BUZZINGA

What Makes A True Inventor

2012-03-03T19:49:00.002-08:00

What Makes A True Inventor

Be Humble

Be Smart

Be Positive

Be True

Be Grateful

And Most Important Be Involved

I see it almost everyday, an inventor with a bad attitude that feels that this industry owe's them something. They have put in all these thousand of dollars on a patent, research, marketing, manufacturing therefore someone owe's them something.

That is not the case, be humble, be kind, be couragous, be grateful, be smart, be involved, these are traits of true inventors.

If we do not find a way to change the industries perception of us as inventors, there will be no industry for us anymore!! We need to come in with open eyes, and understand that our attitude plays a major role in whether or not a business wants to deal with us as outsiders, and yes we are outsiders.

Most large companies has a design team that does the exact same thing we as inventors do everyday. The difference is they do not have to deal with an outsider that may be wearing their feelings on their shoulders, or not want to change simple things such as materials, name of product, ect.

Remember when you contact a company, they don't need you so it is up to you to sell your product, and yourself to that company. Know your product, know the answers to the questions that you should already know they are going to ask you. And remember if it's a licensing deal you are seeking you are assigning your rights for them to do all the work for you, so at that point all you can do is sit back, trust them, and let them do their magic. It's what they do, and before you sign that deal understand that we are not talking about days, sometimes it is years before it hits the market and you begin to collect a royalty.

The more you understand the better your chances of getting to the finish line with your product. But as an industry we must be more professional, more open minded, and more understanding of our industry.

What's Happening To Our Industry??

2012-02-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

As our new year takes off, I can't help but wonder "What's Happening In Our Industry?"

A few years ago I came into the inventing industry to find a group of guys that were oh so eager to help the new inventor. I am not sure where I would be without each and every one of them.

Today it is a "he said, she said" and "let's do whatever we can to destroy this one or that one!!"

With each passing day I wonder "Can I make a difference?" Will 2012 be better in our industry? Or will this vendetta continue on?

I found myself on Linkedin a few weeks ago, and out of nowhere, and for reasons beyond me I was being slammed all over the place. The only thing I can think of that I may have done wrong was adding the wrong people on to my connections list, and somehow I became a target of harrassing, threatening, and I for one am just sick of it.

We make this industry what it is, and when we treat other's so badly, it makes our industry as a whole look like a bunch of Jack Wagons...........As adults if we have a problem whatever happen to contacting the person to discuss it? Or contacting our authorities instead some of you opt to call out people on open forums, harrass, threaten, and blog. I have one question for everyone "HOW IS THIS HELPING NEW INVENTORS?" Are we teaching them to be afraid to come to us for fear of what happens if they make a mistake? I mean are they the next victim in all of this?

I am a successful inventor, and I was scared off of linkedin by the drama, the rumors, and the down right disrespect of other's in our industry!!!! I have even been afraid to add new people to my facebook, and I really do help the inventor community when I can. I spend my nights answering questions, giving advice, just trying to give back to our community JUST LIKE I SAID I WOULD.

So I say lets all "Man Up" and help our fellow inventors.........Without us, Our mistakes, Our successes, and Our failures there is noone to lead them to their success, and help them avoid the pitfalls we have all had........

LET'S MAKE 2012 A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR THE CHANGES WE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY!!!!!!

Farberware Trap Door Colander by Lifetime Brands

2012-02-14T17:18:00.001-08:00

Watching Your Product Come To Life.............PRICELESS!!!!!!

Inventor Scams......We Hear It Everyday.......But Do We Really Listen????

2012-02-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

So we hear about inventor scams everyday, right?? The problem is, do we actually listen??

With each passing day we hear of another inventor who has been taken advantage of by someone in our own industry. Sometimes they are given bad advice, sometimes they are taken for thousands and thousands of dollars.

Inventors post and complain about inventor scams, and we read it..........But somehow as new ambitious inventors we fall right into the same trap we have been warned about over and over again.

So, I have been wondering why? And how? We as an industry have a responsibility to prevent other inventors from getting scammed. The problem is inventors jump on facebook, or linkedin and the second someone sings the song, and dances the dance for inventors they fall hook, line, and sinker. As new inventors we think someone else that has more experience in the industry can tell us if we have the winning product......THAT IS NOT THE CASE!! They can give you their opinion, but no one knows if you have the winning product......Look at the snuggie, and remember it was turned down by companies, and just look at it go!!!! I am sure the inventor of the snuggie was told by many people that it would never make it......And guess what?? Once again "Look at it go"!!!!!

Inventors want to believe everytime they hear "I can help you get this to market" this is their chance for success, and they just know this company or this person is going to give them that success, and the millions they are looking for.

So this blog post is to say STOP!!! STOP falling for all the fake claims that people can get your idea to market, or that they can make you millions.......YOU can find a way to get your idea to market......YOU have to work hard if you ever want to make millions. Usually these companies, and individuals making you these promises will have no better success with your product that YOU!!!!

Use the resources available to you to research companies, or people. Ask for references, and follow through with them. Here is a great one to help you understand what steps to take to possibly save yourself thousands, so if your here reading this blog make sure you take the time to click this link and read this as well. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/documents/scamprevent.pdf

If someone scams you turn them in. If they can't show you their credentials RUN......Don't Walk.....RUN away!!! We as an industry deserve better than all the sharks out there looking to either take your money on empty promises, or take your idea period. If you are in this industry you know what I mean by people will tell you anything to get you to spend thousands with them......I have seen it a million times "But they were so nice and so professional" Then I research the company for 10 minutes and find all sorts of red flags on them.

INVENTORS BEWARE: Do not fall for all the new scams out there. My most recent scam on inventors I heard was an email from a company that appears to be the USPTO saying your fees on your patents are due......Guess what? If you send your money to this company all they are is a company that promises to maintain your patent for you, and not a dime goes to the USPTO for your fees.........

There is so much great in this industry, and so many great people, but always keep your eyes out for the ones that are out to get you!!!!!!! Inventor Scams are very real, and many of us have already had it happen to us in one way or another. So lets stand up because if we as an industry do we can slowly weed out the bad. It is our responsibility to protect our industry from the scams out there.

Cyber Stalking

2012-01-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

With each passing day Cyber Stalking is becoming increasingly worse.

I am writing this blog post because I have recently become a victim of Cyber Stalking myself. I have been doing research on ways to protect yourself if you to ever fall victim to this horrendous crime. The one thing to remember is just because they do not know you, or even if they live in a different country, you can still easily fall victim to this crime.

Every site I have been on for the last year, this one person keeps showing up to leave somewhat threatening comments, and they have increasingly gotten worse. It is to the point now where I deleted my linkedin account, and am very skeptical about having a Facebook. With each friend request I get on Facebook, instead of being excited about helping new inventors, I have to wonder "Is this him again" but only under a different name. It has now increased where more than one person is involved, and I am being falsely accused of doing things I have not done.

