The human brain reaches peak performance between the ages of 16-25 (maybe thats why teenagers think they know everything!). After this age brain functions begins to decline and we need to do everything we can to keep flexing the most important muscle in our body.

Our brain function is directly linked to our mood. Practicing meditation can help regulate emotional swings and stress levels. Having a peak performing brain means you are able to think not only clearly but rationally. Being in a high stress environment deters that progress. By taking only 5-10 minutes a day of meditation can reduce your stress level. An overall positive perspective on life can help you become a more productive person, so inhale the positivity and exhale the stress.

Try playing brain games. In this wonderful age of technology you can find numerous apps that help build the brain’s cognitive skills and improve memory. One very popular app is Lumosity created by a team of 3 that included Kunal Sarkar, Michael Scanlon, and David Drescher. This app brings your brain through a journey of different everyday challenges depending on your brain needs. Or you can just go old school and play Sudoku which is actually proven more effective. (Can’t beat the classics!)

Did you know that eating healthier and avoiding sugar can also help improve how the brain functions? For a lot of us, this is already on our list of goals for the new year – but we hope this is one that sticks for a whole different reason than just fitting into a swimsuit. Eating foods that are high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and grains can also improve cognitive skills (Thanks mom!), along with foods high in omega-3 like salmon and chia seeds, which can help with memory and lower depression. After all happy people work harder.

Finally, don’t forget to exercise which can also drastically improve brain function, but we figure that’s already high on most folks new years goal lists. Just remember when you’re thinking of quitting, you’re not just doing it for your body, you’re doing it for your brain!

Keep your mind healthy and your ideas flowing.
Happy Inventing Quirksters!

Stem; a product perfectly made for the chef of the family invented by Timothy Houle. Designed to add zest to any meal by simply twisting Stem into any citrus fruit and pushing down on the spraynozzle. No cutting or peeling required, this product does all the hard work for you! After all, the chef still has to do the cooking!

Pluck; created by Mark Fusco a man on a health kick when he came up with Pluck. Like many of your loved ones who are planning to set new health goals this new year, get them a gift inspired by this worthy goal. Pluck helps get the egg whites separated from the yolk quickly and easily. Simply squeeze and release its flexible silicone chamber to extract caloric yolks from the whites. It is also dishwasher safe (Bonus!).

Or a favorite Quirky product like the Pawcet, a product that would make any dog owner (and their pup!) happy. This product allows dogs to get their own stream of fresh, cold drinking water; and who wouldn’t want that? Simply hook it up to your garden hose, your dog adds pressure to the step with his paw, and water is released. Created by Tony Lytle your average dog lover spreading love and simplicity to the lives of dog owners everywhere.

Before grabbing a present on your way to your holiday destinations, this year take the time to think about how a gift may have been designed to make someone’s life easier. Maybe even invent something great for next year and we’ll be talking all about how great you are! Don’t go wrong this holiday season Quirksters.

Let your love one’s know you care, Keep Inventing!

Happy Holidays!

In 1888 John J. Loud created the first ballpoint point, such a simple invention but even in the age of technology is still the go to writing tool. The first pens sold in stores originally manufactured only 50,000 pens but sold over 30,000 in the first week. Today if someone tells you “I don’t use pens” you would think they were strange.

Think about life without the toothbrush, talking to people would be a lot less pleasant. The toothbrush has changed drastically since its original invention on 1498 AD in China made from boars hairs as bristles (Be Thankful). The version we are more familiar with was patent by the company Dupont de Nemours. Just goes to show, although something exists doesn’t mean you can’t make it better.

How about your headphones, you can’t leave home without them. Originally intended for telephone operators connecting to switchboards slowly became this ongoing phenomenon. The first audio in ear headphones created by Nathaniel Baldwin in 1910 were originally dismissed but ironically picked up by the US Navy. But using headphones for listening to music didn’t actually become popular until 1958 by Joss Koss creating the first stereo headphones from cardboard and sofa foam. This invention was created around the rise of Rock & Roll ( talk about timing!)  Most couldn’t imagine life without headphones above all, how else would you effortlessly ignore people this Thanksgiving?

