“Improver” or “Inventor” in Your Business?
“Never invent, always improve.”
This four-word sentence is indelibly etched in my mind right now. I also have that quote framed and hanging on the wall of my home office.
The marketing philosophy of choosing improvement over invention has generated millions of dollars for my info publishing business and my students’ businesses.
Although the idea of becoming an “Improver” is not as sexy as being known as an “Inventor,” it is improvement, not invention, that has generated billions for some of the most renowned Thought Leaders in history. Ironically, many of these folks have been inaccurately dubbed as “Inventors.”
Here’s one example: Nikola Tesla invented the modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems. Thomas Edison improved it. Telsa died broke. Edison died a millionaire.
Here’s another: Charles Haanel is the true “father of the personal development” in my opinion. He invented The Master Key System, yet he died in obscurity acknowledged by only a few loyal followers.
Napoleon Hill improved Haanel’s philosophies and commercialized it with Think And Grow Rich and today is publicly acknowledged as “father of personal development.”
Here’s another example to drill my point deep…
The “assembly line” was invented long before Henry Ford walked through a meat-packing house in Chicago on one fateful afternoon. He observed that each butcher had a single, specialized task. This was nothing new to the meat-packing industry, but it was revolutionary and a brand new innovation for automaking.
Henry Ford was NOT the Inventor of the assembly line. He was the Improver. Yet, it was this single improvement that gave Ford a definitive competitive advantage over his 2,000+ auto manufacturing rivals at the time. As a result, Henry Ford became one of the wealthiest human beings of his era.
What does improvement have to do with you?
If you’re an author, info marketer (Infopreneur) or small business owner who utilizes information to accelerate the growth of your business, then the single most powerful “improvement” you can make to your bottom line is utilizing the power of “repurposing.”
I didn’t coin the term, but I’m doing whatever it takes to make it common among my students and Infopreneurs throughout the world. And I do talk about it a lot in Virtual Book Tour Secrets.
Because you’ve read this far, then my sense is you’re wondering how “improvement” can add a few zeros to your profit margins. If you’re nodding your head yes right now, then I encourage you to start repurposing your existing info products, rather than inventing new ones from a standing start.
Repurposing always requires less human effort on your part because you get to avoid the trouble and struggle of creating or “inventing” new info products from scratch. There’s nothing “sexy” about that.
All I’m encouraging you to do then is to simply repurpose what you already have into new versions (creating new “product species,” as I call them) and automatically fatten your bottom line faster, better and a lot easier.
End of story.
To get a clearer picture of how repurposing can accelerate the growth of your information marketing business (practically overnight), set aside a few minutes right now to check out www.WatchAlexTV.com
And make sure you download the surprise bonus gift that I’ve reserved for you … I give you a private download link at the end of the video (the VBT training opportunity is over for 2008, but the bonus gift at the end is available to you and your colleagues forever).
Tags: alex mandossian, assembly line theory, charles haanel, henry ford, Info Marketing, napoleon hill, nikola tesla, repurposing, thomas edison
Hi Alex,
I’ve learned from you to always improve… never invent.
I’ve tried to invent on more than one occasion and had my rear end handed to me each and every time.
Now, I truly understand the value in drilling deep and repurposing my content into multiple streams of income.
Taking an idea and making it better is so much easier than “going where no man has ever gone before”
To me, you are the Father of Repurposing. I have followed you for about three years now and have seen you repurpose some things 20 different ways. Repurposing uses the same content to reach more people. But repurposing that adds a new twist to something that improves it makes attractive all over again to the same original audience. Now, they can have the same thing only better…
Great topic!
Alex, I agree with you regarding your ideas on being an improver on what the inventor originally
invented. I am always improving on what I do. I am not, however, interested in being a millionaire; as I believe in doing and using the talents that the Lord gave me to be happy and fulfilled, and lead a decent life. What more can one want? My forte is writing as a copywriter, travel writer, or writing poetry.
I think you do a wonderful job advertising books on the web. I really enjoy them. That takes real talent. Keep up the good work.
I am most definitely an Improver. Until I read your post, I did not feel so great about that… Thanks for changing my perspective.
I’m frequently telling my clients that reinventing the wheel just makes you tired and messy. Choosing the right wheel and shining it up on your vehicle will make you get to your destination much faster and in style.
