at a crossroads, The Big But Book offers a fresh lens on personal growth. It doesn’t promise perfection or overnight success. It celebrates detours, doubts, and the power of slowing down to move forward.

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The Big But Book with a set of colored pencils. Fun illustrative doodles of colored pencils and action lines appear in the background with the phrase, Color Me! pointing to The Big But Book. In the bottom left corner is a picture of Jill Salzman with the call out of a 60-minute virtual workshop.
The Workshop Bundle

Perfect for companies, teams, mastermind groups, or communities. This bundle includes:

  • A 60-minute virtual workshop to be scheduled at your convenience.
  • 20 copies of The Big But Book: A Graphic Novel About the Detours That Shape Us.
  • 20 sets of colored pencils.
Buy Bundle
The Big But Book with a set of colored pencils. Fun illustrative doodles of colored pencils and action lines appear in the background with the phrase, Color Me! pointing to The Big But Book
The Coloring Bundle

Perfect for bringing the book to life and for bringing the calm to yourself. This bundle includes:

  • 1 print copy of The Big But Book: A Graphic Novel About the Detours That Shape Us.
  • 1 set of colored pencils.
  • 1 virtual high-five.
Buy Bundle
Jill Salzman's three books (Found It: A field guide for mom entrepreneurs; The Big But Book; The Best Business Book in the World) lined up on a table next to a pack of colored pencils.
The Book Bundle

Perfect for the voracious reader. This bundle includes all of Jill's books:

  • 1 print copy of The Big But Book: A Graphic Novel About the Detours That Shape Us (2026).
  • 1 print copy of The Best Business Book In The World* (*According to My Mom) (2018).
  • 1 print copy of Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs (2012).
  • 1 set of colored pencils.
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About the author

Jill Salzman

Jill Salzman is thirteen feet tall, can juggle 46 business books while reciting TED talks backward, and she’s the curator of the Anti-Manual Manual. Her kindergarten teacher called her “a responsible 5-year old” and she’s been riding high on that ever since. Not once has she inspired entrepreneurs to take meaningful action or help anyone make more money, unless you count the people she’s helped – which she doesn’t, because who’s counting? Jill hasn’t written bestselling books or shared the stage with Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, or Desmond John because that would be crazy. Does she try to convince her daughters that cassette tapes existed? Every day. Don’t bother going to JillSalzman.com, either. Not worth it

Illustration of Jill Salzman, sitting at a table with her chin resting on her hand, the other hand holding an oversized pencil poised as if she's writing.
Illustration of Lauren Nelson, with her hands in the air in a joyful stance wearing a long, flowing cardigan,
About the illustrator

Lauren Nelson

Lauren Nelson’s superpower? Illustration. Always dressed in her signature comfy hoodie and claw clip, she crafts glittery digital graphics, quirky photoshopped imagery, and doodles on every wall she walks by (always professionally, 'cause she's classy.) She usually does logo design by crayon, branding identity with ripped-up old magazines, creates social media graphics using needlepoint thread, and her custom illustrations are done in all the colors of the rainbow— just not for this book. She can only work by rivers or lakes. When she’s not making things look amazing, she can be found doing yoga, spinning yarn out of her cats’ hair, and seeing her favorite emo band's anniversary tours. If you go to LMNelsonDesign.com you'll see unicorns, at least one cat, and exactly 645 invisible pieces of art.