You don't have to be a mechanical genius to be an inventor. Chances are, you're already at the all-important starting ground every inventor begins at--wishing you could find a clever solution to an everyday challenge. The far-too-complicated baby swing. Slick-soled running shoes. Computer cords constantly tangled up . . . there can't be a solution unless there's a problem. And that's where you're at!Author and inventor Patricia Nolan-Brown has turned many common annoyances into ingenious and money-making products, and she believes you can do the same. In Idea to Invention, she shares the tricks of her trade in order to help ordinary people learn how to look at their world through the eyes of an inventor. Readers will learn the six simple steps it takes to go from idea to invention, and discover: - Creativity habits that spark invention - The power of tape-and-paper prototypes to refine their vision - How to navigate the ins and outs of licensing and patenting their product - The pros and cons of finding a licensed manufacturer vs. running a home-based assembly line - How to promote their invention- Product enhancements that add years to shelf life- And moreFrom the everyday challenge and your initial concept to resolve it, all the way to the explosion of your thriving business, this all-encompassing guide simplifies the invention process and gives creative thinkers the competitive edge they need to achieve the success their amazing ideas deserve.