It does not matter how hard you try to be a good wife, a good mother, and a professional in our industry in an instant your life can change. I have recently started carrying a hand gun, and have become very proficient at using it. When you realize that there is someone out there that you do not know making physical threats toward you, you quickly realize this world is a dangerous place.

Please remember if you fall victim to this crime, no matter how difficult it is to hold them accountable, there are new laws in effect everyday to protect you from this crime. Be alert, and take notice if someone is stalking you, threatening you in any way "TAKE ACTION"!!

Once you become a success there is always someone that wants to take that from you. They hold your success against you, therefore in their opinion "You Somehow Deserve What They Are Doing" but "THEY ARE WRONG"!!

Here is a list to help you, as this is the steps I have taken so far.

1. Make the person aware that you know they are stalking you. They of course will deny it, but do it anyway.

2. Keep records, copy and paste every threatening post, email, or anything else you can to prove your case to your local law enforcement agency.

3. Contact your local law enforcement. You will be asked to meet with an investigator, and show proof of your claims. Make sure you have it laid out, and easy for them to follow the trail of your stalker.

4. Remember your stalker may not be in your country, it could be someone as close as "Florida" http://www.stluciesheriff.com/ or even as far away as "Australia" http://www.afp.gov.au/contact.aspx#general_enquiries . You will then need to contact local law enforcement in their local town as well. Your local law enforcement should give you the information on how to effectively contact them. They may even contact them for you. Also NOTE: Because you are a victim of Cyber stalking they will keep your identity confidential while investigating the crime.

5. Do not allow them to get you to stoop to their level, keep a level head, and do not allow them to intimidate you into anything. Anytime they make contact, turn it over to the police. If they use your name, turn it over to the police. They will do this to imtimidate you, and try to make you afraid.

6. Once you get your report from your local police department, you could always post it publicly for your stalker to see. I know I will be posting mine as I move through this process. I will keep you posted on my results.

7. Wait it out, CYBER STALKING IS A CRIME, and don't stop until you get your justice!!!!!!

8. In certain cases the threats toward you could be considered terroristic, and could possibly put your stalker on the watch list, espcially if the threats are toward your life.

9. Something most people do not realize is that it is illegal for someone to use your name without your written consent. It is illegal for them to post untrue statements about you. For instance anything on this blog is confidential, and cannot be copied without my consent.

10. NEVER think, well it's only on the internet, they can't harm me on the internet. Many times Cyber Stalking has went from the internet right to your front door. We live in a day in age where we are only a click away, and GPS will deliver them right to you. DO NOT TAKE CYBER STALKING LIGHTLY..........

11. NEVER THINK IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME.......IT CAN!!!!!

Google New Policy Changes That Can Help

http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/governmentrequests/

For the record, people with nothing to hide, hide nothing!!

Make sure before you accuse someone of doing wrong, get all your facts straight, and have your paper trail laid out for law enforcement. Falsely accusing someone of something is also illegal, so make sure you document everything.

Texas Cyber Stalking Laws

Last updated: January 11, 2012

AN ACT
relating to the creation of the offense of online harassment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 33.07 to read as follows:
SEC. 33.07. ONLINE HARASSMENT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person uses the name or persona of another person to create a web page on or to post one or more messages on a commercial social networking site:
(1) without obtaining the other person's consent; and
(2) with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person sends an electronic mail, instant message, text message, or similar communication that references a name, domain address, phone number, or other item of identifying information belonging to any person:
(1) without obtaining the other person's consent;
(2) with the intent to cause a recipient of the communication to reasonably believe that the other person authorized or transmitted the communication; and
(3) with the intent to harm or defraud any person.
(c) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third degree. An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the actor commits the offense with the intent to solicit a response by emergency personnel.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor is any of the following entities or that the actor's conduct consisted solely of action taken as an employee of any of the following entities:
(1) a commercial social networking site;
(2) an Internet service provider;
(3) an interactive computer service, as defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 230;
(4) a telecommunications provider, as defined by Section 51.002, Utilities Code; or
(f) In this section:
(1) "Commercial social networking site" means any business, organization, or other similar entity operating a website that permits persons to become registered users for the purpose of establishing personal relationships with other users through direct or real-time communication with other users or the creation of web pages or profiles available to the public or to other users. The term does not include an electronic mail program or a message board program.
(2) "Identifying information" has the meaning assigned by Section 32.51.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Sec. 42.07. HARASSMENT. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass another, he:

(1) initiates communication by telephone, in writing, or by electronic communication and in the course of the communication makes a comment, request, suggestion, or proposal that is obscene;

(2) threatens, by telephone, in writing, or by electronic communication, in a manner reasonably likely to alarm the person receiving the threat, to inflict bodily injury on the person or to commit a felony against the person, a member of his family or household, or his property;

(3) conveys, in a manner reasonably likely to alarm the person receiving the report, a false report, which is known by the conveyor to be false, that another person has suffered death or serious bodily injury;

(4) causes the telephone of another to ring repeatedly or makes repeated telephone communications anonymously or in a manner reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, embarrass, or offend another;

(5) makes a telephone call and intentionally fails to hang up or disengage the connection;

(6) knowingly permits a telephone under the person's control to be used by another to commit an offense under this section; or

(7) sends repeated electronic communications in a manner reasonably likely to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, embarrass, or offend another.

(b) In this section:

(1) "Electronic communication" means a transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or photo-optical system. The term includes:

(A) a communication initiated by electronic mail, instant message, network call, or facsimile machine; and

(B) a communication made to a pager.

(2) "Family" and "household" have the meaning assigned by Chapter 71, Family Code.

(3) "Obscene" means containing a patently offensive description of or a solicitation to commit an ultimate sex act, including sexual intercourse, masturbation, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus, or a description of an excretory function.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted under this section.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 2204, ch. 411, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 10, Sec. 1, eff. March 19, 1993; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 657, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 15.02(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1222, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

I Was Contacted By A Magazine For An Article.....They Ask Five Key Points I Would Tell A New Inventor

2012-01-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

1. Research is key in inventing. The last thing you want is to submit a product, and the company find either an exact, or something very similar that already exist on the market within minutes.

2. One common misconeption of inventors is "They will steal my idea." Most companies would rather partner with you for a small royalty than steal your idea and have the bad publicity.

3. Just because a product is patentable, does not make it marketabale. Do not spend thousands on patenting until you are confident you have researched the product, and its market place.

4. You do not need invention submission companies, you can submit your own products for review to the same companies they can. Just remember submit it professionally, and once you submit your product to an inventor friendly company do not hound them everyday. It takes time, as you can only imagine how many submissions they see daily. Give them a few weeks, and maybe follow up with a quick email, or phone call.