Side Testimony: For those of you blog readers that have not taken Alex up on his various training opportunities, I strongly encourage you to do so. He puts an amazing amount of himself into his programs and makes it so easy (if you are willing to work for it.) Bravo.
Hi Alex!
I am both an inventor and improver.
I would give examples but, that would be shameless plugging of my own products on your blog. ;-)
Interestingly though, it’s my “improve” products that make me the most money.
Cheers,
Mark.
Hi Alex,
As always great stuff. It took me awhile to learn that if you are an author and think your book alone is the ticket to making your fortune, in most cases, you will be sorely disappointed.
Knowing how to repurpose your content, and how to do so to the max, is the key to not leaving any money on the table. It is the difference between and author and an infopreneur.
With all of the very accessible, low cost technology we have available to us today, you must be prepared to share, market and deliver your information well beyond the written word.
Alex; this is so true, especially if you are in a new business or you are ready to start on your own.
I don’t consider myself as very “inventive”,but I will rather take a good conccept and adjust improve it to be “my own”. That I guess would make me more an improver :-)
Hi Alex – Very revealing post you’ve got there. What I find amazing is that Nikola Tesla made it so people could live better lives, while Edison based his A/C standards on the life of the ball bearings: They lasted longer at 60 cycles than faster, and Tesla warned Edison of the hazards of 60hz energy. Look it up. Why do you think Europe doesn’t use it? Hazardous.
Let’s also not forget that Napoleon Hill went broke and sold his lot in the Think and Grow Rich books, and was then hired by the buyer. He died pretty darn broke, too.
Henry Ford forced the invention of the 8-cylinder engine. His engineers said it couldn’t be done, but he told ‘em to do it. And they did it.
Inventors tend to improve life for the masses (except for war-stuff inventions), while “improvers”, if you really have to call them that, are the one’s who capitalize on it.
If your goal is to improve people’s lives, invention and improvement are necessary. If you only improve (which you don’t do – you actually invented the modern, most profitable teleconference “format” through continuous improvement, so please don’t forget that!) You do both, dear Alex. So does Jay Abraham, the first person I ever heard “repurposing” from. Chet Holmes, Rich Schefren, Jeff Walker and on and on. Through continuous improvement, invention happens. It’s not one or the other, IMHO.
Thank you for making me think about it! You rock Alex. Stay great. :)
Very good points all around. Creating new product species – I like that.
Sometimes the line between improving and inventing can be fuzzy, though. Did Steve Jobs et al just improve on what was the standard in MP3 players, or did they invent an entire category? You could say both…
Repurposing is definitely one of my favourite words. I’m a very creative person but as you imply in this article I don’t always have to invent to express my creativity. I can simply improve.
A lot of the fun is coming up with different ways to re-purpose an article, interview, seminar, etc. so that you really leverage your time and effort. However, the other important aspect of repurposing is that you are able to reach a far wider audience because (and again this is something you have drummed home in your teaching) people have different ways of consuming material.
Nickolove
Alex, you are a master at both inventing and improving. You really walk your talk on this since you generously encourage your students to copy the practices that have resulted in your success.
Hi Alex
I was in the crowd
that gave you a
standing ovation and
cheers unreservedly
and voluntarily
during your lecture
at GBI in Singapore
on 28 June 2008.
Got the message
loud & clear –
Creatively Imitate.
Next time I write, I
should have a website
below my name with
some key elements
you mentioned!
Joys
As an Inventor of many ideas. (over forty ideas)
Safe-lites are to reduce road accidents by 75% at night, they are the absolute safety device.
Relaying more information than cats-eyes by lighting up both sides of the road with a continuous line of light that gives the true view of the width and alignment of the road ahead as far as drivers can see.
Safe-lites overcome the visual and language barrier problems at night, of junctions, road ends, road signs and roundabouts, with color coding to assist they inform motorists of Danger, Distance and Directions without confusing or distracting there attention and concentration off the road.
Safe-lites will make a safer driving environment to improve conditions, standards and behavior.
New ideas and methods are required all over the world to get rid of the daily carnage. Mal.
