Quixoting™ - A Quest for New Ideas

Still Hate Going To The Dentist? I Have The Antidote!

Some ideas pop into your head as a result of a single experience.  Others come from years of experiences.  This particular idea is associated with pain and discomfort.  Yes, I'm talking about the dentist office.

Now, dentistry has come along way over the past few years.  For example, there is no more blood-letting to fix a sore tooth.  Thankfully.

As background, this idea is one that comes from the heart.  As many of you, I lived through the pain of a thousand men as a child sitting in the dentist's chair.  The man in the mask was no friend of mine. He was the ultimate villain . . . a pain with with no solution.

Well folks.  I think I may have an antidote to one of the biggest issues dental patients face today.  Pens ready?  The issue?

Extended numbness or as it is called in the medical journals: 

frozen or tingly face syndrome 

The symptoms of this particular malady include:

1.  a sense that you are drooling when you are not

2.  an inability to speak without a lisp

3.  a feeling like you were hit on the side of the face with a two by four

4.  an inability to drink without spilling

5.  a fear that your bottom lip has swollen to a size similar to Angelina Jolie

The perpetrator, of course, is your favorite family dentist.  The weapon of choice is a needle with a toxic asset inside.  A very long needle on the end of a very medieval looking device.  What makes it worse?  

 . . . the shaking of the needle upon entry into the soft underbelly of your inner cheek

 . . . the accidental spilling of venom (numbing fluid) in the mouth cavity (that is one bad taste)

 . . . the way the dentist roughly grabs the cheek to position the weapon

If you think I'm bitter.  You are correct.  These are pains that hang with you for life.

Now I'll tell you that I now have a great dentist.  He really cares.  Really!  So, to return the favor and to keep the positive karma flowing, here is my idea to improve the post-dental experience:

I call it NumbAway™.  Its goal is to reduce the extended time your face is numb.  Why?  Because it is annoying, embarrassing and often unnecessary.  In my experience, the numbness lasts about twice as long as it needs to last.  Here's the idea from my Idea Book . . .

So, what is C12?  Make a comment below if interested and I will tell you.  Its success has been proven time and time again - every time I have been numbed beyond belief.

You might be saying.  "Hey, I see the problem.  No one likes to be numb for too long.  But what if I take this shot and the numbness goes away before the pain does?"  Fair question.  One that would need to be tested more thoroughly.  But I've never had an issue.

Beyond that, I don't see any negatives to this idea.  Dentists pay a small fee for the shot and offers them free of charge to their surgical patients.  Patients see a caring dental office and have less fear and discomfort about coming back.

What do you think?  Any dentists out there?  Let me hear from you!

When a ceiling fan just doesn't cut it . . .

A while back I wrote a post here called "Does anyone need a blanket in the summertime?"  The idea solved a problem for me (on paper) in that I need a heavy cover when I sleep.  Summer or winter.  That fact made summers uncomfortable and hot.  So my solution was a blanket with big holes in it that would provide the weight without locking in the heat.

Well, that idea has not yet found its way into the new Bed, Bath and Beyond catalog.  I didn't build a prototype and neither did you.  So we'll try again.

This new idea tries to solve the same problem in a different way.  Not sure there's really a problem to solve here?  I can't help you there.

So this idea tackles this problem with moving air and an ability to self adjust as temperatures go up and down under the sheets.

And, well, some ideas need to be illustrated.  So, here's more of my famous art work.  Used sparingly here to make a point.  

I know what you are thinking.  What about a ceiling fan?  Wouldn't that do the trick?  Not for me.  I end up with a frozen face and dry eyes.  OK, it's probably not that bad . . .

So what are the pros and cons of this idea - from my perspective: 

PROS:

- invisible as everything is under the tucked sheets

- works in summer and winter

- included thermostat maintains a consistent temperature under the sheets- helps to avoid bed sweats (not that I ever have those, of course.  And can be set for 10 minutes before wake up to aid in the "return to the living"

- quiet fan provides a peaceful white noise (if any at all)

CONS:

- perception issue?  A bit clunky?

- will my feet be colder/warmer than the rest of me?

- what if my husband or wife gets hot and I get cold.  Problem?

