Wannabe inventors obsessively focus on what they lack: time and money. They see a huge gap between what they have and what they want. The law of attraction says you will draw towards you that which you focus most upon – matters not whether it is positive or negative.
Successful inventors carefully leverage their limited time and funds to optimize results. They choose to focus upon what they do have and how best to use it to achieve their objectives. So can you.
How? Read on.
Focus on What You Can Do, Not What You Lack
I'll use myself as an example by describing a rather dark chapter in my business.
I was running my business full time, but my revenues were about 20% short of what I needed, so I was increasing debt to fill the gap – not a good solution. I was doing what I could to make ends meet: working 5 days each week selling my slim wallets to customers at VA hospitals and at, night, I would fulfill orders that I received from my website and Amazon. I was already putting in very long hours, but it wasn't enough. But I was committed to my business. I had a vision for achieving a much greater success, so I refused to give up and go back to working a telecom job.
Instead of focusing upon all my shortfalls (which were many), I focused upon what I could do: increase income by working 7 days per week instead of 5.
I then asked myself: where could I cost-effectively sell my product on weekends to increase my income? I realized that in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area there were gun shows almost every weekend where vendors sold guns, ammo, but also other products to visitors to the shows. There were gun shows also in Houston and San Antonio if I were willing to travel there.
With a bit of planning and coordination, I was soon working 7 days per week: Monday – Friday at VA hospitals and weekends at gun shows. I was able to gross $500 – $1,000 selling at gun shows on a typical weekend. At a gun show in Houston, I sold over $1,500 one weekend. This strategy helped my capital crunch considerably. I did this for almost 2 years. In 2015, I licensed my invention to Allstar Products and I was able to live off the royalty payments instead of selling 7 days per week as a vendor. I had found a better solution.
Throughout my inventing career, I achieved success by focusing on what I could leverage, not on what I was lacking.
When I needed to import large quantities of my wallets for QVC, I had no budget to pay someone to handle customs and importing for me. Instead of lamenting that, I asked a lot of questions until I figured out everything I needed to know to handle importing myself. I managed all aspects of my importing for 8 years afterwards because I was willing to ask a lot of questions and to find a way that would work for me. I guarantee this approach will work for you as well.
Another inventor devised a way to host a weekly radio program for inventors. This gave him access to many contacts whom he could leverage for his own inventions. He has been selling on QVC and elsewhere for many years since.
Matt, a friend of mine, created a customer survey for his invention. Unable to secure officially-sanctioned permission to survey students at a nearby university, he simply showed up one morning and handed out short surveys to students passing by. Very soon, he had over 100 completed surveys. He saved hundreds of dollars with this creative solution. Sometimes it is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
How about you? Are you recognizing and utilizing your assets to move your invention forward? If not, why not?
If you are still getting nowhere, try asking yourself different questions. Instead of asking “Why can't I ________?” , try asking, “How can I _____?”
You'll be amazed at what happens when you begin to ask yourself positive, empowering ‘can do' questions. Thanks Tony Robbins.
Stay tuned.