Many aspiring inventors make three mistakes:

They try to invent the wrong things.

They don’t have the persistence (or patience) to stay with a good idea until it pays off.

They don’t go about selling their inventions the right way.

And bear in mind that it may be years before a basically good idea begins to affect the inventor’s bank account favorably (the consumer market is a fickle one; the industrial field may pay more).

 When you try to sell your product or service, the people around the table will usually tell you all the reasons it isn’t any good. It’s partly because they didn’t think of it, partly because they may be taking a huge risk if they buy it, and partly because it’s always hard work to turn an idea into a product ready to sell.

Pick three companies that could logically use and produce your invention. Present it to all three at the same time. Tell each one that two others are looking at it. Fear of competition is a stronger motivating force than the desire for a new product.

To increase your chances of success:

You’re going to need strong persistence (or stubbornness, determination, foolhardiness, you name it), know-how, and a knack for producing the right thing for the right purpose (and at the right time).

Also, in no particular order:

Invent by the rules(for the most part).

Companies have a huge investment in their going product and don’t like to gamble. If they tried something totally new and it didn’t catch on, they could or would be wiped out. What a company will buy is something that won’t interfere with the going product (or may enhance it).

Look for new materials for ideas.

There’s a vast amount of inventing done by applying new materials to old problems.

Be alert to new ideas everywhere.

Read trade magazines, go on virtual plant tours if possible, have phone conversations or virtual chats with factory workers, for example. If you’re still commuting to work, look around and see what’s still being done by hand, or where a process is complex, messy, or expensive. Always ask yourself: “What can be done more effectively, better, cheaper, or differently?”

Apply your ideas in many fields.

While you’re developing your product, service, or process for one area, continue working on your second or other products. Diversify!

If you have a good idea, keep trying.

Watch-and study-the TV show, “Shark Tank” (and before that, there was a similar show, also on ABC, which aired for two seasons, called “American Inventor“). Many, if not most, inventors have labored for years on their products or services. Most get turned down or only make it to the preliminary rounds. But most vow to keep up because they believe; they know their product or service is great. And that’s what you’ll need to do:

 Never Give Up!

Did You Know That…..

You can develop an inventive ability far more than you may believe possible by utilizing creative thinking.

There’s a common pattern of motivation used by many inventors and creative individuals; they have a great interest in any potential problems or solutions and a strong desire to solve them.

General knowledge is very important; other things being equal, the one who has a broad knowledge of many fields and a lot of prior experience can often come up with new and significant creative ideas more easily and rapidly than the individual who has only specialized knowledge of one field.