john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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This subject kinda came up in the EE kids search and I thought it deserved its own thread. Sorry Julie.LOL. I’m gonna repost the thoughts that got this started and see where it goes.
This is pretty much where it started, posted by Me
@Katie…Boy do I know how you feel. I’ve been working on this 1 idea for 16 years(man has it really been that long?) There’s just so many crooks out there wanting to do nothing but take your money. Thank God for this place. If you haven’t done so already, you gotta read Roger Browns posts and threads. I’ve gotten so much valuable info from reading his threads.
@All… About 2 more weeks and we’ll all know if we’re goin’ to NC or not. Good luck to everyone, I wish you all the best of luck! (as long as you wish me best of luck in the tool search)LOL
This was Katie’s response
@John. Is it not crazy. I will read Roger’s threads. I have been catching them here and there. I did pay for a analysis by Harvey Reese on two of my inventions. One he showed me that there was too much competition and that it most likely would not get licensed. I have set that to the side until an idea pops into my head on how to supersede what is out there already and make the product better than anything else. The other he really enjoyed, and stated if I changed one component than he could get me a deal with Hallmark. The only problem is, is that he 1- he wanted me to patent the idea, which costs bucko bucks. 2- He misinterpreted the component. There was nothing wrong with it. He just misunderstood, which was in hindsight my fault for not properly explaining the component. I didn’t feel like, nor did I have, the extra $187 to pay him to re-explain the component. I then took it to another product developer. I got lucky to get in with her. She is has a very well known product line and company. She LOVED the idea and stated that it was one of the best idea she has seen in years. Unfortunately she had just invested a ton of money to get her line into a major retailer and suggested a licensing deal within a year. Her offer was somewhat similar to what EN offers. However, my product would be on the back burner and her over baring investor she planned to use was involved in several products. I was 1- scared that they would wait too long before focusing on my product and 2- my lack of knowledge in the field. What could I bring to the table other than my invention? I do trust her, I do not trust her investors. Sad to say, but trust in this industry with little protection is difficult. I then took the idea to my brother in law whom started a large internet company. He raised 40 mil for his company and by the time all was said and done he owned 15% of it and was then “pushed” out by the investors. He did make a lot of money, however, after a messy divorce, was left back to scratch. He loved the idea but wanted me to pay for over seas manufacturing with no protection. To start a small website and prove a sells record, etc… All of which takes money. He wanted to do this before going for VC or Angel money. He did say that I have gotten the idea as far as possible, which is good. My problem is that starting small with little to no protection can lead to others taking the idea on a bigger level, thus pushing me out of the business all together. This idea has to go big, and make a name for itself, before copy cats come aboard. It has to be the first out there. Which we all know copy cats are unavoidable, however, if you can make a name and keep the resale price reasonable, then you are on top of your game…… that’s my opinion anyway. I love this idea. It is my baby and I have learned so much a long the way. If EN does not go for it, I will go back to my first option of licensing it out with my second person and her investors and pray that all goes well. I have the most God ugly prototype, but it gets the point across. Anyhow, EN is a great option, for $20 why not see if it pans out with them? And it may take years to get paid, however, then at least you know you are protected by experienced professionals.
Whoa, what a tough inventing world it is. I have about 30 inventions, however, I have my main focus on two. I will keep plugging along. Well wishes to you! Hang in there. We will do it, one way or another :)
To which Toni added:
Hi Katie, Welcome to EN. You are smart to enter your baby in here.
I have all my babies in here and only a few are patented.
I trust them 110%. Enter some of your other inventions too; for
$20 you can’t go wrong. If they all get to G7 you know you have something
good. Even if the Mfg. doesn’t pick yours as a winner. You will know
how to judge them.
Good Luck. Toni ;>)
Then Shawn posted
Hey Katie,
Thank you for sharing your story. We all come to this site with the idea that just one good idea will break things open and make us millionaires. The reality is that the world is full of great ideas, some make it, most don’t. We are the dreamers, the problem solvers. Tenaciousness is the difference between a world full of innovation and a world that keeps doing the same thing. I can’t help but think of Edison and the thousands of prototypes he had for the light bulb. What if he gave up at 2,000? The world would not be the same. People like you, not willing to give up in the face of adversity, make the world a better place.
