Great Idea
The Great Ideas Other People Give You
"Why try to reinvent the wheel? Instead just follow what someone else does and use it to your benefit."
My team won’t let me fly on airplanes anymore. Not because they think I’m going to die or won’t come back, but because every time I fly I come home with at least one new product idea. When I sit on a plane I tend to read magazines that are completely unrelated to my business or industry. I’ll read Discovery Magazine or Psychology Today or anything that is intriguing and thought-provoking and new ideas start flowing almost immediately.
One of my favorite ways to find new ideas is to read about methods and concepts that work in other companies and industries. Why try to reinvent the wheel? Instead just follow what someone else does and use it to your benefit. For example, one of the core architectural components of my software model came from a discussion I had with a project manager at another company. He showed me how they were using the “publish and subscribe” model to share employee data across all their departments. I later used that model to perform software and content updates with our customers.
The best part about ideas is that it doesn’t matter where they come from. Give credit where credit is due and don’t infringe on intellectual property rights, but why not feel empowered to maximize good ideas when found?
Here are a few good ideas for using Microsoft Outlook:
- To help you keep track of emails to follow up on, copy yourself as a BCC recipient and create a rule in Outlook to move those emails into a "Follow Up" folder
- Try Xobni.com to make using Outlook 100 times more powerful
- Create personal folders outside your default personal folder to store emails and reduce your inbox size – this will make Outlook run faster if your default personal folder is over 100 megabytes.
- If you use a PDA (I use the Storm) then you can use Outlook tasks and synch them with your PDA, then take notes directly into your PDA instead of on paper.
Happy Idea Hunting! I’d love to hear about your great ideas.
Thanks for reading,
Richard Walker
(Blog: www.EfficientCEO.com)
(Website: www.Quikforms.com)
About the Author
I became an entrepreneur when I started my first business at age twelve. My dream was simple: become a great leader and change the world. Today, as the President and CEO of Efficient Technology Inc, my vision is constantly being exercised and my goal is still the same. These articles are about the many facets of my passion for business: leadership, management, people, processes and technology. While I enjoy other passions like snowboarding and surfing, my focus is to share what I learn daily with everyone around me, and readers Like You. I welcome your feedback and insight!
I have a great idea for an invention. What are the steps that I need to take to make it a reality?
I came up with a great idea for an invention and have searched the internet for what I need to do next. However, all I found was a slew of websites that charge you thousands of dollars just to get a couple of documents and a drawn prototype. Is there an easier (and cheaper) way to get my idea off the ground?
A patent lawyer can help you get started on getting a patent for your idea, but I don't know if you already need a prototype or if the idea will suffice.
I do know that, to protect themselves and save money, a lot of people will write the idea down, place it in an envelope, and mail the envelope to themself, but never open it. That way the postmarked envelope will show you had the idea first if you go to someone for help and they attempt to steal your idea.
After you've attempted to patent it, or have done the postmark tactic, then you'll want to build a prototype yourself, and market it to companies who would be interested in it. Or You Want to find a company that can help you develop the prototype.
New Channel, Great Idea, Poetry & more.
 |
 GREAT CONDITION ADAMS GOLF IDEA 3 IRON HYBRID W/ HC  US $24.99
|
 Great Art Ideas For Kids K-3 US $1.99
|
 Ideas for Great Kids Rooms by Sunset US $5.50
|
 Great lot of K'NEX --100's of pieces, also idea books! US $9.99
|
 TWO-HOUR SCRAP CRAFTS~2000~REALLY GREAT IDEAS~BEAUTIFUL US $6.00
|
 INSTRUCTOR'S GREAT IDEA BOOK 106 TEACHER FAVORITES US $3.99
|
 DeLOREAN - CRAIG CAR STEREO UNIQUE AD GREAT GIFT IDEA!! US $6.99
|
 Lord of the Ring Two Tower The One Ring GREAT GIFT IDEA US $7.99
|
 BROOKSTONE Steel Flask Set in Box-Great MENS Gift Idea! US $5.99
|
 IDEAS FOR GREAT BATHROOMS BY SUNSET BOOKS BOOK EUC US $.99
|
 SPIDER-MAN mouse pad * New in Pkg * Great gift idea * US $.99
|
 Wood Tabletop Chopper Model: Great Father's Day Idea US $16.58
|
 Holiday Snowman Salt Pepper Shakers - Great Gift Idea US $6.99
|
 1937 FIVE COIN YEAR SET * Great Anniversary Gift Idea US $29.00
|
 1945 FIVE COIN YEAR SET * BIRTH YEAR * GREAT GIFT IDEA US $23.00
|
 Halloween Pumpkins & Parties Book (GREAT IDEAS!!) US $6.50
