Advice

I just came back from speaking at the Minnesota's Inventor's Congress (MIC). For those of you who don't know, the Minnesota Inventors Congress is one of the oldest and most established inventor trade shows in the country. And I have to say, I learned more from the inventors who attended MIC then I ever thought possible. It was so inspiring that I felt compelled to write this article and share.

As you begin your path toward bringing your invention to market, you might become keenly aware of how many naysayers suddenly show up in your life.   And when I say naysayers I mean people who don't share your vision, don't believe you can make things happen or let you know that for some reason or another you cannot actualize your invention dreams. 

Tina Fey, one of today's most prolific writers and comediennes will not becoming a resident of Twitterville any time soon. Even though she is actively engaged at present on a book tour for her latest retrospective titled, "Bossypants," Fey doesn't quite see the benefit of promoting her brand via the microblogging platform.

Google, long known for it speed in serving up searches faster than a speeding bullet has of recent date been spending more time "thinking" than delivering results. From "Think with Google" a platform initiated in June, 2010 that generated  insightful and inspiring bite-size videos -  to the release of its first edition of "Think Quarterly" a 69-page dive into the world of data and its impact on business - Google is taking the scholarly high-road in analyzing and reflecting on today's digital landscape.

You came up with a great new idea. Something that fixes a big problem that tons of people have. And something you think can make millions of dollars. And so you’re thinking that your idea is worth millions of dollars. If so, you probably don’t want to read on. Because, in my opinion, you invention is worth nothing.

If you’re new to the game of selling to major retailers, then you’re probably wondering how their buying processes work.   It’s a question that comes up all of the time in my workshops and classes.  And this important topic rarely gets discussed, so I thought I’d take a minute to review!

Today I'd like to discuss the topic of Taking Action and bringing your inventions to market in 2011! I have been in contact with many inventors over the last year and it has been a wonderful experience.  However, I've noticed patterns in that many of you start moving toward your goals of bringing your inventions to market, and then somehow get stuck along the way.

Yes, of course, inspirations can come from anywhere. But is BAE Systems taking cartoon-mimicry just a little too far with its Batman-inspired tank?

Packaging is essential to your success with Major Retailers.  Therefore, it is imperative that you spend more time and effort on packaging!  I've seen amazing product concepts not get realized by Major Retailers because of packaging. Truly, packaging can make or break a buyer's decision as to whether they buy your product or not.

Virtually any online get rich quick scheme that sounds too good to be true probably is. Some people are so eager to make quick money that they don't put in the due diligence to ensure a company is legit, and they end up getting scammed and losing their money.

So you've been thinking about starting your own business. Perhaps it's been a long term goal of yours, or just an idea that came to you recently. Either way, there's some information you should consider before taking any further steps. Take a few minutes to evaluate yourself. Ask yourself, "What am I good at? What are my talents?" Next, ask yourself, "What am I bad at? What are my weaknesses?" As you evaluate, be honest - if you're not honest you're only doing a disservice to yourself.

Inventors with patents, new product ideas and technology that may have military or government applications will have a special opportunity to have their invention reviewed at the Innovation Enterprise 2010 Conference, November 15 - 17, in Macon, GA.

Looking for investors for your new invention can be an arduous process - by understanding what potential investors are looking for in a lender, you'll be better equip when pitching your idea. Obviously they expect the details of the business, such as organization, location, marketing strategy and implementation strategy, but investors also have specific key areas they focus on. They want to see that you know the ins and outs of the industry, how your product or service is unique, if you have researched your competition thoroughly, if they can expect a return on their investment, and how soon.

Inventors with a patent, invention, innovation or new product idea are ripe candidates for scams. This is part one of a four-part series that unveils the ugly truth about the rip-off artists that rob millions from inventors annually.

A common misconception about selling to Major Retailers is that you have to be a large established company in order to sell to them. This is absolutely  not the case! The truth is that there are many small start-up companies with just one product SKU that have gotten their products into Major Retailers. 

Ever come up with a solution to an everyday problem that was driving you nuts? The Boogie Mom's did and they made millions!

Learn what to send, (and not send) about your  idea or invention to a company who may be interested in commercializing your patent or new product by reading this helpful article.

Simple, Effective, Valuable, and Playing in a Big Market. This is the stuff of great products. Do you have ideas that measure up? To give you an example, let's look at a product and assess these issues.