You ever had one of those ideas? You know the ones, you are doing something or another and you think to yourself “Why haven’t they invented something to do so and so?” Then you put it away in the mental file cabinet, pull the idea out once in awhile and never do anything with it….then one night you are surfing the web or watching tv and right there in between a thigh buster and a juice weasel infomercial some asswipe comes on selling your idea! That happened to me.
About 10 years ago I opened a restaurant and being quite the germaphobe I was cleaning the bathroom and thought to myself, “they make trashcans with little foot pedals to open the lid, why don’t they make toilets with a little foot pedal that will raise the lid?” I then started designing an idea, simple and affordable, easy to install. A simple pedal that sat at the base of the toilet to one side and when pushed down with the foot would raise a post that clipped under the seat and lifted the lid. Simple design, made of plastic (or even metal for durability and design appropriate for businesses or high traffic areas) and could even be installed in homes, businesses or anywhere. No touching filthy public toilet seats and no more arguments about putting the lid up or down!
Stupid me, I never did anything with the idea. I would remember it here and there, talk about it to people now and then and see what they thought. It was just one of those random ideas that came to mind and was not something that would change the world but I have seen stranger things sold for $19.99 and those people made millions. Being the skeptic that I am I never trusted any of those advertisements that say how they can get your ideas/inventions made, I figured most of them only got your ideas made once they stole it. Procrastination always took precedence and I never looked into getting the idea patented. I once saw a couple that came up with an idea and ended up $130,000 in debt trying to get prototypes made and market it to companies…I definitely didn’t think that would be plausible..so back into the file cabinet it went………..
Today I saw an ad onliine for my idea..the same concept, same design, I could almost think someone I know stole it or some evil corporation snuck into my mind as I slept….It sells for $29.99 and I am sure some asswipe will get rich off of it……….
So my advice for the day is never procrastinate a good idea no matter how shitty it might seem (no pun intended).
I included a link to the product below it is at the bottom
http://fwdemails.com/2007/11/24/cool-inventions/
November 30, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Wow. that would have been golden opo. I ususally use my foot to lift the lid.
December 1, 2007 @ 7:05 am
You know you are touching on something I’ve thought about for years. I’ve had several little ideas as well that pop up on late night infomercials and make me go D’oh!
I think it has to do with the collective consciousness. Some people think about things, it feeds into the collective consciousness (especially if it’s talked about) and then some people are receivers that act on the idea.
Didn’t you ever wonder why it seemed the most dumbass used-car salesmen types were making millions of dollars selling the things that you thought of years ago? Well, by that theory, they don’t use their creative mind too much and drown out the collective. They operate in their reptilian mind just receiving and acting on impulse then take the credit for it. Whereas us other people are kicking ourselves for not doing anything about the idea.
December 6, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Now this is a topic that has constantly prickled my minds eye along the route of life BJ! It happens a great deal with artists imo. It happened all the time with my late hubby and his art ideas, mainly my fault for being a big mouth enthusing in the wrong company about his ideas which were stolen right out and put into huge art projects around our county. Real deals worth thousands of pounds, but he just smiled when it happened, loving that his mind thoughts were going out there, like Jack says, into the collective consciousness to be received and acted upon by the doers of this world rather than the original thinkers. The art of the artist is to put the thoughts out there to be acted upon, especially as writers, affect and direct the public consciousness.
I must admit to finding your invention quite amusing!lol The thought of the thing suddenly snapping down, leaves a giggle around my lips.
I must admit to having had some really dumb ideas too over the years! and so flocking glad I never lost tons of cash acting upon them.
Fine ideas are hard to come by but stupid ones keep the world turning.
The main thing to remember, is WASH your hands afterwards.
Grinning more
Tai winking at you x