Anyone has the ability to invent the next great invention that we will all look back and say “ How did I ever function without this?”

Happy Thanksgiving, Keep Inventing!

The top three toy and game trends this year involve sensors, role playing and the element of surprise. Let’s dive deeper into each one.

SENSORS!

Characters meet science kits this season with games that enable kids to use real-world sensor data, such as light, sound and heat, to build characters. Have you ever imagined a toy or game that responded based on real-life events – perhaps a time of day, a temperature, speed or cue? 

ROLE PLAY!

Let’s take wearing costumes to the next level with Augmented Reality (AR) and actually become the character in your imagination. Technology has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years and now you’re seeing it come through in toy and game development in a big way. Can you think of a few ways AR and other role-playing technologies could evolve or improve today’s toys or board games?  

SURPRISE!

This trend is probably the fastest growing of the three. Hasbro’s Pie Face or Toilet Trouble are among the top surprise games to play with your family and you’re starting to see other brands like Disney, DreamWorks and MGA (L.O.L.) integrate the element of surprise into their toys. How can we integrate surprise into new toy or game inventions? Can it burst, hatch, erupt? Create a growing feeling of anticipation?

Think of ways to integrate these interesting trends – SENSORS, ROLE PLAY and/or SURPRISE – into invention ideas you’re entering into the Sharper Image Toy & Game Challenge. The best ideas will be chosen and turned into the hottest new products of 2019. Don’t miss out. The challenge ends on November 18^th. Enter Now. Enter the challenge here.

I’m constantly inspired and uplifted by our Quirky community members who don’t only support each other on the platform, providing renders, features, and other valuable contributions to Quirky submissions (which they do for a share of royalties), but off the platform as well (where they do it for FREE). They recommend freelancers, suggest educational resources, and share invaluable lessons learned to help new inventors avoid making similar mistakes they’ve made. It is truly a beautiful thing to witness.

If you’re a new inventor, welcome to the family! If you’ve been inventing for a while, welcome back. Here are some ways to get connected with invention communities:

• Join the Quirky Community Forum! Our Quirky forum can be found at community.quirky.com. Note, you’ll need to create a separate username than what you use on Quirky.com
• Join the Reddit conversation. Check out the invention subreddits such as r/LightBulb and r/Inventions
• Join fellow inventors IRL (in real life)! Most major cities (and a lot of smaller ones) have Inventor Groups or Clubs. Check out a list of groups here on the United Inventor Association’s website, and make sure to join the UIA while you’re there – it’s totally free and chock-full of great resources. The Inventors Groups of America also has a great list here!

We know it can be intimidating at first, but once you get started, you’ll be hooked. Here are a few simple tips from our seasoned community members:

• Don’t be shy, say hi and introduce yourself. A simple “Hi, I’m new here, just checking things out!” goes a long way, and you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how many welcome messages you receive.
• Don’t feel pressured to contribute. As in the wild, there is a natural balance to every community. The 80/20 rule will probably prevail, and 20% of the members will make up 80% of the content, so don’t feel like you need to “pull your weight.” Speak up if/when you’re ready.
• Be honest. Inventor communities that are moderated well should be safe spaces for honest communication and idea feedback. Be ready for people to shred your idea, and in fact, be open and excited for it! Hearing why people believe your idea WON’T work can be some of the most valuable input into your product journey you’ll ever receive. Just make sure when giving or receiving feedback you remember to be respectful.

Inventing is more fun when you do it together. Let the welcoming arms of an inventor community be another nudge that helps you take the leap into pursuing your idea. We’re waiting for you!

We love the creativity kids bring to inventing. Remember 7-year-old Houston Diaz? He invented the Quirky Squeezie, which screws directly onto toothpaste and with a simple squeeze delivers the toothpaste onto the brush head.

The Quirky + Hover-1 Cruze Skateboard, the first remote-less, electronic, cruise-controlled rideable, was invented by 14-year-old Michael Wahba just last year. It’s currently selling at Best Buy.

