Maximise Your Chances of Making a Great Invention
by Syd Stewart
Published
on this site: March 23rd, 2004
60 million portable workbenches have been sold world-wide in the
last 30 years.
Ron Hickman accidentally sawed into his swish Swedish chair in
his home, and so was inspired to invent the first simple foldaway
workbench - the Workmate, which is now a design classic.
To begin with Ron showed his prototypes to a number of manufacturers
but none saw the potential, so he started his own small-scale manufacture.
In 1973 Black & Decker bought exclusive manufacturing rights.
Shrewd patenting at the outset prevented other manufacturers from
jumping on the bandwagon. It was 20 years - the life span of patents
- before the Workmate had any rivals. Even today Black & Decker
claim 50% of the foldaway workbench market.
This is a great example of making the most of your mistakes or
errors. There are many more around. For example, what do penicillin;
the smallpox vaccination, Velcro, and the telephone have in common?
Serendipity! Discoveries made by accident or by a mistake being
made, with an unwanted side effect that turns out to be more beneficial
than what was initially sought.
Remember, 3M 'Post It' notes originated from a faulty batch of
adhesive and the need to mark a hymnbook without damaging it.
Likewise in nature, genes with completely new capabilities or characteristics
can only be created when mistakes occur in the DNA replication or
copying process.
A mistake in the DNA replication is called a mutation. The mutation
is usually a very small error in the genetic code and the rate of
mutation in normal organisms is extremely low.
It is important to note, that the mutation rate can be increased
in living cells by the exposure to radiation and certain chemicals...mutation
pressure.
So how can you maximise your chances of making a great invention
or breakthrough?
- Create harmless mutation pressure by always asking the question.
"What went well and what went not so well?" Then take
steps to maximise your inventiveness by taking action on the "not
so wells".
- Keep alert and focus on your errors and difficulties and those
of others. Train yourself to note errors. Note them down in a
special notebook.
- Learn how to be creative or inventive by reading or seeking
some education. There are many methodologies for being creative
which can be readily learned. You don't have to be a creative
genius to be great.
Syd Stewart is the author of "Smiling Owner How to
Build a Great Small Business An Evolutionary Business E-Handbook".
He has been an owner and manager for over 30 years. He Knows What
Works and What Doesn't. Visit his site to find out how you can 'Build
a Great Small Business' at http://www.smilingowner.com.
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