Good morning Alex,
I listen…learn…lead from leaders >>>
I use the tools and then add my personal touch. I am an “improver”…
Everyday is my NEW adventure and I am of messenger of Wealth and Wellness!!!
Thank you, Alex, for helping me be the best I can be!!!
Ellen
Makes perfect sense Alex – many people spend entirely too much time and effort trying to reinvent the wheel when they should be focusing on different and new ways to just use the wheel! Simply improve it’s performance and not impede it’s production.
In a sense, improvement looks easier because the source material is already present to provide the necessary inspiration. Henry Ford says thinking is the hardest job and it is hard to think up originality because there is no basis for comparing past results.
And with the practice of “reverse engineering”, you can repackage and rename an idea, service and product and nobody knows or cares whether you are the original source to begin with.
Tell that to the gurus :)
Because creativity is one of my strong points, I’ve often thought of myself as an inventor. Then I heard you make the distinction between inventing and improving, and realized my creativity lies more in improving.
This fits in nicely with my definition of creativity:
“Looking at something (or a set of somethings) that has always been there, and seeing something that has never been seen before.”
For example, book tours to promote a book have been around for a long time. Teleseminars have been around for awhile also. Then you saw the two and saw something that had not been seen before, took action on it, and out came Virtual Book Tours.
For another example, Article Marketing has been around for a long time as well. Shoot, I wrote a weekly newspaper column for 11 years before I began to teach Article Marketing on the internet. I hope I have made some creative improvements in it.
Thanks for the inspiration Alex. Maybe I need to change my verb.
Great post, Alex. As always… something for us to really think about.
If you improve well enough, you can enjoy double the rewards by becoming the “inventor” in people’s minds.
Very interesting…
This is so TRUE. We often get caught up in inventing (actually re-inventing) in hopes of creating something “original” rather than focusing on providing better value for the people we serve. In the process we can actually deliver less rather than more. Thanks for the reminder!
http://www.escape-9to5.com
Alex,
The concept of improving vs. inventing is something I’ve gone back and forth on for many years ever since you and I first discussed it.
The problem with only making improvements in the same industry is there is no “big leap”.
Making a copycat product that is only slightly better won’t make you rich. Plus I think it pigeon holes you.
It puts you in a position where you are always dependent on others to come up with original ideas.
However, taking the same idea and finding a way to implement it in a totally DIFFERENT industry will make you rich.
In your example above, that’s exactly what Ford did.
Here’s something else to think about…
The definition of “inventing” from Dictionary.com is:
*****
To produce or contrive (something previously unknown) by the use of ingenuity or imagination.
*****
So you could argue that taking an existing idea to a totally different industry would fall into this category because it’s something previously unknown to that industry.
I think you’ll have a tougher time getting rich by just improving an idea in the SAME industry…
vs.
Improving an idea and applying to a totally DIFFERENT industry.
And when you apply it to a different industry, it’s reasonable to say that you’ve actually invented something new for that market (smile).
Just my two cents.
Alex, thanks for the insight. My brother and I are always at odds because he wants to be the first to create an unknown (thus he never acts on his ideas) and I want to get the info / product out to the masses to test and give us feeback.
We are currently building an unique product “The CAN House” to encourage and educate the public about recycling in an entertaining and fun manner. Each event we improve and get better feedback, but because standards have been so high success can never be achieved.
I’m hoping your post will move him to look differently at his business. Thanks!
http://www.PleaseLitter.com
That is such an interesting distinction. I didn’t invent divorce mediation, I just do it in a day for a flat fee, which is an improvement. But I have to say, given the fact that so few people even know of this option, it feels like I am pushing a new invention because of the general perception that divorce = fighting in court as opposed to working together. When you are in an little known field where you have to educate the public that this even exists, it feels more like invention than improvement.
Great article. I know I have used this message with clients and literally saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Inventing is way too expensive for the small company.
And one of the big problems most of us have is seeing how something in one industry can apply to our own business/lives.
Great information and we need to remind ourselves of this often.
great thoughts as always alex
Yes, improvement is the road I am continually on in many areas of my life. I liked your examples, Alex.