We should encourage kids to explore their creativity and try to invent their ideas. Practicing these skills early on in life will help children learn how to solve problems, dream big and follow through on their ideas. Don’t rely on the classroom. Take your child to the science museum in your local area or try a fun invention project from Pinterest.

There are other incredible opportunities for kids to get more involved in inventing. One of these was founded and hosted by one of our Quirksters, Mary Couzin. Every year, kids from around the world invent amazing new game concepts and submit them to the Chicago Toy & Game Week (CHITAG) Young Inventor Challenge. The Challenge provides an opportunity for kids ages 6 to 18 to showcase their own original toy & game inventions to industry professionals, members of media and the public. All entrants receive feedback from a top industry professional and compete for licensing deals and up to $10,000 in scholarships. Quirky will be one of the judges at the competition and we’re excited to see what the kids come up with!

11-year-olds Olivia Wasilewski and Brynna Siewers won the challenge in 2016 with their game Ship of Treasures, a pirate treasure hunt game that hit Target shelves in 2017. You can’t help but smile and be inspired by these other kids and their ideas.

The CHITAG Young Inventor Challenge is entering its 12^th year and they’re looking for more kids to participate. There are five categories kid inventors can enter: Most Creative Concept, Best Ride-On or Wheeled Concept, Best Game Concept, Best Playful Learning Concept, and Best Presentation.

Go to www.chitag.com/yic to read the rules and register before October 31^st. For those looking to attend, the event will be held at the Navy Pier, Chicago, IL on Saturday, November 17^th, 2018 from 9am – 2pm.

My two cents: No.

But before I dive into my rationale, let’s look at what it means to fake it until you make it.

Most faking it takes place in the pitch deck, where having a sleek and professional design can imply you’re the real deal. Unlike the actual product, the pitch deck is an even playing ground where for a few hundred dollars a freelance designer can make anyone’s idea, no matter how nascent, look on par with that of an AirBnB or Casper (in fact, sometimes you can hire the same freelance designers the bigger companies used).

The other place you’ll find people faking it is in their in-person presentation of themselves and their business. Confidence is infectious. Through an individual’s voice and body language they can make another individual, or even an entire room, believe they’ve achieved something great. A handshake sets the tone, and direct eye contact, smiling, and leaning in through proactive introductions expels an energy that says “I’ve clearly got something to be confident about.”

These two channels, the tangible and the intangible, can be built on a foundation of air, and many a seed round has been funded on not much more. But if you really have nothing more than an idea, is this a viable strategy for growth and long term success? Should you fake it, get the funding you need (in the form of investment, a Purchase Order, or your first client), and then figure it out from there? I would advise against it.

Why? Because you don’t have to. There are too many options for you to create a business case and prove concept for you to completely fake it. At Quirky I see a hundred new product ideas a day, some of which are nothing more than sketches on napkins. Everyone is ready to convince me their idea is a winner, but it’s those that offer a real proof of concept that really stand out. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Size of Prize. Know the maximum target audience for your product or business, and an estimated share you’re going after. It’s as easy as using the FREE Fact Finder from the US Census Bureau to get population numbers. You may have the world’s best stroller for triplets, but with only 1,374 triplet births a year the juice is not worth the squeeze.

1. Competitive Matrix. Make one. Use Owler to profile your competition and Wikinvest to see how they’re performing. Google “competitive matrix” and fill out any one of the 100+ templates that pop up in image search. If you’re alone in the top right quadrant that’s a good thing, if it’s packed up there, time to re-think your positioning.

1. Purchase Intent. Use a landing page site like Unbounce and create a real page selling your product or service, and show that it’s currently out of stock (or for a service show there is a waiting list to become a customer). Include an email capture to “alert me when this product goes on sale.” Now go spend $500 or $1,000 on performance based (cost per click) Facebook ads using creative messaging that promotes buying the actual product or service. Scared someone is going to steal your idea? Read my article on that here.

