The Commercialization Process Advisor

There, I Fixed It Shows How Random Innovation Gets the Job Done

We all want to say that we planned our innovation or our invention, but in most cases it is a matter of whim or inspiration that gets the original idea and then a lot of thought and analysis that gets us to a viable concept.

Here are some solutions that clearly show how "necessity is the mother of invention".

Maybe There, I Fixed It can help spur new ideas and concepts in the solution of the problems that you are facing in your invention or innovation.  Sometimes all we need is a random kick in the head to get the ideas to flow.

Innovation Comes In Many Forms

Innovation can happen anywhere in just about any thing that you can think of.  It can be formal or informal.  It can be planned or spontaneous. 

The government is now officially in the innovation business.

Unstick Your Invention Idea

Did you ever get stuck on an idea or concept?  Hit a wall?  Run out of ideas?  Most inventors experience tough challenges and obstacles when working on their inventions.  Some run into these obstacles during the design phase while others run into barriers at the prototype phase.  Still others encounter problems when they are seeking certifications and approvals.  It can happen anywhere in the invention process.

It happens to all creative people whether they are artists, writers or inventors.  All of these people have at least one thing in common - the drive to create something new. 

In order for them to create something new they have to sift through the plethora of thoughts about the problem, challenge or obstacles that they are solving or overcoming.  Don't mistake these seemingly unrelated thoughts for flotsam - use them to move your invention process forward.

A great way to use the invention idea thoughts that you capture is to organize them.  This is usually very unnatural for a creative person.  For the new inventor, "having a method to your madness"  is essential to invention process progress.  You can get there without establishing some type of method or system but it will be a lot harder.

You can capture your thoughts and record them in a matrix.  List your thoughts in a column along the left hand side of your spreadsheet or table and also create the same list along the upper horizontal row.  Add to both as you come up with new thoughts.  Make notes of new thoughts or ideas where the various thoughts intersect.  Most it may be gibberish, but at some point you might find that gem that starts you down a novel train of thought to the answer that you seek.

If you want to jump start your thoughts than use a mind map.  This helps you to capture thoughts on the fly and then organize them later.  It is great for both group and individual brainstorming.  A great free software that does an outstanding mind mapping job is Freemind.  It has enough bells and whistles to get the job done without straining your budget.

Sometimes looking at something a different way is the path to the solution.  Most of us have heard "Think outside the box," at least once over the last few years.  This saying, but for its popular contriteness, actually holds a kernel of a main characteristic for most successful inventors. 

That characteristic is the ability to think different from the norm.  What could be more different than the opposite of your ideas or thoughts?  Take your thoughts and ideas on a potential solution and REVERSE them.  Think about the total opposite.  That should be a good kick in the head.  It will definitely get your mind working and some other ideas to start flowing.

After all of this you may have stumpled upon a workable solution to your specific invention process problem.  If not, there is still one other trick that many of the most sophisticated scientists and technologists use everyday.  Look to nature.

Go for a walk outdoors and look at nature.  Look at the land, water, plants, animals and sky.  See what nature is doing.  Ask yourself, "What would nature do?" 

You may be surprised to learn that many inventions were inspired by nature.  There are so many that it has become a science of its own.  It is called biomimetics.  The key thing that you need to know is that it is a proven technique.

Nature has a way of solving all of its problems - over time - and this thought pattern may lead you to the solution to your invention idea or invention process problem.

Innovation Secret for Small Business

A recent Forbes article highlights what many astute innovators know.  Listen to your customers and adapt your business to give them what they want and you will succeed.

Innovation is the lifeblood of growing your business and competing in this tough market.  You could compete on price, but everyone does that in a tough economy.  The successful companies compete on innovation. 

Keep your eyes open, think about your customers' pains, wants and needs and you will find some innovation secrets for your market sector.

This little secret can help even the most mature growth resistant businesses find ways to break away from the pack, gain an advantage and earn higher revenue and profits than the competition. 

The Inauguration of A Period of Innovation

History is being made today.  The inauguration of the nation's 44th President is ushering in a new era of hope, optimism and innovation.   President Obama, in his inauguration speech called for all of us to work together to bring science and new ideas to the fore front for the benefit of all humanity.

Inventors and innovators - individually and collectively will still have to persevere and overcome insurmountable odds to bring their ideas to market for both commercialization and the benefit of society, but somehow the environment may be a little friendlier, making their journey just a tad bit easier.

There is a renewed call to make America competitive.  We were competitive in the past because of our inventions and innovations.  In order to regain our unique station in the world we will have to develop inventions and innovations that solve problems and create opportunities.  The challenge we face are tough, the solutions to these challenges may be tougher.

A recent letter to the President written by Charles M. Vest, the President Emeritus of MIT, was featured in the December issue of Technology Review.  The letter calls for the funding of the America Competes Act of 2007.  These types of initiatives are crucial to our continued innovation.  The Act was passed in August 2007 but it has not been funded.  The Act was co-sponsored by 69 Senators including Senator, now President Barack Obama.

Just as no one man can solve all of our problems, no one piece of legislation can make all of our problems go away.  What it can do is set the stage of expectations for our society to once again embrace science, technology, knowledge and innovation.

We need more basic research in our universities and research institutions, better science and math education in K - 12, and a better system of intellectual property protection.

Let us be thankful for the period of optimism and unity that is not only sweeping America, but also the world.  Let us be realistic about the challenges ahead of us.  Let us know that innovation is crucial to find the solutions to many of the challenges that we face - whether those challenges are technical, social or economic.

Inventions and innovations are not partisan issues, nor are they the property of one nation.  Many people have great ideas, but never put the energy behind making them a reality.  Some because they don't know how, and others because they just don't.  Inventing and innovating is hard work.  It requires vision and perseverance.