5. Be careful of individuals that claim they can get your product to market, ask for references on anyone that you use for submitting, marketing, patenting, ect. Also use google to see if there are legitimate complaints, just remember make an informed decision, not everything on the internet is as it appears at first glance. Remember knowledge is power in this industry, so take your time!! Nothing about this industry moves fast, so learn patience early on.

Remember doing your research can save you a lot of grief and money in the long run. Below is a link to an article written by one of my mentors coming into this industry that I think will truly help new inventors. It is called 12 Step Program Sealing A Licensing Deal http://www.inventorsdigest.com/archives/5042

Market Potential First.....Patenting Later

2012-01-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

Worry first about whether the product is even a marketable product. Once you have researched your product, and its market you will better know what approach to take on protecting your idea if in fact it is a marketable one.

Common mistakes in research is using only the web, or only asking friends, and family. If you are not sure how to do your own market research, I would probably consider hiring someone to do so before "selling the farm".

I am one of those people that know I do not have the skills to do my own market research, therefore I still prefer the licensing route because that leaves all of those things in someone else's hands. Someone that knows there market already! They know what sells, what doesn't sell, and what areas they need new products in. But if you choose to go the long road of manufacturing your own product, start first with research, and then decide whether you want to put the thousands and thousands of dollars into patenting, product, and marketing.

Another Mistake Is:

If I Don't Protect My Product Idea.....They Will Steal It!!

Companies are not out to steal invention ideas near as often as we would like to think. I'm not saying to run out screaming it from the roof tops, but companies would rather give the inventor their 3% to 7% percent (normally) rather than steal your idea and end up in a multi million dollar law suit. Companies know that in todays world it takes the click of a mouse to expose them. I am NOT saying that it never happens, but if you get obsessed that someone is going to steal your idea, you will lose sight of what is most important......RESEARCH!!

Do not get the carriage ahead of the horse, and run out and patent an idea only to find out a year later it was a waste of your money. Take your time, and keep everything noted in an inventors notebook so that you know exactly when each step of your process took place. Need to know more about an Inventors Notebook, read this article.

Happy Educated Inventing!!!!

Invention Submission Video Do's And Don'ts

2012-01-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

When your shooting your own Invention Submission Video it is important not to get off track.

I recently viewed a video of a product that may or may not have been a great product, but the video turned me off to it almost immediately.

When shooting your own video of a working prototype, and explaining your product, it should be clear, professional, and to the point.

Make sure you are in a well lit room with no clutter.
Position your camera where you do not have to move it around a lot, or have someone with a nice steady hand do it for you while you explain the product.
Have everything ready, so that you are not confused at any part during the video.
REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE
DO NOT start out the video with "Hi my name is Lesia Farmer, I am the proud mother of four from --------Texas. I have two dogs, six cats, and I live in a small town of 3300 people, and I have shown this product to 800 of them, and they think you ought to license it from me. When I was standing outside one day trying to use my ink pen, and realized that the ink pen I had just would not work outside in the cold air, so I started thinking of what I could do to make a pen work better outside in the cold air" .........Do you see where this is going?? Remember you are dealing with a company that has limited time, and their only concern is whether or not that is a good enough product to consider licensing. They simply do not care if I am from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or Maryland. They do not care how many kids I have, or even if they are hungry lol. It's all business for them, so make sure you keep it that way!!
SPEAK CLEARLY, and be well organized. Try this, Hello my name is Lesia Farmer! I am excited to show you my new innovative idea called "whatever it is" and tell them what makes that pen work better when it's cold outside. Sell it to them......Get In......Make Your Point......And Get Out so that they do not get bored!! Wow them with the product, and nothing else!!
Keep your video as short as possible, but hit all your key points, and show them how well your product works.
ALWAYS include your contact info at the end of the video clip.

Did You Know???

2012-01-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you can do research on your attorney before he writes your patents??????

I went to the USPTO, and pulled up every patent that my attorney had written before ever using him to patent my product.

Did you know that you can ask for personal references, and a good attorney would be more than happy to give those to you!!

Did you know that not every product is patentable?? Even if an invention submission company has recommended you for a patent does NOT mean you have a patentable product. The patenting process is a long drawn out one. Just because an invention submission company says it is "Recommended" for a patent does not mean you need to run out and grab a second mortgage on your home, or borrow countless thousands of dollars from family, and friends. Do your research before you start slinging out thousands of dollars just because someone says!!

Did you know that even if it is not a patentable product, you can still make money?? Look around at some products that are selling millions within the first year or two of hitting the market.....Guess what, I guarantee you they do not have an issued patent!! Some of them have no intentions of ever filing a patent......First to market means a lot.....It's kind of like "Get In" make your money, and "Get Out"!!

Did you know that a patent is only as good as the product itself??? If you have a product that can never be manufactured and sold at a good retail price, or a product that cannot substain mass market, or a product that is already out there somewhere, or one that's very similar filing a patent is almost pointless!!!

The one thing right off the bat that I really liked about my attorney was he said "I like your product a lot, but it is not my place to tell you that you should patent it, my job is to see if it is even patentable, and from there you decide if you feel it is worth pursuing"!! He was spot on, it is not a patent attorney's job to say whether or not your product is going to sell millions, because they do not know........Sure they would love for you to patent your product, they make a lot of money, and some of them WAY MORE THAN OTHERS!!! Just because they are going to charge you $15,000.00 or $20,000.00 does not mean you will get a better patent that someone who charges you $3,000.00 to $5,000.00. Do your RESEARCH before you just jump into that type of debt!!!!

ONLY 1-3 PERCENT OF PRODUCTS EVER MAKE IT TO RETAIL........PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND BEFORE "SELLING THE FARM"!!!!!!

Patenting On A Shoe String Budget!!

2011-12-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

On A Patenting Budget??

I have written one article on patenting on a shoe string budget, but here are my thoughts once again.

When I started out on my journey our business was not doing as well as it once was, so of course money was tight.