Katie:
Thank you Shawn! I really appreciate it. You are 100% correct. I do a multitude of things. I am a appraiser, in a mostly male industry, I was told that I would fail. I built my business up to two companies and was doing awesome for 7 years until the market went kaboom. Had I given up, I would still not be in business. I do it because I love the fact that I did something everyone said I couldn’t do. Plus, it does feed my family…..for now at least.
Pitching shows and inventing, gives me a lot of pleasure knowing that I am trying and will eventually succeed at one of my passions. If I don’t, then I know I gave it my all and I am fine with that. It is the keep on truckin mentality. You really just have to keep going, no matter what. If you find that there is not a niche, just put it on the back burner and work towards the other ideas. Eventually, like all inventors, a small thought will pop into our heads, which just may turn that one dangling idea into a real marketable product. Trial and error and life experiences are the best teachers.
I have been an inventor since the day I was born….okay, maybe 5 years of age. I do it, because I love being creative. Just like I love pitching TV shows and writing. My grammar is horrible, but I still do it and learn along the way. I appraise because it keeps food on the table and a roof over our head. Although I do not enjoy it, and most situations that I am brought into are horrible, I try to keep going. I hope and pray, that one day, I can do what I love.
Being creative and inventing is like breathing to me. I really love what I do. I hope no one ever gives up. No matter how frustrating or how many negative comments are given, let them empower you. It will only strengthen your intestinal fortitude, thicken your skin and motivate your to go out there and get’er done.
We all have the drive. That is how we all have found this wonderful site. I wish all of you success in all of your adventures.
Your comment was kind and gives me the motivation to continue on.
Scooter:
@Katie… How crazy it is indeed! Sounds to me like your on the right path though. The only thing I would suggest is if EN misses their opportunity of licensing your product, hunt down more people like your second option. She can’t be the only one out there. She’s got to have competition. My thoughts are is if she was very interested in it there’s a good chance her competition could be interested as well. I would definitely go with your gut on this. If you have bad feelings about her investor I would think twice about the whole thing. I would start searching out companies and make a list of them and key contacts in the company. Call them or simply send them a short email asking if they accept product submissions from outside the company. If they say no move on. If they say yes have them sign an NDA before going any further.(LOL, I’m starting to sound like Roger LOL). This is the path I’m currently on anyway, I have this idea in the tool search but I went and emailed 2 companies today to test the waters. Within 3 hours they had both responded back positively. I sent off the NDA’s and am awaiting their return. BTW Katie, did you make up a sell sheet for your product?
Harold:
Good reading John, I thought of the same idea. Sending my invention somewhere else to see what they would think. I posted in another thread, that a company said, my toy idea would hit a nerve in the toy industry. I started to think that, I would give my idea to the best company that, had the best offers. I came to the conclusion that I want to leave it with the Edison team, because of their help to inventors like ourseleves. Just posting my situation, the advice you have given is great, I would follow it with all my other ideas.
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kevin da biskit
142,750
Insider Points
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Good point earlier Jane (I just got here tonight and am tiptoe-ing through the blood bath)…where you pointed out that “going it alone” will allow Scooter to miss out on the dreaded red Xs! There WILL be stumbling blocks though, we know that, but we have learned an awful lot here to give it a whirl. I think I emailed similar thoughts to Scooter earlier.
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Jane J.
457,250
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Margaret Pryor
277,500
Insider Points
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“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming… What do we do? We swim…” – Finding Nemo
I also came across this quote today on a site called Artists & Instigators:
http://www.artistsandinstigators.com/
“INNOVATION is a pursuit. It is not a destination. It is not exotic. It does not need batteries or bits and bytes. Innovation is iterative, fluid, and liberating. It requires a nimble hand, flexible structure, a self-critical mind. It is social, and must not be pursued in an ivory tower.”
Thought it was very apropos, especially the part about innovation being iterative.
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Amelia C.
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Scooter, you have nothing to loose. Just DO IT. You already have what it takes. I have been reading posts of people that approached companies in different ways and were successful. You will learn and then share and help others. This site has a lot of great information and if you make questions you can get the answers you need. Good luck!
