Need Help Inventing

 

“You invented that?”  People would ask me wide-eyed in amazement.  Why was it so hard for them to believe that I could invent something?  Do I look like a complete bozo? I am a normal looking professional-teacher and mother of five.  What is an inventor supposed to look like? Maybe they had a hard time believing I was a real-life inventor because I am a woman or a blond, but that is a whole other subject.  Their next question was always, “Where did you get help inventing?” Well, keep reading and I will tell you.

 

Now, how many of you have ever watched a commercial or searched the store aisles and discovered a new product that was YOUR idea?  I don’t know many people who haven’t had this frustrating feeling!

 

Well, if we really think about it, they didn’t steal our ideas, they just put the work and money into bringing our idea to market. Right? Well, I had experienced that feeling over and over again and I was tired of it.  I heard about the art teacher who invented Baby Einsteins and wondered how I could be successful like that. 

 

I had an idea, but that is about all I had.  I needed help inventing.  I mean really inventing.  Just having an idea doesn’t qualify you as an inventor.  You need to do something with it before someone will respect you as an inventor. 

 

I have a list below of how to start turning your ideas into actual inventions:

 

• create a CAD drawing or model of your product idea

• submit your idea to a reputable invention evaluation team

¶ join an Inventor’s group, visit local Business Development Center

• read every book and article on the subject

• conduct a market test

• if the market test bodes well, start preparations to protect your idea with copyrights, trademarks and patents (www.uspto.gov)

• write goals and raise money

• create a prototype at a local factory

• conduct another market test

• write your business plan

• license or market your product (which is a complete venture in itself!)

 

This is a very simplified list of how to take your product idea and begin making it a reality.  It is hard work, takes more time and money than you would ever think, and the success rate is against you.  The only reason I succeeded is because I never gave up and kept seeking help inventing.  Please ask for help and I would be happy to help!