Invent, Innovate, and Prosper: A Step-By-Step Guide to Successful Inventing (Creative Success Series) Paperback – Illustrated, 1 April 2019

Invent, Innovate and prosper is a book about inventions which defines an invention as being beyond creating a physical product but it could be dance, music or something else which is made. Colburn writes about how you can ensure that the invention you create is suitable for its purpose.

With over 4 decades of first-hand experience and 25 successful inventions under his belt,Colburn is well placed to define a process for success around innovation. This book sets out his step by step guide devised to help support independent inventors while also using case studies from some of history’s greatest inventions and contemporary success stories to illustrate key points.Colburn takes us through his process that includes setting a purpose, defining the problem your invention is solving, research, creative thinking tools, eureka moments, evaluation, taking it to market, prototypes, patents and protection. By drawing parallels with the way Sherlock Holmes works, the writer brings to life some of the challenges and skills inventors face. He gives us plenty of practical tools and exercises to use, helping to demystify the process around innovation.This is an accessible read and Colburn’s can-do attitude is inspiring. Indeed, with the right positive mindset and a rigorous process, it feels that anything is possible and perhaps we can all access our inner inventor.

Michael Colburn certainly is an expert in the subject of invention, using his own personal experiences to illustrate many of his points. This makes it a very user friendly and accessible step-by-step guide. By unpicking it and taking us through the invention process I was given a real sense of confidence that I could indeed apply this process to my goals using my own gifts and talents. Every aspect of invention is covered in this guided which does make it quite lengthy but worthwhile.It was interesting to understand these inventing processes in helping me define my own goals and considering how problems that I will encounter can be solved. The practical exercises are so much more helpful than a work on the mere theory of invention. This really is a very practical guide. I think that my only disappointment with the audio book was having to take so many notes as I was going through. I think the paper copy may be a very useful addition to refer to and to scribble notes all over.The hope of every inventor is that they will prosper and profit financially from their invention and Colburn does make this seem possible. I also loved the many inspirational quotes that he includes from those who have walked the path of invention before us.