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Harold Tandjung
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Just keep inventing, love the motivation, run with it. I was very motivated before to, but then I ate three hamburgers and some fries. I feel motivated to sit down and digest. Seriously I enjoy the post Scooter, and I am also searching other avenues. I still did not enter the other two LPS, that are still open. I might, but I don’t like leaving all my cookies in one pot. I went to an inventors meeting last night, and met some interesting people. One person I met ran this site called openinvo, I put one idea on their site. Companies are looking, we just have to be prepared to show them our best. We are all still winners considering this online community Edison has created.
Here is the link:
http://www.openinvo.com/
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Jane J.
457,250
Insider Points
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Go, Scooter!! You sound strong and determined. Keep us posted, OK? You’re taking the “go it alone” route. It’s tough but you’ll bypass all the red X’s!
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john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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It was one big slaughter, that’s what it was. So now what? What do we do now? Do we sit here with our thumbs up our asses and hope that another search comes our way that our product “FITS” and pray that it gets selected next time? I think NOT! It’s time to get to work! It’s time to take advantage of all that knowledge that has been handed out around here freely and work towards getting our ideas in front of prospective companies. Where would we be if Edison himself sat around waiting for the next LPS? I’ll tell ya where we’d be! We’d be in the damn dark! Like many of you today, I was disappointed when it all came tumbling down. It would have been great if EN could have burdened the load. It would have made everything so much easier. But it was not to be. I am glad the wait is finally over and I’m happy for all that have won this round. I am glad I am free to start contacting companies about my idea without the fear of what if EN selects it? Then what do I do? It’s time to get to work people! Tighten up!
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Harold Tandjung
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All mine got rejected, going to opt in the only two searches left open, Edison will not get ride of this inventor. :) Posted this somewhere else thought it belonged here.
Hey I got a BIG RED X, I got three of them. Happens to the best of us, well happens to all of us. Could be here on this site or in life, meaning rejection is part of inventing. I read a article titled “Thomas Edison was a Failure”, and if he was a failure I want to be a bigger one. Welcome to Edison, a wealth of information here, and great online community. :)
Happy Inventing. :)
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Amelia C.
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I already got a few but the important thing is that I learned how good they were.
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john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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Hey Richard, I just shot you an email. Let me know what you think.
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john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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Get to work my friend! Did you submit a drawing of any kind?
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Richard Yost
132,750
Insider Points
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Scooter, I still have one in the running in 2 catagories. Once in the Insiders exclusive, and opted in on the Home, Kitchen and and bath. I,m working on my prototype, making some changes, and hoping to get some pics and video in before it gets Xed out.
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john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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@Harold and Richard, sorry to hear that guys but you know thats part of this game. Hang in there and come back swinging!
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Richard Yost
132,750
Insider Points
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I got 2 red X’s today on the same idea, submitted twice. That makes the 4th time Xed out for the same idea. It was for an exercise product that would seem off the wall when first looked at. But it does work. A bit frustrating. Guess I’ll have to improve on it some. I have been thinking about some additions to it already. Each time it only made it to R4. I notice most people would rather put R4 than G3. But it really only succeeded to G3.
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Harold Tandjung
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There are two searches I have not submitted to, the ASOTV and the Open Search. I am not sure what to submit in them besides opting in some ideas. I have a few ideas that I haven’t done any work on, that I might submit. Like all of us I want to submit an idea that meets what the Edison Team is looking for. Basically we still have until February to be completely out of the race. We must put our thinking caps on. :)
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Holly Hebert
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((((Harold)))) hang in there! I’m not feeling too optimistic about my 2 g3’s either. It seems like my dashboard has frozen up. Is there a Ctrl+Alt+Delete for my dashboard?!
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Harold, soooo sorry, I got 3 last week and still holding onto 6 G3s in various submissions here. I don’t feel like they are looking good to be honest…a lot of folks have gone to G5 now in other submissions. Well, keep on going and cast that net!
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Harold Tandjung
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Well I received another one today :( I guess I should not feel that bad since I want to be a toy inventor. My submission for the kid search is still green. I laugh at the BIG RED X. :) Seriously the three that got a BIG RED X were last minute ideas. I should have did more work on them. Well you lose some you win some. Just keep swimming. :)
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Richard Yost
132,750
Insider Points
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Congratulations Andrea, please keep us informed on your progress, and if you are treated fairly with them. Good luck on the out come with sales.
