The invention world is rough — very rough. It takes hard work, dedication and great execution to make it all come together, and even then it takes luck and the right timing. Some of the best inventions never get made. You may have the best idea that’s going to change the world, but if you don’t follow it through, it has no chance.

I want to offer a few tips on developing your product idea. The first thing is to examine your product idea carefully. If it doesn’t serve a purpose or can’t solve a problem, then think long and hard before throwing a lot of work and money into it.

I find this next point particularly important, since I am the CEO of an invention design and engineering firm. Watch out for fraudulent invention marketing organizations. Before you walk the path with one of these companies, ask them how many products they’ve put on shelves. Ask them if they actually build product samples. Ask how much actual engineering and construction they perform and what their capabilities are. Far too often, we’re hired to help someone who was taken by a fraudulent invention marketing company that gave an inventor nothing more than a drawing for their hard-earned dollars. It’s sad for those who were taken advantage of and it puts a huge black mark on our entire industry.

Finally, understand corporate expectations. Corporations want to see someone prepared. They want to see an invention that reflects their business model. Corporate time is valuable and so is yours, so be prepared to show a working product sample, ready for mass production, with sample packaging.

With the new year on our heels, take the time to re-energize yourself and prepare for the hard, and fun, work of building and pursuing your invention.

Happy New Year’s and happy inventing.

Remember when you were a kid? You were full of dreams and each new day was a new discovery. You had “belief” programmed into you from birth, until that day when the “real world” came knocking on your door. Today news stations are pumping pessimism and negative influences, clouding people’s dreams and belief systems.

You see, in order to invent, you need to believe. You need to have belief through your whole body, down to your toes. So, how do you reawaken your creative genius after the “real world” tries to put it to sleep? How do you take yourself back to a happy place where anything is possible, even when you aren’t sure your invention will become a reality? If I could place you, with all your skills as an adult, into a time machine and take you back to when you were young, would you step in and take a ride?

I know I would! And so I created InventionLand so our professionals — the men and women we call Inventionmen — go through a time warp every day when they come to work. A hardware or tool designer (inventor), for example, steps back in time each day to their happy place. For them it was building their first tree house with dad’s tools, so we built them a huge tree house as their offices. We all have these moments that define our life. Theirs was in a tree house that launched them toward a career in tool and hardware.

InventionLand is our time machine. It reinvigorates our team, surrounding us with happy moments as we work diligently on our clients’ inventions.

I often say, “InventionLand is more than a place. It’s a state of mind.” It’s an idea I formed into an invention to transport the human mind during work to enhance creativity. In my opinion, nobody should invent in a cube! If you’re inventing at home, in your garage, or office, do your best to bring out your defining moment as often as possible. It’ll give your project passion — and you’ll smile more, too.

So, what does it take to change the world with your invention?

Of course, it takes a noble cause and a desire to make something better; however, it also takes a lot of trustworthy people. It’s trust that’s earned through years of challenges. It’s the moments when everyone worked together on a project and poured their hearts in but the project failed, and yet we all stayed together. It’s the moments of helping each other during a family crisis. It’s the moments of belief that are met head-on by stiff competition. It is your belief that decides the future. It’s your collective resolve to do the best.

Our clients expect the best and they get the best because our staff is dedicated to each and every project. It’s an honor to serve with each of them.

I know this post is short, but take this lesson home today: In order to accomplish your desires, you need a team like ours and you need to lead them well. It’s all about their skills that get your job done.