Barbara Drucker Smith, Louraine Publishing, Hip Hip Hypnotherapy, Author of Darling Loraine=the Story of A. Louis Drucker A Grateful Jewish Immigrant, A Poetic Journey, Prose from the Old Century to the New and a piano classical improvisation CD. Web sites at google.books.com, Xlibris.com, Mariners Museum Gift Shop, or barbaradsmith@cox.net or google me.
Alex,
Once again you have brought forth wisdom and great advice! People love stuff, and I know for me – most of the time it takes me a few times of hearing something before it really sets in anyway.
I appreciate you and the work you do in the world.
Blessings,
Keith
Hi Alex,
Another insightful post as always…
wanna leave a quick one that says it all:
Now I truly get it! :-)
Have a great day,
Narek Gabrielyan
WOW! Lots of great responses.
I think this is so powerful for people to understand. I have naturally done this and it has definitely paid off.
It is not the person who invented the wheeel who got famous but the person who took taht idea and put it on a cart. Most likely as history has shown us, a different person.
Don’t become an “Inventor” become an “Improver”!!
Thanks Alex for one of your many insights.
When I was in College, my favorite journalism professor was fond of saying “there are no new ideas in the universe.” His way of saying improve on what is there.
This quote has been a guiding force for my career. By reshaping ideas – often turning them inside out and upside down – then applying these ideas to new contexts, new environments,and different industries they often appear to be pure innovation.
So, our little secret is improve, improve, improve to innovate.
Heartfelt thanks for that idea Alex. I now know how to present something heretofore I thought of as an invention. Clearly positioning it as ‘improvement’ is an idea whose timem has come and will open the floodgates for me.
In a nutshell, meditation with the sound of the gong i.e. sound meditation), is an improvement over sitting in silence with meditation. PArticularly for people who are extremely stressed and won’t’ come anywhere near meditation! This is a no-brainer for them. May God continue to bless you and your work.
Heartfelt thanks for that idea Alex. I now know how to present something heretofore I thought of as an invention. Clearly positioning it as ‘improvement’ is an idea whose timem has come and will open the floodgates for me.
In a nutshell, meditation with the sound of the gong i.e. sound meditation), is an improvement over sitting in silence with meditation. PArticularly for people who are extremely stressed and won’t’ come anywhere near meditation! This is a no-brainer for them. May God continue to bless you and your work.
Hi Alex,
Great post!!! Your insights remind me of two phrases we’ve all probably heard a million times.
1) “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
2) “Why reinvent the wheel? “
Both phrases actually stifle invention and improvement. Keeping things as is and merely enjoying the status quo is what happens if you “don’t fix it” regardless of how smooth things are running. The question “Why reinvent the wheel?” is also a passive approach to entrepreneurialism. If we don’t continually look at ways to “fix” our businesses and improve upon what we (or others) have already done, we’ll never grow.
I’d like to think I’m a nice blend of inventor and improver and I think most successful entrepreneurs are. Show me a thriving entrepreneur and I’ll show you someone who continually invents new ways to improve their business.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Lisa
I do not know too much about getting rich, I’ve been accused of being a bit too altruistic for my own good on more than one occasion. However, I will definitely say that one of the grandest and most satisfying adventures I’ve ever been on, began with trying to reinvent the wheel.
It all started with a wonderful, but rather expensive, product that I had purchased that was just too darned cumbersome. I wanted to make something similar, but easier to use and less expensive–something built on basic HTML, that the online beginner could not only easily learn to use–but also use as a stepping stone from which to increase their confidence and skill level.
Eventually, I somewhat succeeded in my primary goal. I did not actually reinvent the wheel, but I did improve it, at least for my target audience which was the beginning Internet Marketer with not a lot of money to spend. But the problem is that now nothing is quite good enough for me. I spend so much time growing, expanding, tweaking and trying to improve my little product that I’ve worn myself to a frazzle and lost the joy I initially found in the creation of it.
I’m not really sure what the answer is, but after my experience, I think that I am an improver, who desperately longs to be an inventor. On the other hand there must be a few people out there who think I’m an inventor because I can name at least two that have begun to copy and improve on me.
*****
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent.
– W. Somerset Maugham (1874 – 1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915
You’re preaching to choir Alex, as I think my business model is the triple crown of repurposing …
1. I repurpose technology, by converting iPods and MP3 players from what is primarly an entertainment platform, to a teaching platform.