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Harold Tandjung
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I agree with Frank & Andrea, at the same time I feel insecure with revealing certain Ideas. I came to the conclusion where we must pick our battles carefully. As we become more professional, I believe we are able to decipher the ideas that are worth keeping “top secret” versus a “anybody could come up with idea.” I still also keep in mind that the latter still could be a really big hit. Almost forgot Congratulations on the deal Andrea. :)
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Mark J
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Thanks for the info…I’m dusting them off right now!
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Mark, I say cast your net!
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Mark J
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Scooter, when I first saw this post a week or so back, I read a little bit and STOPPED! I said to myself, just a minute why am I reading this??? I’m NOT going to get that BIG RED X!!! Now that I’ve come back and read through the posts, there’s some REALLY good information here from all the above! Also, Andrea congrats on your licensing deal. I may have a few older ideas to shoot there if they won’t fit here, but I think EN will always be my first choice.
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Thanks Frank, I think everyone should consider your post, I think so many have put the fear of “the monster” in everyone which therefore the idea’s sit forever and go nowhere! Use the platforms you trust and then outweigh each risk for reward, sometimes throw a few out to test the waters, see what happens!
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Frank White
38,000
Insider Points
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Congratulations Andrea!!
The more lines you have baited and in the water, the better chances you have of getting a bite; they’re not all cast into the “EN” corner of pond because there’s hungry fish throughout!
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Exactly Jane, I run everything through EN first, then if they go to G6 to a R7 to a G7 to a R8, I then go outside to companies first, then I post on other sites. I have the last stitch effort round and that’s what happened to me! Thanks for the post!
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Jane J.
457,250
Insider Points
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I am thrilled for you, Andrea! That’s really exciting!!
I have so much respect for EN, I will give them first crack at anything I come up with. It’s true! I re-read that last sentence and it sounded brown-nosey. lol lol!!
I could see that for things that go to R7 or R8 a couple times here, but nothing else. I do happen to have a couple of those. I don’t spend anything on patent protection, so it would just be a last chance shot in the dark.
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Thanks Marvin, I now feel part of how you all felt getting that call like I did! Pretty fun, but until they hit the shelf, I can’t get overly excited! Always have to leave some room for “maybe’s”!
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Marvin Blaine
859,250
Insider Points
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Andrea! YOUR AMAZING!!! Great Work Kid :)
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
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Thanks Toni! It sure is fun to get that first chance at the shelves (or in your case TV!)!
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Toni LaCava
288,250
Insider Points
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Congratulations Andrea, your good times have started!!!
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
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Yup, and THANK YOU, it’s been a long road to getting to that one! Hoping for an EN pick one day!
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Marvin Blaine
859,250
Insider Points
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All comes down to choice. If you don’t mind everyone seeing your idea online then it doesn’t matter. It’s just not for me.
By the way, CONGRATULATIONS on that Kitchen deal. Sounds Amazing!!!
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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You don’t need to, its a choice to go after a company who infringes. This is why so many people are fearful of posting idea’s. If you look at Roger Browns idea’s, non of them were patent pending prior to getting a license. Now if Roger were to chime in, I would venture to say that they either protected the product or they decided not too. Even though it wasn’t publicly published, my guess is that they could have went and did something similar but changed it as well. There is a fine line between being afraid to get your idea’s out there in fear, or take your chances. Most people wouldn’t dream of posting an idea onto a open source site, but look at the benefit of doing so…or would you rather it sit on your computer for 15 years with no hope?
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Marvin Blaine
859,250
Insider Points
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Problem is most inventors don’t have the money to fight it out in court.
“An average patent case will cost between $3 million and $10 million, and take two to three years to litigate"
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Marvin, that’s why we have a patent system. You can’t just take a product and change it so slightly 10% unless it’s a significant change and then they have to go after their own patent and would get turned down due to prior art or current patents still in the 20 year time period. Look at Mr. Steamy, I have seen 10 like it since it launched and I would imagine they are infringing, but then you have to pay lawyers to go after companies and most of the time they either comply and provide royalties as a knock off or they quit making it.
