If you want to be an inventor, You must be in Problem Recognition Mode.
Successful inventors are always in a ‘problem recognition mode.’
We Help Inventors: Submit your Invention to Companies
Inventor: Suppose your car has a small leak or drip that continues to mark your garage floor or driveway and you can’t seem to locate the source. Recognizing that very problem in my own garage led me to become an inventor and invent DripID®, an absorbent mat you place beneath your car to catch and identify fluid leaks. Or suppose your child asked to have a special birthday party with unique party invitations. This led me to become an inventor and invent SneakerDoodle™, a party invitation and sneaker doodle kit with markers and stencils allowing party attendees to decorate a pair of sneakers as a party keepsake. Such opportunities present themselves throughout your day as problems in search of an inventor with inventive solutions if you are in ‘problem recognition mode.’
To be an Inventor
To put myself in ‘problem recognition mode’ I start with reminders by my bath room mirror, my monitor at work, and the night stand by my bed. In addition, I personally keep a crayon in the shower to jot down thoughts while I am relaxed by the soothing water and removed from daily noises that interrupt clear thought. Once you stop and recognize a problem or idea your mind will both consciously and subconsciously begin to think of ways to remedy or fix the problem. Here comes the invention! And now you are an Inventor.
Tip: Keep pen and paper near your bed. I know I have forgotten many solutions to problems or ideas for inventions because I failed to write them down, especially ideas that have come to me in the middle of the night. Be sure to write them down before you go back to sleep!
Inventions and ideas will normally fall into one of three categories:
Inventions within your expertise – These are inventions you can develop or prototype yourself and fund the development yourself. For example, you may have the knowledge and expertise needed to design a prototype or make the invention (reduce the invention to practice) yourself.
Inventions requiring the aid of friends or colleagues – These are inventions or ideas that you personally cannot prototype or fund the development and prototyping alone. Here, you call upon a group of friends or colleagues with the necessary skills to assist you with design, engineering, financing or the knowledge needed to implement the invention.
Inventions involving third party relationships – For example, you have an idea or invention that must be integrated into an existing product being sold by Company A to Company B. Or your new idea or invention requires a new relationship between Company A and Company B. Perhaps your idea or invention requires an insider/employee in a company who believes in your idea or invention and is willing to be a champion for your project.
Obviously, as you progress from category 1-3 mentioned above, the level of complexity increases and factors influencing your chance of success weigh against you as an independent inventor. This is not to say that category 2 and 3 are to be avoided. Rather, if this is your first entrepreneurial experience in the world of ideas and inventions you may want to pursue an idea or invention in category 1 or 2.
With experience, you will find a quicker payoff from ideas or inventions in category 1 since they can be quickly licensed or easily sold via the Internet without any employees, partners or relationships. Moreover, if you can spend time and money developing something once and sell it repeatedly without customizing your product or service for each sale you are in a sweet spot.
Joy and happiness comes from solving problems.
What is an Inventor Kit? Inventor Help
An Inventor Kit is a kit of self help tools and inventor information to help an inventor with the first steps each inventor should put their invention or idea through to see if it is worthy of pursuit. Step 1 Document your Invention, properly.