Whenever I am asked how I knew what to invent, I always say that I invented whatever needed to be invented at the time. Think simple.
When I designed the form-fitted disposable diaper, it was because my own experience had shown me that diapers were square and baby bottoms were round. I found what I thought was a simple solution to a problem.
Unfortunately, sometimes the public doesn’t know there is a problem, as was the case with those diapers. It wasn’t until years later that the general public began to use disposable diapers. My employer paid me only $100 for the patent and then sold it to another company.
I invented the granola bar because Nestle hired me to develop a snack product that was healthy, tasty and easy to carry around. I found tasty items and then compressed them to make them portable. It was a simple solution.
I try to make simple everyday products and then make them more convenient to make people’s lives easier.
I know that not everyone is in the business of invention or product development but problem solving by simply stating the problem and then trying to solve it with a simple solution will work in any business.
Think, “What is the real problem here? What would be the easiest way to solve it?” Some people complicate things and then can’t see the problem or the solution. I don’t even think you need to have a creative mind to answer the question, though it helps.
Here is an example of what I mean. Say you have a stack of papers that are flying around on your desk. You also have a piece of moon rock that you collected on your last outer space adventure. Look at the problem and ask yourself, “What is the real problem here? “
In this case the problem is that papers are flying around your desk causing you concern. How can you solve this problem in the simplest way? Look around your desk. Really look so that you see things in a different way. You are looking for a solution. You see the moon rock. If you put that rock on top of the pile of papers, your problem would be solved, at least temporarily. Perhaps at a later date, you might want to come up with a more permanent solution, but for now the problem is solved and in a creative way.
That is how I have come up with solutions to everyday problems. Years ago when people poured liquids out of plastic gallon jugs, the liquid, usually milk, would make a “glug-glug” sound and then surge out of the jug, and not necessarily into a glass. I analyzed the problem and then solved it by putting the little curved hollow handles on the gallon jug.
Again here was a simple solution, one that has had a lasting effect on our everyday lives.
Article – Copyright 2001 Stanley I. Mason. Syndicated by ParadigmTSA
