If you are an aspiring Inventor, you may well have wondered how to invent something.

Well it's not as difficult as at first it might appear. Most Inventions come about because an Inventor sees a problem that needs fixing, or an opportunity that can be exploited. In the end for an Invention to be commercially successful, it needs to offer a solution to a problem or failing of existing technology.

From that start point, the process continues with a brainstorming phase, during which the inventor brainstorms and repeats the process relentlessly until they find the solution they are looking for. Now it's easy to say that we are relentless and will keep trying, but actually doing it can be a demoralising path to follow. So to succesfully invent something you must be a believer, you must be absolutely certain that you will get there. A reporter once asked Thomas Edison, "How many times are you going to fail at creating the light bulb?" Mr. Edison replied, "Son, I haven't failed! I've simply discovered another way not to invent the light bulb!"

Once you have the basis of an idea, you need to draw how it works, and complete a technical design. From there you should look to create a working prototype. This is critical, because it is a big mistake to ask non commercial people to visualise how something may work once finished. It is a fact that the closer your invention gets to being as 'real' as possible, the more likely you are to sell it. So you can't do too much to bring it to life, because by doing that you give yourself the best chance of creating a real product from your idea.

The next part of the process is to seek qualified, expert legal advice to advise you on how to legally protect your invention, this may involve patents, trademarks, copyright and some other measures you might be advised to take.

Once you have protected your invention, you need to work out your route to market. This might be working with an invention agent who can help you to open doors you wouldn't otherwise get through, or it may even involve your going it alone and trying to sell a finished product yourself. Either way, just remember, finishing your invention is often the easy part - selling it can be another story...

Steve Reece

http://www.RichInventor.com

The Rich Inventor website provides information to help Inventors.