https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096N24VRY/
Invention Stories looks like an interesting invention/biography book. Can you tell us a little about it?
Invention Stories...Tales from the Inventor is a collection of 35+ Invention Stories shared by their Inventors...in Their Own Words.
Any plans to turn it into a series?
We expect to launch our book...Women Inventors July 14th.
How long did it take you to write Invention Stories?
It’s been in the back of my mind since I began collecting invention stories a decade ago.
What inspired you when writing Invention Stories?
As a failed inventor, I wanted to learn how to increase my chances of success. Who better to learn from than by those who have already invented? What would the inventors say is the most productive use of their time, money and what should be avoided? Essentially, what advice would they give?
When I looked online, I couldn’t find a website that shared invention stories. So, we purchased InventionStories.com and started collecting and sharing invention stories. I’ve tried hard to build a website but am not a Seach Optimization Expert, so there’s never been much traffic. I believed creating a book to sell on Amazon would help these stories...stay alive.
When you ask what inspired me when writing Invention Stories...Tales from the Invention was believing it would help people invent smarter.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Invention Stories?
Information Overload. So much to learn, what should you spend your time/energy on.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Robert Bear, host of the Invention Stories Podcast and owner of InventionStories.com.
In 2007, I began working on an invention for eyewear with removable arms. I built my prototype and gave it to a local company to improve on, which they did. When performing a preliminary background check, I discovered there were four similar patented products, two of which were better than mine. Curiously, I couldn’t find them on the market. I began researching the invention process and learned the success rate for inventions was less than three percent. Why had so many failed?
I believe then, as I do today, the best way to learn how to invent smarter is to learn from those who have already found invention success. So, in 2009, I began working on working InventionStories.com, a website designed to share inventors’ journeys. My hope was the inventors would share what to do and what to avoid. I have since shared several hundred of them on InventionStories.com before changing formats in to highlighting them via my podcast.
On September 1s, 2017, we launched the Invention Stories Podcast and, in the acknowledgment section, we’ve shared a list of inventors who’ve told their stories. What I’ve learned is each invention story unfolds at a specific time, and usually in an optimistic way. Most inventors are reluctant to say what they’ve done wrong or where they’ve failed, so getting inventors to impart what a waste of time/money has always been our greatest challenge.
Where can readers find out more about your work?