Don’t have a real product yet to take pictures of for your landing page and ads? Head on over to Upwork or Fiverr and hire a designer to make you a couple killer renders of your product in lifestyle images. You don’t need detailed industrial designs or mechanical renders, simply shots of people using your product in real life scenarios (which is much easier AND CHEAPER to design than detailing exactly how something needs to be made for production).

You can do all of this in a week or two, and now you’ve got a story to tell, and you’re not faking the fact there is tangible market interest in the product you’re planning on selling. Armed with this data your confidence should naturally increase and your pitch with strengthen. Sure, it still might be worth it to spring on the extra smooth Moo cards, but at least they’ll be backed up with numbers you can count on.

We’re all the world’s poorest billionaires, just letting our game-changing ideas rot away in our Notes app because for a multitude of reasons we can’t get past “I’ve got this great idea…”

We’ve got jobs. We’ve got kids. I’ve got a dog who lets himself out of my apartment.

The idea is the easy part (isn’t there a saying about ideas being like a**holes, everyone’s got one?), the execution is the true test. So having worked with hundreds of startup founders and successful inventors I’m going to give you a tip that can truly set you on your path towards buying that Palm Beach vacation home with the waterfall pool you’ve always wanted:

Find yourself a partner.

What’s that? You don’t want to give up 50% of your bajillion dollar idea? Well guess what, 50% of nothing is nothing, and that’s what you’re earning now, so get over yourself and get networking. Here’s why finding a partner is going to change the game for you:

1. Humans because of necessity evolved into social beings. You’ll enjoy the journey when you’re not doing it along.
2. You need to be held accountable. We can easily let ourselves down, but when we miss a deadline that sets someone else back we feel pretty terrible, which is strong motivation to progress.
3. You need an unbiased opinion of your idea. Your mom won’t tell you clothes for hermit crabs isn’t a good idea, your future partner will.
4. I’m 99.9% sure you don’t know it all. Whether you’re launching a SaaS solution, hardware product, or new smoothie mixture you’re going to need to employ a diverse set of skills across business and financial planning, development, manufacturing, sales, marketing…the list goes on. The right partner will complement your existing skill set by filling your gaps.

And here’s the amazing thing: right now there is someone out there who wants to partner with you! How can you find them? Try these tactics:

1. Attend local meetups for founders, makers, and inventors. Try to join groups loosely in your area, e.g. the local hardware meetup or local SaaS meetup.
2. Check out sites and events dedicated to helping you find a co-founder like CoFounders Lab or BuildItWith.Me. You’ll also find some great conversations happening on the CoFounder subreddit.
3. Tell all your friends and family about your idea. You don’t need to worry about someone stealing your idea (unless your friends with Marc Zuckerberg), that’s another BS excuse we make for ourselves for not pitching. Chances are your future business partner is a friend of a friend thinking of doing something similar right now and you’re only one or two degrees away.

Once you’ve made that magical connection you can decide what type of partnership makes sense. I recommend always dating before you jump into a formal partnership. Spend time simply working next to each other and meeting a few milestones. Maybe you’ll end up the next Sergey and Larry, or maybe they simply provide enough of a reason to show up. Either way you’ve got 5 months left in 2018 to find that special someone and get that idea out of your Notes app and release it into the world. Palm Beach is calling…

Written originally for Linkedin.

3D modeling and printing – the process of printing three dimensional products from a digital file or a virtual blueprint.  The digital design is created from a CAD (Computer Aided Design) file while utilizing either a 3D modeling software or a 3D scanner – the first is for the creation of a completely new object and the latter is used to make a 3D copy of an object/invention already in existence.  From expensive services offered by 3D printing companies to smaller and more compact home 3D printers, it should be fairly easy to understand why this magical technology is so influential to the success or failure of an invention, depending on the object and industry.  The opportunity to see even just a rough model of your invention brings your vision to life and may illuminate new ways to further improve your design.

