The ABC's of Inventing - Steps 4-6
Build a model. No need to get fancy at first. . . cardboard, white glue, balsa wood, off-the shelf parts. No matter how simple the idea, you have to prove it works.Its one thing to see something in your mind, but its quite another to hold it in your hands and work with it. There are very few products that cant be improved. In fact, your idea is most likely an improvement on someone elses product. So, build a model ... then build another one. Work with it. Make it the best you can. Try to out invent yourself because once its on the market, you can be sure your competitors will try to improve on it!Have your invention evaluated by a non-biased professional (even if your Moms in the business, go to someone else!).It may be nice to know that your friends and neighbors like your idea, but do they know anything about new product development? Do they know about manufacturing or how to price a product? Do they know about distribution channels? Do they know about designing a product with an eye to packaging and shipping? Do they think about product liability? Probably not. So dont move forward based on comments from those who like you. You want to hear everything thats wrong with your idea so you can make it better. Strengthen your ego and get a professional opinion.Read all you can about new product development. Go to your local book store or library . . . others have gone before you. Dont reinvent the wheel. Most novice inventors have no idea where to begin and no one to guide them. Theyve probably never known someone who developed a new product from scratch, so the road ahead seems overwhelming. Take heart! There are many folks -- just like you -- who have taken an idea and turned it into a product. There is a tremendous amount of information available, so dont strike out blindly. Educate yourself about the basics. By reading and learning, youll be creating a road map for yourself that you can use as you move forward with your idea.
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