So let me give you a brief run down of how I did this:

Get a copy of "Patent It Yourself" by David Pressman (Take Your Time And Refer Back To It)
Remember that a PPA will cover you for 12 months and only cost $108.00 when filed through the USPTO's Web File system. The 12 months allows you time to seek a licensing deal, and the PPA does not require that you write your claims when filing. Claims is the heart of your utility, so you will want to be very cautious when writing those.
For me when starting out I was very hesitant about filing my own, so I contacted a retired patent attorney close to where I live, and just ask him if he would be willing to review my first couple of PPA's and give me the go ahead before filing. To my surprise he eagerly agreed, and charged me a whopping fee of $0.00 to review them. He made one change to my very first one, and gave me the go ahead on the next one with not one single change.
Take your time, and learn about the USPTO's Web File System you will be so glad you did. It takes $108.00 as a small entity to file, and I even called in on my first two and someone assisted me in filing to make sure their were no mistakes. My first call to them the guy was not so helpful, but my persistance paid off when I called back again, and got a really nice lady on the phone that was eager to help, and walked me through the whole process. I even called her directly back for my second filing, and now I am confident to do it all on my own.
Do your research.....Before you file that PPA make sure you have done your homework. Check out all of these places, and use every search keyword you can think of that your product could be called if it was on the market already. I use the USPTO , Free Patents Online , Google Patents , and even Google Images to do my research. The USPTO site has help pages, and webinars to help you obtain productive, thorough searches. Take your time before you file that PPA and make sure your product is not already out there. It looks bad if you contact a company for a licensing deal, and they find the product already on the market within 10 minutes that is either the same, or very similar.
Remember once you are done filing your PPA, don't hesitate to pick up the phone once you have your submission all prepared, and call companies. Ask them if they view outside products, and you will be surprised at how many of them will say yes. Submit it professionally with drawings, a sell sheet, with a great description of your product, and all of its key selling points. Show them why your product is unique, or better than the products already on the market. If you get a no, then move on to your next contact on your list. Do not be negative to the company, because you may just burn a bridge that you one day want to cross again!!

With that being said, I always stand by "Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way"!!

NOTE:

Patent claims are the part of a patent or patent application that defines the scope of protection granted by the patent. The claims define, in technical terms, the extent of the protection conferred by a patent, or the protection sought in a patent application. The claims are of the utmost importance both during prosecution and litigation.

For instance, a claim could read:

"An apparatus for catching mice, said apparatus comprising a base for placement on a surface, a spring member..."
"A chemical composition for cleaning windows, said composition comprising 10–15% ammonia, ..."
"Method for computing future life expectancies, said method comprising gathering data including X, Y, Z, ..."

A patent is a right to exclude others from making, using, selling or offering for sale the subject matter defined by the claims. In order to exclude someone from using a patented invention in a court, the patent owner, or patentee, needs to demonstrate that what the other person is using falls within the scope of a claim of the patent. Therefore, it is more valuable to obtain claims that include the minimal set of limitations that differentiate an invention over what came before, i.e. the so-called prior art. On the other hand, the fewer the limitations in a claim, the more likely it is that the claim will cover or "read on" what came before and be rejected during examination or found to be invalid at a later time for lack of novelty.

Licensing A Product VS Manufacturing A Product......Just My Thoughts!!!

2011-12-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

Licensing a product is where the inventor signs a deal with a company, usually to receive royalties usually on a quarterly basis. You will usually receive a small percent of what the product wholesales for. In some cases the licensor will take on the majority of the expenses such as patenting, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing, and you just kind of wait for the sales to hit, and the checks to start rolling in.

NOTE: Even once you have licensed the product it is still a very time consuming process. Don't get to excited when you sign that deal, because the wait can be months, even years before you see the product actually develop into a retail ready one. Just remember patience is key!!

I prefer the licensing method for many different reasons.....If you do not have the skills it takes to do everything start to finish, or the cash to manufacture, market, and build a successful product, as bad as this sounds without the right experience management, manufacturing, finance, sales and inventory control skills the product will probably never make it!!

Licensing A Product.....

Manufacturing A Product.....

Licensing allows the inventor to put all those risks into the hands of business's that do this everyday. They are skilled in every avenue of getting a product to retail because they do it everyday!! They don't have to search for a manufacturer in a foreign country in hopes that all goes well....They already have an established relationship with one.....Way to many risks in my opinion to go any other way than licensing.

Just imagine trying to get a product into a retail store like Bed, Bath And Beyond, or Wal Mart, Target, K-Mart or any other retail chain.....I am not saying it is impossible to get your product in there, but if you license your invention to a company.....They probably already are!!

You will find companies that promise you all day long they can get that product right into any of those retail chains.....FOR A SMALL NOMINAL FEE!!! And then still NO GUARANTEES.....The fact is shelf space is limited, and I can assure you that Wal Mart is not usually going to take shelf space from a large corporation just to give it to me the little inventor.

The thought of pennies on the dollar will make you cringe, but in reality even if you get your product to market alone, and instead of 25 cents you actually make the whole dollar, but you only sell 50,000 units VS the 2 million that a large company may sell....In reality you probably made more by licensing your invention.

I have done a lot of research into Licensing An Invention VS Manufacturing An Invention. The reality is that you have to either have a ton of money to pay people to do the things you are unsure of, or you have to really be skilled in many different areas that is for sure. I figured first off I do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the product manufactured, then once I get it manufactured I certainly do not have the skills to market it on my own......and distribution is a whole new ball game!! In the end (JUST MY OPINION) but by the time you have went through all of this, and by now you are in hundreds of thousands of dollars on a product that your still not sure will make it, you would have probably come out close to the same if you were to just save yourself all of that headache, and license it to a company that already has all of those steps in place!!

For me licensing has allowed me to continue on with other product ideas that I have. I am working on my second licensing deal as we speak, and hope to share it soon.....Don't want to brag to soon, because you just never know until you see the deal in front of your face!!

Finish Line......What is that??????

2011-12-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

I was sitting here thinking about my newest invention idea today, and I thought to myself "Where is the finish line" and right then I realized "There is no finish line for me."

I have no desire to ever reach the finish line.....I plan to blow by it like I never saw it and just keep on going!!!!

Inventing has changed my life. It has given me the purpose in life that I was looking for, the purpose that I spent years in college looking for. I tried my hand at many things trying to fill something that I always felt was missing!! My desire was always to "Make My Mark" and I always had ideas that I thought were really good ones, but was never sure what to do with them once they came to me.

I remember about 13 years ago my husband and I were driving down the road. I looked over at him and said "Wouldn't it be cool if caller I.D. showed up on the T.V. screen through your satellite box" and GUESS WHAT?? Yep you said it, that is out there now!!!

It was little things as a child even I would think "WOW wouldn't that be cool" but never really had the support system to do much with the ideas that I had.......Then came my husband now of 15 years!! He has stood by me through career changes, years of college, and all the while telling me "Knowledge Is Power"!!! You will find your way he would say, and one day I decided after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder to take some time off, and work on a few things at our home/office. So glad I did it, because that allowed me the time to do what truly made me happy. I had time to research ideas, and different ways of the inventing process!! I am also extremely grateful for finding that BB&B flyer about submitting ideas as well.....It kind of gave me my start!!!

Brief history of where I came from: Raised in an abusive home, mom died when I was 9 yrs old, and dad when I was only 13. I married my first husband at 14, and had my first of three sons when I was only 16 years old. Life was never a bowl of cherries for me by any means......But I found my way!!

I hear so many people use those types of things as excuses, but I used them as my driving force!!