Abstract – A basic summary of the invention included in the patent application process.  In order to have the best chance of any invention making the journey successfully from conception to reality is the ability of the inventor to see the big picture and to describe the idea as a whole, feasible concept.  Providing an abstract will help the patent office to better understand what your product does and will also aid in the patent search process.

Collaboration – meaning, “To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort.”  Yes, we would say that the process of bringing an invention to life is most definitely an “intellectual effort!”  And sure, your idea is YOUR idea, and we’re not asking you to trust your creative genius with just anyone.  But, we are suggesting that you consider collaborating with others who are passionate about your idea, trustworthy and bring valuable and necessary skills to the development of your product.  Quirky’s online community is ripe with designers, writers and engineers who are just itching to help with the world’s next best thing, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help and input.

Entrepreneur – “person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so.”  In a previous blog post, we talk about how fearlessness is a trait commonly found in successful inventors and for good reason.  You may not think of yourself as an entrepreneur at this very moment, but if you’re hoping to strike gold from an invention, you will want to incorporate best business practices utilized by successful entrepreneurs – like taking risks when necessary, or like an article on Forbes.com says, “Define, invest, build, repeat.”

Innovation – a new idea, device, method, or the use of said new idea, device or method.  All successful inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs know that innovation, creative thinking, using new perspectives and always learning – is absolutely critical to success in any industry.

Marketability – “A measure of how well your product or service is perceived or purchased by the consumers.”  In other words, you may have the greatest idea since the light bulb, but if you can’t sell the importance of your idea, concept or actual invention to investors or your targeted demographic, your idea will be dead in the water.  The most successful inventors know that true success comes when people learn about a new product and think “I must have that in my life – I NEED it!”  Convince your audience that your invention will simplify, improve and lighten up their lives and you’re well on your way to a successful innovative endeavor.

Patent – a government-granted license authorizing a right or title for a set period, specifically the sole right to prevent and exclude others from making, using or selling an invention.  There are three different patent subtypes issued in the United States: a utility patent, a design patent and a plant patent – yes, like the green kind that grow in the Amazon.  Though not necessary immediately, filing a patent should be done after determining if an idea or invention is marketable,as the process can be somewhat expensive.  A patent only protects the concept and its owner; it does not guarantee that the invention will go on to be successful in the market or is even feasible to manufacture.

Patent Classification System – a national and international organizational system maintained in part by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office containing patent, technical and other documents that are given a classification based on subject matter, industry, etc.  When performing a patent search, this classification system simplifies and streamlines the process in order to more easily locate patents or patent applications that have already been submitted or are being processed.

Patent search – done individually or professionally, a search of the Patent Classification System within the Patent Office to determine if other patents have already been filed for the same or a very similar invention.  This action is a crucial and potentially time-saving  jump-off point for any invention as it may identify for you ideas that have already been patented, or may provide insight into how to change or alter your idea to stand out from the existing competition.

The “Pitch” – the act of selling the concept of an idea or product to any possible investor, by explaining  and demonstrating through videos, testimonies and more the value of the idea or product to consumers and the market.  Creating a concise, memorable pitch for your invention is a strategic process that should be given significant consideration, as your delivery can make or break chances of taking your creation to the next level financially,

Prototype – a model of a future invention constructed pre-production used for a full service testing of the item or invention as it would actually be used in the real world.  There it is – the first real-life draft of your invention!  And though it’s amazing to finally behold your imagination’s creation come to life, the prototype isn’t meant to be the final product, but more of a test subject.  By putting your prototype’s functionality to the test under real-world conditions and scenarios, you may think up ways to improve the design, user experience, price or any other element of your invention.

(PPA) Provisional Patent Application – a more informal version of the official patent application, filing this document provides the applicant with a 12-month grace period before he or she would need to apply for an actual patent.  Functioning as a sort of temporary place-holder, a PPA protects an idea or invention for a limited amount of time at a lower cost than an official patent application, and is a safe first step when venturing into the world of inventing and patenting.

Of course, there’s still much to know about the invention industry, and that will take a bit more research, study and practice on your part.  But with resources like Quirky available literally at your fingertips, you’ll get a leg up on the competition and can expand your knowledge as an inventor at your own pace.  Ready, set, learn!