For those of us who are passionate about innovation lets use this time to recommit ourselves to do our part to move the innovative landscape forward.  Some of us can do it in research labs, some in academia, others in K - 12 education, some in corporations, and many of us in basements and garages.  All of us inventing our dream to make the world a better place. 

Regardless of where you are and what you envision - know this - "Change has come to America" - and it has come in the form of innovation and a call for the inventive initiative in all of us.

3 Tools for Inventors and Innovators

Being an inventor and innovator is getting easier.  What used to be the realm of the big company or the large government funded research center is now becoming the playground of determined inquisitive inventors and innovators.

Biotech used to be reserved for Ph.D.'s with large research staffs and a great idea.  Now garage biology lets anyone who is willing to learn the basics perform research in the comfort of their own home.   This opens the door for bio-technology innovators to invent new solutions to old (or new) problems.  Who knows, the cure for some rare disease may come from a DIY biotech innovator.

Those inventors and innovators who are interested in technologies and solutions with electronic or mechanical parts may be interested in the Fab Lab concept.  This concept, which was developed at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, may just revolutionize the invention and manufacturing process. 

It is basically digital fabrication which allows inventors and innovators to take more control over the invention and small scale manufacturing process.   The Fab Lab concept is currently being used in the US, South Africa, Europe and India.  It is used in a wide range of industry sectors including alternative energy and computers. 

It can make mechanical or electronic components on an as needed basis.  It is a great tool for rapid prototyping.  The cost is still too high to set one up in your garage or basement, but as with all things - this too shall pass.  Until then there may be groups or organizations that provide Fab Lab time on an as needed basis.

One other set of tools that inventors and innovators may find interesting allow DIY 3D movies.  Once you add that 3rd dimension the movie, whether it is a core part of your invention or innovation or a virtual brochure supporting its commercialization, you have have created something that the viewer can almost reach out and touch.

Several new 3D movie creation tools were recently unveiled at the most recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that was recently held in Las Vegas.

Inventors and innovators have always been visionaries.  That is at the core of their existence.  These tools will make it easier for those visions to become a reality.

Domestic Innovation is a New Priority

These are innovative times.  The Big 3 are on the verge of collapse if they don't receive an immediate loan.  Energy prices are plunging almost as fast and furious as they rose 6 months ago.  These and other economic crises open the door for innovation.

The incoming Obama-Biden administration plans to invest in domestic innovation and research to foster new economic opportunities.  The plan to make the research and development tax credits permanent will entice business to take more innovation risks.  These risks are where monumental innovation happens.

These policy tools are necessary if we are going to get serious about alternative energy, improved cost efficient health care and sustainable wages for our citizens.  The world is a much different place, and as always, old industries with low skill level commodity jobs that can be done anywhere do not create high wages.  Innovation and new leading edge industries and jobs will change this.

If you are an inventor - keep inventing.  If you are an entrepreneur, keep innovating and if you are a university - keep researching.  Pretty soon inventing and innovating may be seen as our patriotic duty.

New Product Sales Forecasting is Tricky Business

Most new products that make it to the market place have overcome tremendous challenges just to get this far.  Successfully overcoming all of these challenges is nothing compared to meeting the new product sales forecasts for the invention or innovation.  75% of new products fail in the market place.

It is never too early to start thinking about your new product sales forecasts.  The accuracy of this one planning tool can make the difference between financial success and total sales obscurity for your invention.

Forecasting sales of new products is very risky.  Many new product sales forecasts are totally wrong.  The forecasts must take into account:

• sales in price to customer dollars
• sales history of similar products
• adoption rates of target customers
• repeat sales potential
• test market results
• market entry simulations
• brand loyalty of target customers
• competitors most likely responses to new market entry
• multiple distribution scenarios
• planned discounts
• multiple sales scenarios
• advertising and marketing expenses
• volume credits
• affiliate and associate fees

Lot's of stuff to think about.  My experience is that most inventors, researchers, technologists and innovators need help to implement new product sales forecasting.  Some hire an adviser or consultant while others look to business plan software.

Both of these paths work, that is, as long as you provide realistic data and assumptions.  An adviser may not know your exact target market as much as they say that they do.    Your projections as the inventor, may be too emotionally attached (and therefore optimistically inflated) to be accurate.  This is your baby, so don't balk at the fact that your attachment to it may be biased.

A business plan software package, regardless of the brand, will only be as accurate as the data that you put in it.  There is an old computer adage that seems to be forgotten in this era of the blogosphere - it is - "Garbage In, Garbage Out".

The data that you put into your new product sales forecast will determine the accuracy of the information in your new product sales forecast.

Don't get railroaded by missing your forecast for your new invention or innovation.  Not being able to support and defend your new product sales forecast can send investors, partners and occasionally customers running to the hills thinking - "What a Rube!"

Evolving Intellectual Property Leads to Public Hearings

The FTC, in its efforts to keep up with the times, will begin public hearings on December 5th, 2008.  The hearings will examine the changing Intellectual Property Market by examining:

1. Changes in intellectual property law.
2. Patent related business models.
3. New learnings from the operation of the patent system as a result of recent judicial rulings and legislative proposals.

The hearings will consider the complexities of the impact of the changes in regards to innovation, competition and the consumer.

Discussions will be help on business model innovation as well as the impact of the recent legal rulings on the value of selling or licensing a patent.

Learn from Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008

Next week the first annual Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 starts.  It's purpose is to "inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity".  It is sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation.  It will be held in 75 countries. 

Wow, an international forum designed to help people think more creatively so that they can make innovation a cornerstone of their entrepreneurial mindset.

Learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 to see how it can help you learn more entrepreneur strategies for your inventions and innovations.