All of the magic happens outside your comfort zone.
You've heard that before, right? But, what does it really mean to you as an inventor?
It means to make progress and move forward to truly commercialize your invention – to finally make money on it (“the magic”) – you will have to go outside your comfort zone.
Often way outside your comfort zone.
Frightening, isn't it? Read on.
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Comfort Zones for Inventors
I'll bet you really love tinkering away in your shop or kitchen table on your newest invention idea.
First prototypes are great because you can be so creative. There's no pressure because you certainly aren't going to be selling it. I made my first thin wallet prototype out of a strip of cardboard with plastic inserts (to hold the cards) taped together just to see if it could work and would fit in a back pocket. It was a very crude proof-of-concept.
For you, that kind of doodling up designs and crude proof-of-concept work is delightful – firmly within your comfort zone. Right?
Nobody's opinion matters but your own because no one else is even going to see it. But you can dream of the ultimate product selling millions in stores, right?
But here's the thing – there's no “magic” in your comfort zone. You'll never make money as a lone wolf inventor working in our comfort zone.Sorry.
Ready for Some Pain and Discomfort?
As you move forward with your invention, you'll have to learn to trust, collaborate with, and even depend upon people which whom you have never worked. Don't you feel your chest tightening already?
You'll work with patent attorneys – and you'll never understand the strange alchemy of how patent claims are written. You'll need to find and work closely with prototypers in most cases. You'll need to familiarize yourself with NDA's (non-disclosure agreements). You'll need to read some good books to learn how the patent process works so you know what to expect on the road ahead.
I remember how nervous I felt the first time I went to an inventors group and thought, “great, a room full of bright, intelligent people who might steal my great invention.” I was outside my comfort zone.
If you choose to venture your product, this opens you up to another whole new paradigm. You'll very likely begin working with Chinese factories and learn about Chinese holidays and time zone differences.Can you trust the Chinese? You will certainly need to invest some trust if you are going to establish a business relationship to get your product manufactured. How's that for outside your comfort zone?
The first time I sold my thin wallets on QVC, I had taken out a $25,000 loan to finance what felt like a mountain of product – 3,300 wallets. If it didn't go well on the first airing, it would all be shipped back home to me. When the bright lights and cameras turned their focus to me – I had 5 minutes to make my pitch to millions of QVC listeners who'd never heard of me or my product. I had never been on television before, especially national television.
I was way outside my comfort zone. But, the second time I was one, then the third time, it was now within my new comfort zone. My comfort zone had expanded considerably.
It is absolutely uncomfortable going outside your comfort zone for the first time: even painful on some level.
But, as you continually stretch the boundaries of your comfort zone, you progress and acquire new skills. Then, there will come a day when you sell $8,000/minute on QVC or your invention will sell in thousands of retail stores. All your fellow co-workers in the office – who never venture outside their comfort zones – will shake their heads in amazement, then tell you how “lucky” you are.
Yep, that is the magic! But, the magic does indeed happen outside of your comfort zone. Are you ready?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Want to learn more about going outside your comfort zone?
Click on the blue button below now to grab your FREE copy of – The Magic Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone – PDF now.
Want to attend a FREE live, interactive webinar all about licensing?
Click on the orange button below to attend the next FREE – License Your Invention for Royalties – webinar.
Get answers to all your licensing questions during the webinar.