I will be forever grateful for never knowing to stop at the finish line......Keep going......Push harder.....Learn all you can.......Knowledge is Truly Power!!!! Never give up, and like I said before "Run Past That Finish Line Like You Never Saw It"!!

Soon enough my first product will be hitting store shelves......And that is a dream come true!! Finally I can say "I DID IT" but I cannot say "I AM DONE" because I am certainly not planning to stop here!!!

Learning As I Go!!!

2011-12-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Lesia Farmer. I am the inventor of the "Trap Door Colander" that is due to be in retail stores soon. I was featured in the March 2011 issue of the Inventors Eye published by the USPTO as female inventor. The article is called “Spark of Genius” and can be viewed at http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/independent/eye/201103/spark.jsp.

The number one question that I get from other inventors is “how did you afford it?” That is usually the number one question from inventors, because so many other inventors are ripped off every single day for thousands and thousands of dollars. My number one answer is always “Do Your Research!!"

Well here goes in hopes to answer that question for you…..Through the years I have had ideas come to me from time to time, but never knew what exactly to do with them. Finally, after spending hundreds of dollars with an invention submission company, on a product idea my husband had and being told it was “The Best Idea Ever” and all we would have to come up with was $15,000.00 to get going on the product idea. This would get us a Patent Pending Application filed, a portfolio, and a spot in Las Vegas at the trades show.

Well first off at that time economy had taken its toll on my husband’s business, so squeezing out the hundreds of dollars was more than we were able to comfortably do, so $15,000.00 to get started was out of the question. We ended up with about a $900.00 portfolio, and nothing else. We were both a bit frustrated, and decided to just put the product idea on hold until we could possibly just manufacture it ourselves. Of course, that time never came……..

A few years later I came up with what was the best idea ever “I thought”. I found a small flyer at BB&B about an LPS they were having, and it gave a website to submit your product to enter the LPS “Live Product Search.” I actually forgot about it for a bit, and started trying to do a little research on how to submit a product idea to someone for review. At this point I am extremely skeptical of Invention Submission Companies, so there just had to be a better way! I remembered the flyer I found at BB&B, and decided to go on to the website, and possibly submit my product idea there. After a month or so of reading I decided to submit my product idea, and just see where it went…….And then I waited, and waited, and waited…..Weeks went by with nothing……It Was Too Much For Me so I took the product out, and by now had been reading behind a few of the more successful inventors on the site. Learning that there was so much more to a successful product than what I had ever thought! I reached out to a couple of the guys I had really developed a trusting sense for, and to my surprise they spent countless hours helping me learn my way. One of them pretty much told me that I was on the right track, but needed to learn a little more about how the industry worked…..Little did I know that after talking to them over time, that my product idea was however NOT the best idea ever as I had originally thought…….All the while I was still reading everyday……Learning more and more about the industry……What makes a good product……The difference in licensing and manufacturing a product……Who to trust……Understanding what an NDA does for me……How to submit a product to a company…… And most important was How To Research Effectively……AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS!!!!

Now, I am approximately 18 months or so in, and I am cooking dinner one night. I am making spaghetti, and when it came time to turn the colander over to empty its contents into the bowl it happened……I spilled hot clumped up spaghetti on my foot and was burned.

It was almost instantly, and I could even see it in my mind…….A BETTER WAY!!!! I can prevent people from steam burns, and burns from hot contents like noodles, potatoes, ect.

I knew it was the one…..I just could feel it…..But first I had to RESEARCH IT!! I started my research to make sure the product was not already on the market, and for the next few weeks I researched every chance I had. Then I felt pretty confident that the product was not out there anywhere, so next was doing some research on inventor friendly companies to submit this great idea to. Getting it ready to actually submit to them, all I have at this point is a simple drawing I made myself. After a couple of weeks on researching companies I had my list made of about five companies, and first on my list was Lifetime Brands out of New York. I had done extensive research on each company on my list, and knew they were a power house in the housewares industry. Who knew that as soon as I submitted to my first choice within weeks we would be discussing a licensing deal. And a few months in we had went from drawings, to PPA, to CADS, to prototype, to utility, to licensing deal, and the next thing I know there we were in Chicago viewing a rapid prototype of my product at the Chicago Housewares Show.

I tell you this long, boring story to get to the good stuff……I know you are thinking “It must be nice to be able to afford to get all of this done.” Well, let me just assure you at the time this idea come to me we were almost at a point of bankruptcy, and were not even sure how we would get this done…..CADS….PROTOTYPING.…PATENTING.…LLC and so much more!!

I had found a retired patent attorney in a town near me, and I picked up the phone and called him. He said to go buy a book by David Pressman called “Patent It Yourself” and learn to write my PPA’s, and he would read over them after they were written, and give me a seal of approval if he felt I had done good enough on writing it. I wrote my own PPA after reading the book, and he gave me a big ole GREAT JOB when it was completed. I filed my PPA for $108.00 on the USPTO’s Webfile. Then it came time to convert it from application to utility, so I started shopping around for a trustworthy patent attorney, and I found one out of California. I went to the USPTO site and researched, and read every single patent he had written to make sure I trusted him considering we would never meet. I can tell you that I spent less on PPA, CADS, UTILITY, LLC, and my trip to Chicago than most do on just getting their PPA filed.

Do not get taken advantage of…..there is really not much that an invention submission company can do for you that you are not able to do for yourself…..It takes time but it can be done without selling the farm as they say!! You do not have to give up your kids college funds if you have them, or place a second mortgage on your home…..Companies are becoming more and more inventor friendly because when you bring them a great idea, they only stand to make money as well as you the inventor. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone after you have completed your research and ask a company to take a look at your idea. Get your NDA signed to cover your product when possible, and if they do not sign NDA’s do your homework before you submit openly with no protection.

MOST IMPORTANTLY……This can be done on a shoe string budget, I know because I am living proof. I did my own research, spent a lot of time learning to write my own PPA’s, and have my company spill down to a science. I know just what I am going to say before I make the call, and it seems to make it easier. Learn patience, because nothing about inventing goes fast, and most of the time there is always some sort of glitch whether licensing or manufacturing a product yourself.

And remember if a product is truly unique, or solves a problem, and can be manufactured and sold at a good retail price, there is always a company willing to view your idea, and if you get turned down move on to the next company, just know that if you are continually getting turned down there is something to it. Either it is not unique, or it could be as simple as it can’t be manufactured and sold at the right price. A no does not always mean it’s not a good idea, just means something about the product may not be retail ready. So if that is the case, move on to your next great idea. If I had stuck with my original idea, I would not be where I am today because that product could not have been manufactured and sold at a price high enough to cover all of the liability that came along with it.

Don’t give up, and never take it personal, No’s are a key part of learning this industry. If you get a no, pick yourself up, dust off, and move on.

Look for the Farberware "Trap Door Colander" in stores soon!!!

Never Under Estimate Young Inventors Minds.......