Lawyers tell companies all the time “this could be an infringement risk” and that’s what would happen. Did you know that only 10% of products with patents EVER get to market? I am not concerned as I protect most of my idea’s, for those that I don’t I do know the risk! Quite frankly once your idea is out there, companies will try to copy it anyway if it’s a huge seller, so unless someone goes after them, they will continue to do it. Just saying…there are blind spots in the patent system so this is bound to happen, but first to file or first to market proves their case in the courts, as that blind spot is killer for the 12-36 months sitting in patent pending status once the non-provisional is filed anyway.
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Marvin Blaine
859,250
Insider Points
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This site genius etc concerns me as to your putting your idea on their site for the whole world to see it. Lets say you have patent protection. I understand by law if you were to take a product and tweak it by 10% you can legally call it your own and get your own patent on it. Feel free to add your comments regarding this…
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Hey John, I just posted about that in another thread, you can read this….http://bit.ly/eL4zuy
Also, they have had over 200 ideas put up for baby/pre-school this month so they are getting more and more ideators over there. They figured out that gaming the system on that last round was no longer allowed (having friends come in and vote for your product for gift cards) so they are changing that for this round. IT’S FREE! No fees, but it is open source so you have to disclose your idea. It’s not for everyone, but I do protect my idea’s that are worth protecting! FYI! You do not need to have a patent or patent pending. I won the kitchen round with 5 others ideators and we are going into prototyping now (NO FEE to the inventor). It’s a very cool company and they are new so they are working out the kinks, but all of the panel members are TV executives, producers and big time retailer experts.
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john"Scooter" nauman
49,000
Insider Points
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Hey Andrea, I was just checking out their site. It seems to me there’s not a bunch of people submitting there yet. I mean that one girl won like 8 first places. Can you share a little bit about how they work as far as joining and fee’s and such? Do you need to have a patented idea?
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Andrea Zabinski
742,000
Insider Points
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Check out the new Invention Magazines sites on other resources for your idea’s this month. I just posted a topic on looking for other sources to place our RED X idea’s on. I came across www.geniuscrowds.com and landed my first contract for their Kitchen search in December. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with other sites?
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Atta Girl
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Don’t worry Kevin, she’s on a low-carb diet. :)
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Jane J.
457,250
Insider Points
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lol. Kevin.. I did think of you after I wrote that. But looky. that puppy needs a biscuit!! or biskit… bisquit… or whatevah. a yummy treat for bein’ so CUTE!!!
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Harold Tandjung
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Took me about 15 seconds to find that one funny Kevin. I had a little delay as to why you were in pain. :) Laura he is our friend not a doggy treat. Run for the hills Kevin, it is your worst nightmare. HA HA HA HA. My Friday night is jam packed with, action. I need to go see the nurse at Insiders INC.
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kevin da biskit
142,750
Insider Points
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ouch, ooch, ouch, ooch :)
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Jane J.
457,250
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I just wanna give your puppy a bisquit, Laura. lol
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Atta Girl
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Harold, you’re so right. Like they tell you in Sales, you’ll probably get one “yes” for every 100 “no’s”, so think of every “no” as getting you one step closer to that “yes”! (then again, that’s why I’d never go into Sales!)
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Tom Bednar
16,500
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They sell egg sandwiches in the lounge on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Look at the menu on the left just below the Pierogies.
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Harold Tandjung
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I like all Pixar movies Randy, they have real good imaginations and stories to them. Jane the two submissions that failed are the same, I am expecting one more. Out of the four submissions I made, all were last minute, except one. That is the kids toy search. I don’t mind if three submissions fail because the ideas popped in my head when I seen the type of LPS Edison was looking for. I was shooting for the stars. Well I consider my self a novice Inventor. What every inventor should know is rejection is a big part of the game we are in. That is why I am happy, because I take the rejection as a right of passage to being a inventor. I would like a big fat check too, but crack some eggs to make a egg sandwich. I like egg sandwiches better.
Happy cracking. :)
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Krissie Shields
27,000
Insider Points
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Think of those big red X’s as the ’X’s’ that mark the spot on a treasure map…they are your ideas and they are gold, diamond, silver, opal, copper and coal mines! each one valuable and precious in their own way…re-examine, re-search, re-tweak then re-submit!
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Randy Edwards
135,500
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@Jane,
I love Dorie… Finding Nemo was one of the best “movies” ever made… and The Incredibles… and Toy Story… and… Okay so I still like cartoons!
:-0
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