Is your invention stuck? Here's four ways to Getting Resolution,
Gearing Up, and Moving Forward.
Melissa (not her real name) has been working on her invention for
over three and a half years. It's not a complicated invention,
but she's not making any real progress. She says that she's
uncomfortable doing the market research, has uncertainty about
getting a prototype made, and isn't sure of the manufacturing
process. These are common obstacles that all inventors must get
past. Some inventors get past these hurdles relatively quickly,
while others seem to linger in the early stages.
On the surface it appears that Melissa is entrenched in the
technical details. But in reality there's probably something
deeper going on.
Four Causes of Being Stuck
In general, inventors get stuck for one of four reasons: 1) fear
of failure, 2) fear of success, 3) being in a state of diversion,
or 4) lack of a roadmap. If you're stuck, do you know the reason?
Often is the case that inventors personalize their invention with
themselves. The invention is your baby, or a reflection of
yourself. If the product doesn't sell or people comment
negatively, then you might take this too personally as if you're
a failure. These fears will only keep you in the continuous loop
of thinking, planning, and tinkering over and over again, which
keeps the invention stuck.
The second reason for being stuck might be the fear of success.
While on the surface, many inventors dream of being rich and
famous, but we may perhaps have some deeper concerns. As a future
famous inventor, you might be required to make public
appearances, be in the limelight, or "forced" to do marketing and
selling, instead of enjoying the creative part of inventing. And
not only that, the pressure will be on to make the next great
invention. While success is the promised land, it's also a
territory of unfamiliarity and uncertainty. If you find yourself
prolonging the research phase, repeating earlier activities, or
not setting deadlines, fear of success might be the cause.
The third reason for being stuck is the desire to be in a state
of diversion. Inventing is a soothing escape to get away from the
daily demands of life and responsibilities. While inventing,
you're in a safe environment that you control. You either tinker
with an idea for years, or move from idea to idea. Sam, an
inventor friend, has a notebook full of ideas. He has no
intention of marketing them, but enjoys the challenge of figuring
things out. Sam says he's a collector, and in his case, it's
product ideas. He's not really stuck. He just likes to exercise
his brain. But, an inventor is stuck if there's a conflict in
which a state of diversion, and getting a product to market, are
both desirable.
The fourth reason for being stuck is a lack of the roadmap of the
steps to get to market. Imagine you were to take a trip driving
across the country. And suppose you didn't have a roadmap. You
would likely take wrong turns, backtrack, and zigzag your way
across the country, assuming you even make it. That's the same
with inventing. Without a roadmap, you'll likely be spinning your
wheels in place.
In some cases, it's a mix of these fears and uncertainties. As
with any major undertaking, there's some apprehension in not
knowing what lies ahead.
Getting Resolution, Gearing Up, and Moving Forward
For fear of failure, a few simple remedies can help. First,
disconnect you from the invention. You need to de-personalize
your relation to the invention. If you receive negative feedback,
it's not a sign of personal failure. It's a lesson of experience.
I heard a speech by Garry Ridge, CEO of WD-40 discuss this issue.
When something does not turn out well, the experience is reframed
as a "learning moment." They do this as a way to drive out the
fear of making mistakes within the organization.
Also, move the focus away from yourself and on to the people who
will benefit from your new idea. Instead of dwelling on your
fears, shift your attention and visualize the people that will
benefit most from using your product. Imagine getting letters
from people, thanking you for making their lives better. When
writing my book Product Idea to Product Success, I was scared
stiff that people would hate it. By getting positive feedback
with initial drafts, and changing my center of attention to
helping others, I was able to move forward.
If you have identified fear of success as a potential problem,
there are ways to overcome this. The thought that success will
bring on new responsibilities that you can't handle is not
necessarily true. Going through the invention process, and
getting a product in the market, will strengthen and empower you
along the way. To get there, make a list of all the steps to
complete the product. Then focus your attention on the current
tasks at hand, rather than what could happen in the future.
Inventing as a state of diversion is OK, as long as you're clear
on your goals. If you're not seeking financial rewards from your
ideas, then tinkering with inventions is a great hobby to pursue.
But at some point if you really want to test market your ideas,
spend some of your time learning other aspects of inventing such
as marketing and product development.
Summary
Think in terms of degrees of success rather than all or nothing.
Making millions of dollars is a tough standard to set for your
invention. Completing a product is a success itself. Maybe your
first invention sells a hundred units, then an improved version
sells a thousand, and more the next time. Being creative you're
likely to come up with new inventions that are better and more
marketable. Few successes are made overnight.
If you're spending many months or years on an idea and not making
any real progress, you're either dealing with fears, lacking a
roadmap to follow, or a combination of these. The formula for
invention success is a mix of creativity, knowledge of
development and marketing (Market-Step process), having the
mindset to take risks (even small ones), willingness to learn
from mistakes (rather than quitting), and the right timing in the
market. You don't have to struggle with this alone. Get
assistance from people who have gone through the invention
process before. And, most importantly, look at what might be
holding you back, and resolve those issues first, then move
forward one step at a time.
|