2011-11-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

So here they are......My daughter had a friend over this weekend who was just so fascinated that I am an inventor.....She kept saying "Kaylee go get your mom" and so I would hear "MOM" every five minutes!!

So on about "MOM" number five I am thinking what could they possibly want now.....I had already heard "Can you invent something really cool for a kids room?" and "Is it hard to be an inventor?" and "Can I see a picture of your invention?" and so I am wondering....."WHAT NOW" LOL.....

So I walk in, sighed, and said ok what now??? And they say sit down "We Have The Best Idea Ever" HAHAHAHA......That was me a couple of years ago I'm thinking to myself........

But because it's my queen, and her bestie as they say......I sat and I listened to the idea......AND WOW!!!!! I have to say this will truly revolutionize something that almost every handicap person uses everyday!! I am probably 95% sure this product will someday be sold world wide......Seriously People.....Never Under Estimate The Power Of A Childs Mind.....I am so proud of them!!!

So I explained to them that the next step was research......which Kaylee understood, but her friend did not quiet get it......And we explained the importance of keeping their idea quiet.....And she said I will not say a word if you will help us work on it......AND OF COURSE I EAGERLY AGREED!!!!

So Get Ready World......Cause I Believe Here They Come!!!!

Learning When To Let Go........

2011-11-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Letting Go..............

Yes, you heard me right!! Learning when to "Let It Go" led me to where I am today.

Believe me three years ago when I started out "I had the best product idea ever!!" And it was going to make me millions..............

As I learned more and more about what made a good product, I was quickly learning that I in fact "Did not have the best product idea ever".

I had a product idea that I thought was the best ever, but the more I let people view it, and openly took their feedback on it, and then started learning what it would take to get that product to market I knew within a few months.........TIME TO MOVE ON!!!!

Honestly, had I have stayed married to my very first product idea that I just knew was "The Best Idea Ever" I would still be stuck trying to license or market a product that as hard as it was for me to admit was "So Not The Perfect Product".

The point is......A truly great product can't get there alone.....It takes you and a TON of work. But once you have done all you possibly can, and heard all the no's you possibly can hear, it may just be time to walk on. If you opened your mind to invent one product, trust me there will be another, and another, and another, and on and on and on. Inventing gets in your blood, and you become addicted, and everything becomes a possible product idea!!

Just Thought I Would Share This.....

2011-10-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Press releases

General Mills Invites Inventor Community to Join its Enhanced Worldwide Innovation Network

General Mills advances connected innovation efforts through increased focus and transparency with launch of new innovation portal, powered by inno360

November 04, 2009

Today General Mills extends an invitation to scientists, researchers, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs around the globe to visit the company’s new General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network (G-WIN) innovation portal. Visitors to the site can find opportunities to partner with General Mills on initiatives across the company’s extensive portfolio of leading consumer brands.
The new G-WIN innovation portal provides visitors with details on nearly 50 technical challenges that the company is looking to solve. Those who join the G-WIN community by registering online will receive ongoing updates about specific technical challenges that match their unique abilities and expertise.

“We are absolutely committed to changing the way we invent through connected innovation,” said Peter Erickson, senior vice president of Innovation, Technology and Quality at General Mills. “Connected innovation is very much a part of our culture. The new innovation portal, powered by inno360’s software, provides us with a wonderful tool to make the process more efficient.”
General Mills has partnered with innovation software firm inno360 to co-create the Web-based platform as part of the firm’s Alpha partner program.

“General Mills has been a pioneer and leader in the food industry in embracing new methods that will create value for consumers,” said Larry Huston, chief innovation officer of inno360 parent company STCI.

“We consider them to be a leader in applying the latest open innovation practices and in applying next generation thinking of how to create value through innovation. At inno360 we are so pleased to count General Mills as a partner in helping to change the innovation game.”

This technology will enable General Mills to enhance and accelerate significant innovation efforts already taking place inside the company by matching outside technical expertise and resources with a broader array of businesses and brands.

The G-WIN innovation portal allows visitors to submit novel ideas and respond to the company’s list of innovation opportunities. General Mills is interested in product, package and processing technologies that are applicable to the company’s categories or brands, uniquely meet an unmet consumer need, have been proven technically feasible and can be applied quickly, or are potentially game-changing for the food industry. The company will evaluate proposals and will respond to all submissions within three weeks.

The added capabilities on the G-WIN portal are representative of the company’s continued investment in connected innovation, which has proven to be a successful strategy for General Mills. In 2005, General Mills identified open innovation as a key strategic priority and formed a team charged with creating programs and processes to identify and engage external partners. In the spring of 2007, the company formalized its open innovation efforts and officially launched G-WIN to let the world know that it was actively seeking ideas from the outside. The original G-WIN Web site, also launched in 2007, shared information about the program and invited outside partners to submit their patent or patent-pending ideas for consideration.

Today, the G-WIN team has expanded to include 15 Innovation Entrepreneurs who work inside the company with each General Mills business division to identify connected innovation opportunities.
"G-WIN is our call to outside partners to let them know that we’re serious about open innovation,” said Jeff Bellairs, director of G-WIN. “It’s about reaching outside of our company, working with other inventors and incorporating their eureka moments with our unique capabilities to create bigger innovation in the marketplace.”

General Mills is dedicated to building meaningful and sustainable relationships that will not only benefit the company and its brands, but also its external partners. Partners who help the company achieve its innovation goals can benefit from General Mills’ resources, scale and credibility in the marketplace to advance their own business.

“In the past, we relied heavily on serendipity,” Bellairs said. “Inno360 is the connection engine that will give us the ability to find partners in a more proactive, thoughtful fashion.”

Since the launch of G-WIN, more than 40 new General Mills products have incorporated a significant portion of external innovation, including Fiber One Bars, Pillsbury® Savorings, Progresso® Light soups,Yoplait® Smoothie, and Wanchai Ferry frozen dinner kits.

View videos of General Mills' Peter Erickson and Jeff Bellairs discussing Connected Innovation and G-WIN, at BusinessWire.com.

About General Mills

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

For More Information, Contact:
Trade Media Contact:

Bridget Winberg
General Mills
763.293.4068

Business Media Contact:

Maerenn Jepsen

General Mills

763-764-6364

Oh These New Patent Laws.......

2011-10-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

So I have all these questions just rolling around in my head now.......I rely on the NDA a lot to help protect me before filing for a Provisional Patent Application.

I never file a Provisional Patent Application until I am ready to start hitting companies. The reason being is why start your clock ticking away? I mean if you can get your CADS, Sell Sheet, or Prototypes made before you file, you probably just allowed yourself a couple of

extra months to just submit to companies, so in my opinion why burn up the clock.