Right before you drift back off to slumber, you’re struck with a swift bolt of reality – you have not the faintest idea as toyour next step in the invention patenting process.  Your mind races with questions  – “Do I need to get a patent right away?  Must I have a sketch of my prototype ready to go?  What does ‘prototype’ even mean?  I can’t draw a straight line, so how will I sketch my imaginary product?”  At this point you might be doubting the overall feasibility of your seemingly brilliant invention.  All of a sudden, it seems a goal too lofty to reach.

Thanks to Quirky, you do not have to worry about how to get your invention off the ground, because their unique and collaborative platform will lead you through the entire process along with an incredibly knowledgeable and talented community of inventors.  If you’ve got a great idea, Quirky will be your secret weapon in the quest to bring your innovative idea to life, having already helped to produce over 150 products.  Here’s what to do next….

Research

It’s been said that great minds think alike – usually a compliment to the thinkers’ intelligence.  However, this truth can sometimes be rather disappointing in the whacky world of invention when one realizes a truly wonderful idea, only to discover through internet research that another bright mind patented the same exact idea two years earlier!  That roadblock does not mean you must hang up your inventor’s hat forever – It simply means that you keep trying.  And when you do stumble across another ingenius idea – and you WILL – first do a quick Google search to learn whether a fellow inventor has already brought your creation to life.  If the answer is yes, no worries – just keep on grinding away at that idea mill.  If the answer is no, well – you could just be the next Thomas Edison – and Quirky is ready to work for you!

Document the details

Once you’ve confirmed that there’s no invention in existence exactly like your idea, you’ll want a couple of hours to sit down with a big cup o’ Joe, plenty of paper and whatever else inspires you and hash out some details about your invention:  what exactly IS it?  What is its purpose and what consumer industry or category would it fall under?  Ponder the size, color, construction, material and price of your invention, and any other aspects that would need to be considered if a prototype were created.  Jot down some instructions on how to use your invention – if it’s that type of creation.  The more details you nail down, the easier it will become to judge the possible potential in your product.

Access Quirky’s community for sketches, 3D models and more

If the idea of even loosely sketching the elusive image of your invention in your mind’s eye strikes fear into your heart because of lack of skill, you’ve come to the right platform!  With an online community of over 1 million members, the folks at Quirky are passionate about creativity to say the least and are ready to offer their unique skills to give your idea wings.  Whether you are looking for a great writer to craft some compelling descriptions about your product, a digital artist’s expertise, or simply need some honest and unbiased feedback, there’s likely a member on Quirky that can meet your needs – a unique creative tool you won’t find anywhere else.

Utilizing this peer-to-peer community of Quirky benefits both the inventor and those providing input on a possible invention – whether going public with your invention or only working privately with a few team members.  Inventors can receive invaluable services from not only artists and 3D model producers, but can even gather feedback from knowledgeable people in their invention’s industry to provide a applicable content for each idea.  AND those who contribute to the idea in some way can earn a portion of the influence, or a cut of the product revenue.

Submit a completed project to Quirky

Think you have a great idea on your hands, but don’t quite have the confidence – or maybe the deep pockets – to apply for an expensive patent?  No problem, simply submit a completed project idea with details, sketches, a 3D model, even a 1-minute video pitch to Quirky and let us vote on it!  It’s a common misconception in the invention industry that you MUST apply for a patent immediately after coming up with a bright idea – but that’s not always the best move.  Why not let people knowledgeable and passionate about inventing vote for the product most likely to succeed?

Keep imagining!

If you need help with your idea, work with the talented Quirky community to fine-tune the details, explore new possibilities, or even throw your invention out the window and begin fresh with a new concept.  Everything in our world in 2018, whether a thought, book, object or experience was “invented” by someone at some point in history.  Since you’re working with infinite invention possibilities, your chances of stumbling upon something great aren’t too shabby.  So, go get a little Quirky and start building your first invention today!