Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

   When you sit down with the attorney, be sure to discuss the cost and benefit of actually defending it.  Unless you are prepared financially, mentally, and physically for that prospect, the patent is just a wall hanger no matter how well prepared.  Even if you "win" such a dispute, the chances of recovering your losses from legal costs, lost business, and the diversion of your own time are very low.  Frankly, If I ever attain the resources to develop a patent and successfully defend it, I`ll spend the money living on the beach in Costa Rica instead

 

Teryx

You may!  It`s still pending (at 18 months) and we have other IP things in the works but our bottom line is going to market with what we have and not getting distracted or spinning wheels on the horrible things that can/will happen and all that jazz ... about $3,000 so far (provisional and then utility stuff with an agent vs. attorney) and more than that in our manufacturing and all the business things.

 

Point being (I say that and "all that jazz" entirely too much) is we started with nothing but an idea and right now we have tacos here, the U.K. and now Australia (and soon a few more countries) and short of someone just going out and knocking us off (takes two: someone to mfg/sell and someone to buy/retail) there`s not much chance of someone taking us out ... if/when that ever does happen I`m not so sure I wouldn`t take it so personal that I wouldn`t make it real personal (we`re a penny part and it`s not worth someone`s family, but I do so enjoy the dream of being the "patent enforcer" or patron saint of small/independent inventors).

 

Anyway, the truth of the matter is that it`s really not a big deal and starting with nothing means we can end with nothing and not feel all that bad because of all the many great things we have DONE ... it is the action and doing things; it`s having an idea, fighting for it and believing in it and seeing it give birth that money can`t buy/reward; we have companies using tacos that you wouldn`t believe (I can`t) and I still get told it`s the stupidest thing ever.

 

Too many words ... it was difficult to start that first step, to write that first check, to make that first sales call, to step off the cliff (and that`s a lot of little steps like everything) and the costs are and will always be a fraction of our disposable income (and opportunity cost assets) ... just saying you can and should be full of fear and listen to everyone telling you to shut up and go away and that you can`t do it or if you do you`ll get killed or whatever,,, and then take an honest look at what you can stand and what you can lose and what you can live with by DOING OR NOT DOING ... and then make it happen if that`s what you want because if you decide to make something happen then it will happen (maybe not in the manner or way you`d like, and maybe not with your wildest expectations) but something will start to happen and that something is something that will not have existed before you and your idea started (or give it closer; take your inventor`s tablet and seal it up in an envelope for your grandkids so you have proof that you did come up with that idea before anyone else!~)

 

Anyway (again!~) you can`t fail if you don`t try (that much is true) you can spend too much time worrying about different things outside of your direct control or trying to be perfect (do I wish I had more free cash for the very best patent firm, best marketing firm, best of everything...Duh!) but we made it work with what we had and continue to work towards the future and all that jazz (besides, your next idea is always a lot better than the one you have right now; trust me, what I got on my "drawing board" is going to change life as we know it!~)

 

... just glanced up at your original question; money and luck ... yes and no; both things can be overcome and beat down with energy and time; there isn`t enough of either to make a bad idea right and the lack of them can`t kill a good idea (someone can steal from you but then that`s true of everything in life and is always just a matter of who`s willing to die to profit off another`s sweat/ideas/land/oil/etc.) ... luck/karma/faith ... all warm and fuzzy (and real) but it`s really none of these (or vast sums of money) that gives an idea life ... it`s just you doing something (and not being an idot about some basic things) and not giving up.  HAVE FUN!

Ah, that`s "Taco Dude" (LOL) ... glad you found something in my gibberish; we`re just honest and open about this journey we`ve decided to take and I could bore you to tears about all the ups and downs and all arounds of everything it has taken to get here.
 

In a nut shell it`s all about getting to decision points and making them so you can get to the next one(s) ... "it`s all fun and games until someone loses an eye" (he-he-he; meaning you can live in your head and never put it on the line or take risks and the world is a wonderful place, but once you commit to an action there are always results ... few things are entirely within your control and so much of what you will be faced with can feel disconcertingly abstract and you`ll have to have some great "touchstones" and even, gasp, some people who can be a base for you to know and measure how it`s going along your path; for this path is one we can only do alone as it`s entirely an individual decision/action plan kind of thing ... committees and groups don`t invent or innovate; they say they do, but that`s just the same b.s. as the rest of their tripe about how typical structures can stimulate and facilitate growth ... rambling, sorry).

 

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the shout out and being someone who cares enough about your ideas to want to put them into motion -- the world needs more people like you and I do know that you can and will do whatever you need to do (ah, that`s my "the sun always rises in the East" statement of fact; we all do whatever it takes to live and sometimes we crazy ones need to plant some strange looking seeds the village doesn`t think will grow).