Not sure anymore with this whole "first to file" patent law change. The reason being is because now what if you use the NDA, or tell someone you trust, and they decide to go file. Do we just lose out, because we opted not to file first? A lot of questions for me now on this subject, and honestly I am not a paranoid inventor. I will submit a product to a company with no protection at all, because I always knew it was first to invent. That law allowed me a little protection as long as I could show I had submitted the product to them, and knew it was first to invent I felt better about it......Not so sure anymore!!

I posted this question about the NDA's protection after the new laws go into affect, so I will post my answer once I receive one from the UIA forum. Hopefully someone there can help me understand a little more.

Just My Thoughts For Today :) :) :)

These United States Patent Office Webinars Are Awesome!!

2011-10-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

USPTO to Host Webinar on America Invents Act (AIA) With Senior Agency Officials

WASHINGTON – The USPTO will host a free public webinar with senior agency officials on Monday, October 31, 2011 to discuss the America Invents Act (AIA). This historic legislation was signed into law by President Barack Obama on September 16, 2011. Participants in the webinar will outline the agency’s implementation plans, and answer a selection of questions submitted during the session. Questions should be submitted in advance to aia_townhallquestions@uspto.gov.

WHAT: America Invents Act Webinar

WHEN: Oct. 31, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

WHO: David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO

Teresa Stanek Rea, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO

Robert L. Stoll, Commissioner for Patents

Bernard Knight, USPTO General Counsel

James D. Smith, BPAI Chief Administrative Patent Judge

Moderated by Peter Pappas, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary

When An Idea Pops In An Inventors Head

2011-10-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Bam......Just like that your laying in bed and it hits you!! Your just watching a repeat episode of Seinfeld when the idea comes to mind.......And it's a good one too!!

Not sure about anyone else, but even though I have learned a lot of patience as far as waiting on companies, and taking a No like a champ......I have not conquered that initial excitement of a great idea.

So of course what do we do when that product idea comes to mind? We, well maybe me lol jumps out of bed, sneaks off to not wake up the family with the old faithful laptop to start digging. Just have to get a quick glimpse so that I know whether to even keep thinking about it or not. Usually within an hour or so if I cant find something that jumps out at me, I will jot it down in my notebook that stays by my bedside lol.

The next day I start a fresh search using USPTO, Google Images, Google Patents, Free Patents Online, and several others. That usually takes a couple of weeks before I feel that really good feeling......But you would think that that product idea could just wait til morning.....but nope it still can't lol.

I say all the time when a product idea comes to mind that I am like a kid in a candy store.....Never get me wrong......Most of the time I find the product already out there, or something very similar to it!! At that point if I can think of a great way to make it a unique product, I just move on to my next. Weird though, once I find it I am really not disappointed, just that initial excitement I guess.

Inventing for me is truly something I enjoy.....It's stressful at times.....but for the most part it is something I truly enjoy!! I may never conquer another licensing deal, but I will certainly never give up!! It's a challenge when it comes time for prototyping, and my husband and I enjoy that time together so much......Usually my daughter even jumps in, and even gives us some great 11 year old advice at times.

The one great piece of advice I have is to involve your family if they are willing!! It's been something we have truly enjoyed.....And what most people view as "Only A Dream" and I have heard that a million times out of people.....Can Very Much Become A Reality!!!!

Another great piece of advice is AVOID THE DRAMA on forums......Read the intelligent, educational things, and leave the rest behind.......You will learn and not get caught up into something that takes away from your goals.....Any Inventor Has One Goal.....PRODUCT ON A SHELF......Let nothing get in your way!!

Anyway, Happy Inventing.......As you can all probably tell I had another great idea hit me last night :) Of course I am researching......And in a couple weeks I will be prototyping.......And I will keep you posted :) as I go along!!

Looking Back........

2011-10-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

So I was just looking back on the last year or so of my life. It was about now when I came up with my product idea last year. Now here I am a year later looking back on what has been one of the best years of my life.

I have learned so much over the last few months, some good, and of course some bad.

Would I change anything? Sure, there are a couple of things I would do just a little differently, but overall I am so proud of me.

One of the things about inventors that you either love or hate is the passion.......I view everything in life as a potential product idea LOL.

I had many people tell me coming in, that it was a tough industry. I have to say I did not realize just how tough it could be at times! Have I ever had a thought about giving up? Yes I have, and would not be normal if the thought had not crossed my mind at 2:30 am when I was exhausted from research....It was a choice to stay, no one made me stay :) and this far I am so grateful I did.

I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly that I so often speak of. Learn to take the good, blend it with the bad, and stay away from the ugly, and I am confident you will do fine!!

Over the last few years I have had the most supportive family anyone could ever ask for. I have to honestly say once I was so far in, I had to finish it for her......I had to show her that what seems like only a dream, can very much become a reality.......If she can dream it, she can be it!!

Without a doubt she is going to follow right along in moms foot steps :) She has already came up with two GREAT ideas, and even prototyped them!!

"Success is only a word without the people you have to share it with"

So a great big ole thanks to my family for believing in me, supporting me, and loving me unconditionally. Success would truly mean nothing without having my family to share it with.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM ME, AND HER!!!!!

HAPPY INVENTING :) :)

I Was Asked Today "What I Would Say To A New Inventor"

2011-10-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

You have entered into a world full of passion, opinions, and raw emotions run wild here LOL.

Inventors are by far the most passionate people I have ever met, and most times you either love or hate the game......Me Personally "I Love It"!!

You will find some of the best people in the world right here researching this industry......Of course you will find others along the way as well......

I have always admitted that I was one of the most eager, excited, impatient people I knew a few years ago when I first started :). Learn your patience, let no one get you down, and remember "IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE.......IT USUALLY IS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE"!!!!

It's like anything else, if someone tells you they are going to get you a million dollars for the sofa that you only paid $900 for, your going to be skeptical, well be skeptical in this industry!! Do your homework before you just start submitting ideas to whoever is willing to look at them.

In the beginning I was caught up in some stressful situations that made it harder for me to stay focused on the task at hand.....Either a licensing deal, or manufacturing your product yourself you have to discipline yourself......It's like being self employed, or working from home......

I am trying to find a good safe place to chat where drama is low, but at least we could all share thoughts, failures, success, and great information!!!

I would love to share my story, but never sure where to post that I feel secure in doing so!! So I just come back here to my blog where I feel safe from the drama :) :).

I guess what I would say would be:

Careful of the drama
Careful who you trust
Have a lot of patience (your going to need it)
Know when to walk away from an idea, and move to your next
Consider the options of licensing & manufacturing
Ask questions before you sink thousands into a maybe (only 1 to 3 percent make it)
If you use invention submission companies (Do Your Research First)
Don't put your family in harms way (This Can Be Done Without Spending Thousands)
Know the best feeling in the world is actually knowing your product will be on a shelf soon!!