2. My clients repurpose their audio and video training content from CDs/DVDs/etc, to customized portable media players.
3. Their students repurpose time by listening to their preloaded players during, what would otherwise be, ‘dead time’.
Though my reply is, in part, a (transparent) shameless promotion, I think my example adds value to the conversation because it illustrates the absolute power of repurposing, all the way from improvement (innovation) through consumption.
Dan Safkow
http://www.MySeminarPlayer.com
Hi Alex, I often find the biggest challenge is improving something rather than inventing. It showcases some one’s innovation and creative spirit. To translate and position the uniqueness of a repurposed product is often difficult in a market where people are often satisfied. This can be your greatest achievement as a marketer. This has also been the subject of many recent blog posts where brands permit consumer feedback only to uncover in the negative feedback great and new opportunity. Dell as a brand show cases this improvement strategy.
Here is to improvement and why did I not think of that? Sort of a V8 moment.
Tricia
Suggest everyone get hold of the “Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen – has somewhat of a corporate perspective, but the message regarding the different types of innnovation – incremental would be what Alex is talking about here – and how to knot fall into the typical business trap of coming out with one successful product and then NOT looking at how to grow into other sub-niches. Very good read.
Our entire infopreneur training system revolves around addressing existing questions and desires with unique solutions. There are relatively few new questions or desires, but a constant evolution in terms of how these problems are addressed…therein lies the infoproduct opportunity.
So many people get lost in trying to find unique desires when focusing on well known desires with unique solutions is far more profitable.
Jeff
It’s great to be reminded that we don’t have to ave something totally “new” but I still agree with Stu that the more “revolutionary” and the more it spotlights and serves “new” or unmet needs the more the market will cheer. You are always there creating new markets. This reminds me that I can stop waiting until I come up with an idea no one has marketed yet – and just stay on the path of development! Thanks.
eh, but alex somewhat you right too however Inventors are necessary thing first, i think for new generation inventors, i have these quote
“Be smart and die as millionaire”
I’m an improver in some areas of my professional life and an inventor in others.
When I’m working on my blog, TheWealthHunter.com, I’m an improver. I improve the information that I discover and share with others.
When I’m working as an advertising creative director, I invent marketing ideas that help build brands.
I like both ways, because I believe that each situation needs it’s own path to success.
Bill
Hi Alex,
I believe that you can be an inventor and improver at the same time in some instances.
When I created my Quick-Start 3-Day eBook Authoring Workshop I improved on the process of ebook writing but it was also the first and only-as far as I know- real-time process that got done in the time frame for most people.
Do you think that’s valid-to be an inventor and improver?
Also sometimes it seems like more effort
to improve a course then redo it. Do you ever find that to be the case?
ALEX,
Greetings from rural Australia.
I read many blogs and comment on very few. And this is the first time I’ve seen this subject broached.
Improvement versus inventing.
And there is a distinction.
My partner, Victor Pleshev, and I live and work from a remote property in rural Australia. I’m an ex-New Yorker who escaped to Australia and then became an escapee from the city lights of Sydney NSW Australia to the bliss of rural Australia.
And we did what everyone said we couldn’t do.
We established a world wide business from the remoteness of our Australian bush property, before we had email and the internet. And since then, aided and abetted by technology.
And we did it all by ‘improving’ 6 humble, household products.
We had two criteria.
First, we wouldn’t ‘improve’ any product if there was already a very good one on the market.
But we would consider ‘improving’ any product where Victor’s design skills could make a huge difference to the product.
He’s an architect and looks at products from a different perspective than most people.
Second, all our products had to be made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. Whatever we improved had to be the best from top to toe.
And that’s what we do.
‘Improve’ and make with love and care using men and women who do care about what they do. It’s a great combination.
Now that we have 6 ‘improved’ products firmly established in households world wide, we’re taking a rest. And are now looking at what other people have ‘improved’ to add to our product range.
My advice to your readers is to always opt for ‘improvement’. But NEVER COPY. You have no point of distinction when you copy. And that’s cheating. But if you can improve a product so much that it sits at the top of the tree, go for it.
And don’t skimp on the cost of making it. Make sure it really is absolutely the best. The world is full of men and women who want the best, not the cheapest.
