Selling the Magic

I don’t usually dwell on the past, or entertain regret. But who doesn’t occasionally wonder, what if I could do things over again? What would I do differently?

The creative aspect of inventing is magical. Magical in its surreal quality, its sudden burst forth, and the endless possibility it offers. Every inventor and creator thrives on and loves that moment. It’s hands down, the very best. But unfortunately, that magical moment is also very, very brief. And after its over, our work begins.

Our job must inherently be to sell that magic – sell our own magic. This is the part of inventing I originally struggled with and failed at. It’s hard to sell something you’ve created! It sounds fake, phony. Forced. It’s uncomfortable.

But the bottom line is this. If you can’t do it, you need to find someone who can.

In order to succeed in bringing their products to market, inventors must wear many hats. It’s unfair and unrealistic to assume that you can wear them all well. Teaming up or getting help isn’t a sign of weakness or ineptitude. Rather, it demonstrates how well you know yourself and your strengths.

So, if I could go back? I’d create my own holy trinity: a salesman, an expert in finance, and the creator, myself. This is obviously fantasy – few inventors have the resources to create a superhero team, at least initially. But what I do know is that I’ve learned to rely on other people, and to also try my hardest to make myself the complete package. But how much easier it would have been…

There isn’t much more I can do to highlight how necessary the ability to sell your product, your benefits is, other than to capitalize the word and type it over and over again throughout the remainder of this page. I’ll spare you. But do me, and yourself a favor. Learn from my “what if”, and don’t make it yours.