Now that we have an idea on the table, what do we do next? This
of course depends on our expectations as well as the idea itself.
Licensing may be our best choice. For our purpose here, however,
I assume we will venture a device all the way to market, that it
will be around for awhile, and is something the typical handyman
can conceive and make from scratch, given the tools and materials.
It is also an apparatus that the owner will want to use and rely
on for several years before replacing. Because of its long expected
market life and vulnerability to competition, our device must be
patented to secure and maintain a market. So how do we proceed?
Our initial question must be, will our concept work as visualized?
On the way to proving functionality, we expect to encounter complications-a
downside. However, more often than not, complications are opportunities
for improvement and even brand new concepts-an upside. Done right,
a product development cycle will reveal extensions of the original
concept as well as new opportunities. Edison showed this repeatedly,
as have others. The keys here are to think creatively all along the
venture path while looking for opportunities. Invention breeding
invention can be an ongoing process.
A successful development will depend on the mindset of the innovator(s)
as well as the rules of the free enterprise game. Given the basic
concept, how do we use our creative juices to achieve the very best
result we can for a given market while we maximize returns to our
bank account? At the same time, how do we provide a base for the
best possible patent coverage and ensure marketability?
Let's start with our own attitude. How enamored are we with our
concept? Being enamored is a little like being in love to the point
of being blind to serious incompatibilities with the other person.
Being enamored with what is essentially a business venture is a recipe
for disappointment. Many inventors are in fact in love with their
own ideas. That is not all bad, of course-we all tend to do it-it
just gets in the way of the development process. The "enamor
trap" is the most common bias inventors face. Unfortunately,
most of us are blind to our own biases.
Developing an original takes as much creativity as creating an original-and
more energy. If we are unbiased, we find it easy to look for problems
needing attention; we can clearly proceed on a development course
based on knowledge, logic and experience instead of blind emotion.
A healthy enthusiasm with reality checks is the key.
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