It takes time, patience, and dedication!! You can do this......Just do this wisely!! I followed some of the bigger names around, reading post, learning my research skills, and taking in every piece of information I could.

Trust me when I tell you that only a few years ago, I was impatient, all over the place, and had to learn patience, persistance, and dedication to a product. Once I figured out somewhat of how the game was played, I slowed down, and within a few months I had invented the perfect kitchen product, and had it patented, and licensed with one of the largest housewares companies in the US.

So Ready, Set, Lets Go Invent Something New!!!!

Oh The Waiting :)

2011-10-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well as you all know I signed my licensing deal months ago :)

With that being said what most people do not realize is that just because you get a licensing deal, it does not mean checks just start flying into your mailbox. There are still procedures like design "Yep, they usually redesign it a bit", what will the product be made of, getting the price point where it should be, manufacturing "Which can take months", and then you still have to have retail space to put it.

I have so many people ask me "Have you received royalties yet?" and I always say "It is not on a store shelf yet" so nope, not yet. This is a slow patience game, once you sign the deal, the wait is no where near over......And it only gets harder lol because you are not waiting on someone to take on your product, you are waiting on it to hit a retail store shelf!!

Patience is key to this entire game. When I first came into this inventing world I had the patience of a three year old lol, and someone once told me be patient, nothing about this moves quickly, and moving quickly can get you into trouble!! So I slowed down a bit, and for sure I have learned A LOT of patience!!

I will make sure I post when I get a date for the product to hit the shelves so that you can all run out and buy one hahahaha. Little humor there, but no really "GO BUY ONE" you are gonna just love it!!!

Thought I would share that with you, I had a call today by someone that just seemed shocked, or as if they did not believe it was coming because it has been so long.....LOL......If they ever get a licensing deal they will drive that company crazy asking "When?"

Long story short from beginning to end, have patience, and do not stay married to one idea!! Once you have prototyped, and submitted it to multiple companies, and they show no interest, move on and work on the next one.....who knows......the next one may be the big one :)

Have a great day!!!

An Inventors Passion

2011-09-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of years I have discovered one thing that about inventors......THEY HAVE A TRUE PASSION.......A passion like none other for their product!!

I only want to pass along one piece of advice, and I always say that "This Is Only My Opinion", but I have talked to many successful inventors, and I always hear the same thing......Basically know when to hold em, and know when to fold em!!

Honestly, if you have submitted your products to the companies you have in mind, and do your research to find the best fit for your product, and once you have submitted them, and you get several, and I mean several "NO'S" move on to your next product.

The hardest thing for me in the beginning was realizing that the very first idea I had was actully NOT my best idea. I took that opportunity to get my feet wet, learn a little about the industry, and you could have never convinced me then that it was NOT the best idea ever. In the long run however I look back at it, and even snicker at myself sometime!!

The very first person that I ever reached out to for help "Let's Call Him Mark" told me many times, this one may be to big for you, you need to start with something a little simpler. Not gonna lie, I thought to myself "But This Is The One". A year later when I had the pleasure of meeting him in Chicago at the housewares show, and he seen the rapid prototype of my kitchen product, he laughed and said "Far cry from that monstrosity you started out with" and we laughed, because by then I knew exactly what he meant. The product I was so in love with in the beginning would have never been able to withstand retail, way to expensive to manufacture number one, and certainly held a lot of liability!!

I had a phone conversation a few days ago with someone who holds a lot of stature in the inventing world, and as he and I were talking he said "The one thing I have always liked about you is that you are not married to your inventions, and you know when to move on". That is what it takes, because if you spend years on a product that is obviously doing nothing but costing you money, you are losing out on all the opportunities out there for you.......Trust Me!!

Be married to your family, but not your products......Once you have inventing in your blood everything becomes a challenge to you......Many more ideas will come to you......And who knows, the next one may be the big one........

So be passionate......Always keep your passion for inventing......Just know when to walk away and move on to your next project......I see so many people who have depleted their savings trying to make something work that simply may never work......And never take a "NO" as a personal attack......Many factors come into play as to whether you get a yes, or a no.

I pray that every inventor who shares my passion gets to feel that feeling of being told "Yes" There is truly nothing like it!!! You will be so proud, excited, and even scared at times, but it is truly the best feeling there is, and I say it all the time......I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

Happy Inventing My Friends!!!

Inventor Resources

2011-08-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

I have found some quiet helpful things here at the USPTO's Inventor Resources Page. Take a look around, and arm yourself with knowledge......As the old saying goes, knowledge is power, and it truly is. If you are aware of what you are up against, it is much easier to not get scammed by some of these inventor submission companies......Not saying they are all bad......But best to be safe than sorry!!

I have taken some of the online computer based training courses myself, and find them to be extremely helpful.

And of course, you have the option to sign up for the "Inventors Eye" newsletter. Of course I am partial to them, as I was featured in the March 2011 issue, and I truly enjoyed dealing with Mr Calvert while putting the story together. You can view that here http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/independent/eye/201103/spark.jsp, or you can sign up for the newsletter at http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/independent/eye/index.jsp.

They also have a kids page which is awesome, considering my daughter is eleven, and she is fascinated with inventing :) Gee wonder where she gets that from?? And you can check that out here at http://www.uspto.gov/kids/index.jsp.

With that being said, arm yourself with knowledge, it's your best defense. You will be able to find out things such as cost of patents, scams, complaints, and more.

Good Luck....And Go Invent Something......You just may change the world :) :)

Sharing My Day! An Out Of The Blue Success Story!

2011-08-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today we had to meet a gentlemen "Business". We start talking, and of course my licensing deal comes into the conversation.
So he tells me a story......And we do not know each other, today was the first day, and it had nothing to do with inventing!!

He tells me he patented a product in 1995, began the manufacturing process, and hit the ground running on the marketing.....He hit shows, and radio stations, and any other advertising he could think of!! He went broke, and had to dig his way back out, and he started over again.....He borrowed 130,000 dollars from a lady that wanted her money back in six months @ 21% interest!! He had no choice but to take the money, so that is exactly what he did.

He borrowed that money, and never gave up.....He looked back and learned from any mistake he may had made, and was determined to change it all.....Long story short, he paid that loan back with the 21% interest in five months!!

HE DID IT.....He made his business work.....Very successful business......And he finally sold in 2005 when his wife had a heart attack.....But they retired very wealthy people!!

My point is.......Bumps Are Always Going To Be In The Road......You Have To Climb Over Them And Move On!! He is a true success story, and when he started out he was living from pay check to pay check, and he said at times he wondered how they were going to make it to the next check!! They raised six children together, and trust me when I tell you they don't need a thing!!

So Lets Put Our Big Girl/Boy Pants On.........And Get It Done!!!!! It is a challenge for me to go from idea to retail all on my own.....And just like I landed a licensing deal within two years.....I will do this too......I Love A Good Challenge!!!