One of our products is 10 times more expensive than an unimproved version and we have no shortage of customers. And every year we put our price up a little bit, because we have to, and we find even more new customers every year.
Our remaining 5 products are anywhere from twice as expensive to 5 times as expensive as unimproved versions and again, we have no shortage of customers.
Nothing we have is cheaper because our client base is firmly built around people who want better, not cheaper.
But don’t expect that everyone will want your improved version. They won’t. Just as not everyone wants a better mousetrap.
But the ones who do, will make it worth your while. And their chattering about you to others will make you famous within their circle of friends.
And you’ll be perceived in such an elevated light for your quality and ingenuity, they’ll buy almost everything else you offer them. Because they trust your ability to offer them only the best solutions.
I should mention I have no national or international retail distribution. I stay out of the retail network by choice. I don’t like the greed or winner take all attitudes of retailers to both their suppliers and customers.
But I do have more than 100,000 customers around the world, gained one at a time, mainly through word of mouth, and of course, the internet. And they buy something from me over and over again.
When you ‘improve’ and give your customer more than they expect, the word gets out and people go looking for you.
Try it.
I love your outlook on business and life, Alex. It’s very refreshing.
Another thing, Alex. I’m always happy to share information and experiences with your readers. It’s how we all learn and grow. Just send me an email from the bottom of the Contact Us page on my website or ring me. The details are below.
Take care,
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Ilford NSW 2850 Australia
Tel: +612 63 58 85 11
Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove ™ Ironing Board Cover
Our simple design solutions make every product a joy to use.
http://www.interfaceaustralia.com
Alex, As always you are compelling and informative!
I love your passion.
I have been watching you grow for at least 4 years now and
I am inspired and motivated by all that you do!
Marilyn
Always excited to read your posts, I found myself curiously annoyed by this one. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I have been secretly trying to prove this theory wrong. And by the way, with no great success. I may be a stubborn learner, but I think I’m finally on board.
Thanks for the wake up call-
Elaina McMillan
http://www.hypnotica-love.com
Hey Alex,
As you know, we’ve had the pleasure of working with you and your great audio content from Teleseminar Secrets, Podcast Secrets and now Virtual Book Tour Secrets; repurposing your content into a Spectacular Presentation format, which in a nutshell is a searchable video presentation with a table of contents that can be viewed online or as a podcast.
Repurposing great content, improving on its format, is one of the best ways to create a spectacular impression on your clients. Making content easier to consume is also a definite improvement on great content.
It’s an honor to be an improver on your creations Alex… you’ve taught us well.
– Pat & Lorna Shanks
http://www.SpectacularPresentations.com
This is just my opinion on this subject.
To me personal development began thousands of years ago and is recorded in the bible, it’s what the whole book is about.
When it comes to wealth, I don’t see wealth as only to do with how much money a person has, as far as I am concerned, I’d say that Napoleon Hill died quite
wealthy, well at least his mind was rich even though his pocket may have been empty.
In order to improve something you still have to invent something to add value to it.
In the case of Henry Ford; The situation with the rising cost of oil proves to me that he did not develop a vibrant mind while he was developing his auto/mechanical systems, otherwise, we would have a solution/back-up system for the crisis that many in that industry are facing.
I think we all tend to take the mind for granted, and that is truly the root cause of poverty. A person can have a billion dollars in his or her pocket and still be poverty stricken.
The mind is the/our major search engine. I think it will do us all good to link all our purposes(the reason why we want to accomplish goals) to real keywords such as love, peace, joy, wisdom, insight, mercy, charity, and justice
that way we will develop a vibrant mind/world so even the blind will be able to see. The mind should be as our real eyes NOW!
Marsha Anderson
Hi Alex,
I thought what you had to say about the difference between being an inventor and an improver very interesting. I have always considered myself an improver. In any area that I have worked in I always found ways to make it easier for me and the next person after me.
I never have thought of applying that concept to getting a book out though. You have given me much to think about.
When I was preparing to send a submission to a publisher and read in their guidelines that they wanted a marketing plan I was completely blindsided. I always thought that was something the publisher did.
Hence, my finding your website and all of the great information you offer.
Thank you and I will hopefully be signing up with you soon.
