Re: The job I hated which taught me valuable lessons about "creative" type people..

Gordon and Dien -

I've had similar experiences as described in your posts above. I used to take referrals to consult with inventors in creating business and marketing plans.

I met them for breakfast or lunch (on their dime:-)) and listened to their presentations. Products that included popcorn forks, lighted salt shakers, a combo plastic knife/fork, beefalo beef jerky, and a host of others.

Invariably, I ran into the same results as Gordon, in that they wanted help but would not listen to the advice they asked for!

If they listened, they were reluctant to pay for any assistance or "share the wealth". A lot approached me after the fact to help them sell off their inventories of parts.

One guy invented a series of clever attachments for water beds. He was offered a lot of money for the rights to them by a major manufacturer, but he turned them down because he thought they would steal his ideas!

Another guy invented an incredible massage bed that worked with hot air, steam and varying pressure that would work through clothing. Ideal for therapy, hospitals, health clubs, etc. However, he was almost bankrupt and would not cut a deal with potential investors for less than 90% to him, 10% to them.

It was a lot of fun and frustration working with inventors. And I learned the value of my consulting time from the experience! I also collected a lot of conversation topics from all the samples:-)

Bob

Hi Bob,

I'm constantly amazed at your breadth of experience!

> I've had similar experiences as described in
> your posts above. I used to take referrals
> to consult with inventors in creating
> business and marketing plans.

Yes.... As I listened to the presentation I wrote about a couple nights ago, I was thinking to myself.... These people need a service like that!

> I met them for breakfast or lunch (on their
> dime:-)) and listened to their
> presentations. Products that included
> popcorn forks, lighted salt shakers, a combo
> plastic knife/fork, beefalo beef jerky, and
> a host of others.

I find the fun part of it is some of the interesting ideas....

Another very short presentation I saw at the Inventors' Association meeting was of an older product (14 years old, he said), which had taken off, then died, but now seemed like it might be taking off again....

He called it an "electronic dog." That is, it's a kind of detector hooked up to a recording or simulator of a dog fiercely barking.... I thought it was a nice idea to scare away unwanted intruders....

> Invariably, I ran into the same results as
> Gordon, in that they wanted help but would
> not listen to the advice they asked for!

> If they listened, they were reluctant to pay
> for any assistance or "share the
> wealth". A lot approached me after the
> fact to help them sell off their inventories
> of parts.

I can imagine this to be the case.... I think many of them believe that the product is the most important thing about making money -- they believe the MYTH of "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door"....

But we know this old saying is NOT TRUE!

Marketing is at least as important as the product, if not more so....

> It was a lot of fun and frustration working
> with inventors. And I learned the value of
> my consulting time from the experience! I
> also collected a lot of conversation topics
> from all the samples:-)

Thanks Bob, that was a great post.... :)

- Dien

> Yes.... As I listened to the presentation I
> wrote about a couple nights ago, I was
> thinking to myself.... These people need a
> service like that!

That's what I thought, until I encountered a lot of entrenched attitudes that reinforced the idea, "What people NEED and what people WANT can be entirely different."

> Another very short presentation I saw at the
> Inventors' Association meeting was of an
> older product (14 years old, he said), which
> had taken off, then died, but now seemed
> like it might be taking off again...

> He called it an "electronic dog."
> That is, it's a kind of detector hooked up
> to a recording or simulator of a dog
> fiercely barking.... I thought it was a nice
> idea to scare away unwanted intruders....

Older products are probably a good source of products to control a la Joe Cossman. ARF! ARF! a la Pluto.

they believe the MYTH of
> "Build a better mousetrap, and the
> world will beat a path to your
> door"....

And they fall in love with their IDEA of their invention, often not allowing tweaking and peaking to make it more marketable!

> But we know this old saying is NOT TRUE!

> Marketing is at least as important as the
> product, if not more so....

MORE SO . . . nothing happens 'til a sale is made!

> Thanks Bob, that was a great post.... :)

And thank you, Dien for a great follow-on post:-)

Bob