|
 1600+ GREAT IDEAS ON WEDDING + THEME CAKES IN PICTURES US $4.99
|
 1600+ GREAT IDEAS ON WEDDING + THEME CAKES IN PICTURES US $4.99
|
 CARE BEARS ABC CROSS STITCH BOOK 1985-GREAT GIFTS IDEAS US $4.99
|
 Square Pillbox Sun Design Real Unique & Great Gift Idea US $5.99
|
 NWT FAIRY BEAR PLUSH GREAT GIFT IDEA! US $.99
|
 3 HGTV, BUDGET LIVING HOME DECOR BOOKS, GREAT IDEAS! US $5.99
|
 Fishing Bait Assortment all new Great Gift Idea!!!!!!!! US $35.00
|
 REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT KEYRING AVIATION GREAT GIFT IDEA! US $2.95
|
 PHOTO COASTER 5 PC SET~~BNIB~~GREAT GIFT IDEA US $5.99
|
 Holiday Crafts by BH&G 83 great ideas 2003 US $.02
|
 ROOSTER BOOKENDS SO CUTE GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR SOMEONE US $2.99
|
 THE PET ROCK & THE BOX THROWBACK (GREAT GIFT IDEA) US $4.95
|
 Early Childhood & Kindergarten Calendar- Great Ideas! US $12.99
|
 1947 Four Roses Whiskey ad Great Idea, but... funny! US $9.99
|
 Great Ages & Ideas of the Jewish People-S Baron 1956 US $.99
|
 STUFFIT PRAM BAG - BN - GREAT IDEA 4 BAD WEATHER! US $6.70
|
 THE GREAT AUSSIE KIDS DRESS-UP IDEAS COSTUMES PATTERNS US $3.13
|
 MOTHER & DAUGHTER 14kt WG Bracelet Set-Great Idea! 4.8g US $132.00
|
 Great Ideas for Kids K-3 teachers guide US $.99
|
 Ideas for Great Kids' Rooms by Sunset (1993, Paperback) US $.99
|
 "999 Great Money Making Business Ideas" in eBook Format US $.99
|
 Glass Calla Lily Drink Stirrer-4.5"-GREAT GIFT IDEA!!! US $.99
|
 Glass Calla Lily Drink Stirrer-4.5"-GREAT GIFT IDEA!!! US $.99
|
 Great Ideas for Teachers by Bev Gundersen (1991, Pap... US $12.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
|
|
DCI I Am Not a Paper Cup 10-Ounce Porcelain Travel Cup with Lid $12.33 Double-walled porcelain cup keeps your beverage of choice hot without burning your hand Also keeps cold beverages colder longer Designed to look like a disposable paper coffee cup Tight-fitting silicone sipping lid Silicone stopper on bottom of cup prevents water from entering the hollow cavity when washing Microwave and dishwasher safe Silicone lid and stopper can withstand temperatures up ... |
|
|
LOVE AND HUGS SALT & PEPPER SHAKER SET *GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, WEDDING, ETC $9.89 As featured in Wallpaper- and I.D. magazine. The very nature of this set connotes love, making it a perfect gift for your loved ones! The bold use of black and white suggests that we are all brothers and sisters on this planet and we need to treat each other with kindness, compassion and respect. The rethinking of a salt and pepper set on this level, as well the clever geometric aspect of the de... |
|
|
Color Changing Fiber Optic Butterfly Nightlight; Pink Glowing LED Butter Fly Night Light Makes A Great Gift Idea $8.99 Fiber Optic Night Light The Color Changing Fiber Butterfly comes with LED lighting and slow color changing motion which makes it as if the butterfly is slowly flapping its wings in motion. The fiber butterfly will light up the night as soon as it is plugged in.... |
|
|
HGTV - Great Ideas from Room by Room (VHS) Shari Hiller and Matt Fox's fun, creative projects can give every room in your house a new look - and they don;t cost a lot of money. Step by step, your hosts demonstrate how to build a unique fireplace screen, use special painting techniques to customize walls and furniture, create simple but stylish window treatments and offer a world of tips for accessorizing.... |
|
|
THE GREAT COURSES, THE JOY OF THINKING: THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF CLASSSICAL MATHEMATICAL IDEAS PART 1 & PART 2 VHS SET OF 6 VIDEO TAPES.... |
|
|
Golf Lessons with Leadbetter (3 Video Box Set) ... |
|
|
Yardwise 136300YW 25-Inch Sweep It Push Yard Sweeper $65.99 Yardwise, 25", Push Lawn Sweeper, 30 Gallon Capacity, Multi Functional Super Grabbing Brushes, Easy, Dial In Height Adjustment, Easy To Remove Dump Basket, Folds Down For Storage In Tight Spaces, Some Assembly Required.... |
|
|
Sparkle Night Light - Hot Pink Glitter Children's Nightlight, Great Gift Idea for Kids $10.95 ... |
|
|
Ken Burns: National Parks - America's Best Idea $45.91 Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales - from Acadia to Yosemite Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska - The National Parks: America's Best Idea is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background - rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives a... |
|
|
The National Parks: America's Best Idea [Blu-ray] $58.49 The National Parks (six episodes, twelve hours) tells the human history of five of the nation’s most important and most heavily visited National Parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Great Smoky Mountains) and the unforgettable Americans who made them possible. Set against some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, each park’s story is filled with incidents and c... |