Sincerely,
LaTawnia Gray
walkinfaith4him@yahoo.com
Hi Alex,
Excellent post!, this is very true but we usually confuse invention and improvement. The use of our creativity is the key.
Good evening,
Personally I have never looked at it like that, as I would consider improvement on the path to invention… I have always thought that improvement could also happen as you reinvent, I never considered they could both have a different purpose, and your hindsight and knowledge has definitely given me insight as to some advantages ie: taking the labor out of hard work.
As in modern times and in today’s market it is incredibly more and more competitive to find a “niche” and indeed it could almost take a lifetime and a lifetime of investment. Yet I am not assured a lifetime of riches. Very interesting.
Thank you for your hindsight and I have enjoyed your views thoroughly.
L.W
Hi Alex…
I work in the personal development area… so my focus is about improving.
Sometimes in our endeavours to improve something we actually find a new way of doing it… so in that respect we can be inventing.
In other words, while I understand the differences between improving and invention I don’t see it as an all or nothing distinction.
Jeanne
Dear Alex,
First off I would like to just take this time to say that you are a man that everyone should sit-up and listen to at all times I dont think I have really heard of you making a stupid mistake that really has hurt you in anyway, shape or form.
And this might sound funny to you but you are my mentor, I have alot of your Audio and Books from past to present.
Getting back to why Im here I am a improver and a inventor as well people always ask me how I can be both I just tell them you can always have room to improver while being a inventor as well, and I’m not to sure weather or not you would agree with what I just have said but this is what I have always been teaching myself.
I have written a few books myself and I know what it takes to be able to start with an idea in your head then turn it into a Master Piece that everyone can enjoy and hopefully understand what you are writting about, but your hind sight and knowledge is just spot on to me. So in the end Yes I am a improver and a inventor.
Well I hope you read this comment of mine and I hope to also hear more of your great idea’s in the future, also if you get the time you can e-mail me back anytime. Keep up the good work and I hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards Paul Riddell.
I own a professional services company. My first client, before signing our proposal in 1982, asked me if I was going to tell him what he already knew, or tell him what he wanted to hear. I said, Yes twice.
In 26 years that is all we ever do. We improve what our clients already know so they can be successful with their plans – which is what they want to hear.
We also improve ourselves in how we tell them what they know an want to hear.
Hi Alex,
how true it is ! YOU make it clear and I’m happy to be invited to your classes, thanks to Alex Ribeiro in Canada.
Happy 4th of July
http://dubli-network.blogspot.com/
Improver for sure.
Nicoleta
I definitly fall into the ‘Improver’ category. Let others invent, and I’ll improve upon it.
This is how I became the Shopping Cart Queen!
I saw a need in the marketplace for better training on the 1ShoppingCart (MaketersChoice) system.
Hence I developed training programs and materials that are an improvement over what the company offers.
Therefore I ‘Improve’ !
:) Christina
How about answering your question with a question?
Question #1:
Who stated this?
“The art of originality is to mask it’s source.”
(HINT: TE.)
Question #2:
What if it were possible to be an inventor, but mask it as an improver?
(HINT: http://AuthorAndGrowRich.com)
Hi Alex,
I have made great progress since taking Teleseminar Secrets this year and a day doesn’t go by that I some aspect of your training has been thought of and/or applied.
I couldn’t agree with you more – improve not invent. There is nothing new on earth, just new ways to think about and apply ideas.
As I wrote my book, Lead Your Way to Better Healthcare with the 2nd Edition – The Savvy Patient’s Toolkit just released, I often said to myself, “Who will buy this? I’m not really saying much new!” Then, I’d remind myself that the way the material is presented, how the ideas are pulled together and applied are a huge improvement over other such books.
Thanks for the reminder. It’s the kind of thing that helps me to keep on keeping on.
My Best to You Always,
Margo Corbett
The Savvy Patient’s Mentor
http://www.savvypatientstoolkit.com
Thanks to You Alex,
We are Truly Re-Purposing
our Empire.
Gratefully,
Your Neighbors in Novato
Saying Happy 4th of July
from Incline Village, Nevada
Alex,
You are the master of improving… thank you for drilling this into my head since I was always trying to invent something.
I love the examples you gave in this blog. As I look around, I notice the most successful people are improving and the inventors are never getting any recognition until it is too late.
Thank you for your great tips!!!
Layla
http://www.1WealthCreation.com
As Discover Your Strengths revealed to me, I am a Maximizer…an improver…
I’d like to think that I also come up with totally original thoughts…and truth be told…my ideas come from the culmination of all that I have experienced…so in a sense also improving!
Thanks for being a refreshing dose of authenticity, Alex!
Suzanne
YOUR Million Dollar Life … it’s not JUST about the money!
personally, I only have the ambition and the time to improve. Inventing probably isnt an option.
Good points. do you think there is a difference between inventive improvement and commercial improvement?
Hi, Alex,
I love how you find such fascinating facts and then connect them in a meaningful way to business success. This post (Inventor or Improver?) was enlightening for me because I had not considered the difference between the two, but it sure makes a lot of sense. Another tool for my toolbox!
Thank you,
Kathy
You said in VBT class tonight that “inventing is dangerous.” You probably meant that relative to your distinction between improving and inventing, as applied to repurposing for monetary gain- i.e. we waste our time introducing new products or services where there is not yet a recognized need for them.
In academic parlance on creativity there is reference to ‘domain specificity’- in other words, when one creates something new it is only recognized by those in any given field who grasp the value or meaning of the new creation. Otherwise, it’s ignored (or simply unrecognized) as if it didn’t exist! This is not surprising based on how the brain works.
From my point of view, as one who teaches applied creative thinking in corporate and educational settings, I’d say the key factors are VALUE CREATION and CONTEXT, whether we seek invention or improvement. As long as we exercise ‘creative focus’ to get some desired outcome, it really doesn’t matter what we call it, although the tools we use to get a result faster may be different for each.
This distinction, along with the taboo in linking monetization and new ideas in education may be an underlying reason why educators have remained ‘poor’, or less well remunerated, compared to business owners, a trend thankfully being challenged by the likes of Glenn Dietzel.
I am an improver and to that end I have hanging in memory’s hall the following two words, “Something Better”. Some people want something bigger or more but what they really need is something better than what they have or are experiencing. As a Life/Health Coach that is what I market to my clients — “Something Better”. In the vicissitudes of life we can allow ourselves to become bitter or we can become and get better. The choice is ours.
15 July, 2008
Dear Mr. Mandossian,
At the moment I am involved in writing two books.
One is “Kick” about my journey and my son’s journey before and after adoption. The other book, which is completely different, “M.O.V.E” offers a clear method of how to clarify, express and fulfill your vision.
When I met your method (listening to your Success University call) it occurred to me that you would be able to help me move this project – as an e-book also – to successful completion.
Yours sincerely and hopefully
Sharona Duchne
e-mail: Sharona@harmony-vision.net
http://www.harmony-vision.net
Skype: harmony1001
Tel: +972-4-9544464
Hi alex,
I absolutely agree with you to always improve, never invent. Besides in my experience, it is a lot more work to invent, then to improve a product or service and add more value to it.
Taking your “repurposing tools” and applying them to my business has given me more time, more flexibility, and more cash flow.
Thanks Alex.
Jason Manwill
http://www.jasonmanwill.com
Interesting commentary Alex,
Invention is the creation of something to fill a perceived need or want and improvement enhances that which already exists; improvention, then, must be the original improvement of something which already exists? ;)
I do agree with the improvement concept which should be held as superior to rewriting or restating or reapplying. In the truest sense of improvement one must use the original material or concept in a new application to cause original thinking in others. Otherwise, we have just reheated the meatloaf for another meal.
The end result of improvement should be such that it is recognized as fresh, innovative, and of value in the given application, and should significantly cause broader thinking in the minds of “improvers”, and so the cycle continues.
Good concept, Chuck
http://www.thebestdealofyourlife.com
Wow! How to travel in your Blog!
You are very happy with it.
I want to tell you that I am not tired of wanting more … and more …
I’m happy for her success! By placing intelligence in action, and creating space for men, women succeed, authors happy at what they do.
My impression is excellent! … Wonderful! …
It found that the taste and need for distraction and work that I will propose.
Diversified, creative and very well illustrated … Everything good!
Go enfente, seucaminho is Victory!
Thank you for classification level 4.
Success!