OK, now it's your turn to turn up the heat on this idea or give it the cold shoulder.  Come on.  I can take it.

Are you grateful? Need a reminder to remember why?

There are times in life.  We've all had them.  Despite so many things to be thankful for, we can easily find dumb little other pains to worry about.  We forget about just how lucky we were to be born.  After all, just think of the odds!  Especially here in the U.S. we have riches and a cultural structure that generally allows us tremendous freedom and opportunity.  Yet somehow it is often not enough.

Well, what if I told you I had a way to, like a rush of steam, to remind you of all the wonderful things that you've forgotten to focus on while wallowing in the muck.  Using input from you and readily available public data, I can do this.  But I haven't done it yet.

Now, let's be honest.  There's an awful lot of talk out there about being grateful.  It is/was a big part of "The Secret" and is a regular topic for Oprah, Dr. Phil and the like.  But you simply cannot tell someone what to be grateful for, can you?  Isn't that like telling someone they "don't look fat in those jeans"?  Even if it is incredibly obvious to you, it has to be apparent to them. 

So, enter idea from idea book (right below). 

I'm not sure if you can read all that so I will read it for you.  OK there.  Got it?

Basically this is a website that starts with a list of 100 questions.  Simple enough, right?  These 100 questions are specially crafted to learn your complete life situation.  Once you have completed your answers and the machine whirrs and lights flash, a report is generated that identifies 10 things that separate you from others in your community, state, country and in the world.  This executive summary is followed by a very detailed report about your comparative results.

How does it work?  Well, I have absolutely no idea.  But what I like is the ability of this report to not only identify all the facts that make up your life but to begin comparing them to those also living on this planet.  I know what you are thinking.  How despicable that I resort to comparisons with those less fortunate to make myself feel better.  It doesn't sound very Christian to do that and it doesn't feel very in tune with Buddhism to need to do so.  We should all just "be".  I get it.  And you are right.

Continuing with the idea.  Each participant would have the option of updating a portion of the test (those areas that are more likely to change like health) on a monthly or quarterly basis.  But most would do it annually.  Once a year (Thanksgiving Day) you would get a report that reminds you of your relative position in life.

For a few simple examples: 

Q: How many kids do you have?  A: 4

DATA:  The average family in the U.S. has 2.5 kids.  The average family in China has 1.

Q: Does anyone in your family get sick on a regular basis or have a disease?  A:  No.

DATA:  The average family in the U.S. has .4 sick or diseased family members.  In Africa the number is three times the U.S. average.

So, the things I like about this idea:

1. Everyone gets a tangible reminder on a key day of thanks
2. There is an education angle here (for parents and kids) 
3. The education could lead to a bit more humility and understanding of this world. 
4. Who wouldn't want to see if next year they aren't relatively more better off than in prior years?(kind of like a life version of the stock market - scary that I even said that . . .)   

That's it - what do you think?

The sunglasses I never wanted to tell you about

This is a tough one for me.  Or at least for my creative self.  

You see I thought this was going to be one of my better ideas.  One that just needed some time to develop.  Does that every really happen without focus?  Nope.  

As much as I hate to do it, I'm going to give away one of my favorite ideas.  Now that I've set it up that way, you now have big expectations, right? Now I just need to live up to them.

OK, here goes.  I had an idea for a line of sunglasses (or glasses for that matter) that shun the human ear.  That's right, these sunglasses despise the ear so much that they avoid resting on or wrapping around them altogether.

Instead, my sunglasses rest on the zygotic bone via a gentle spring and a soft pad (to keep them firmly on your face without leaving a funny mark).  Based on their resting place, I call these sunglasses Zygots™.  See my drawing (better than average artwork here, don't you think?) here:

OK, so now I'm listening for a number of sounds from you.  Crickets, snickering, a golf clap?  You are either strangely attracted to this idea or you have just left the commode having prayed to the porcelain god.

So why did this one stick with me?  Not sure.  Maybe because I had a vision that I could create a prototype without a lot of cash, get a patent and have fun walking around town and answering questions about my hip new look.  I had visions of Jennifer Aniston or Beyonce hitting the red carpet with my Zygots over their eyes.

However, I also had a separate vision of someone e-mailing me with a picture of these exact glasses from an old history book.  If these are already out there somewhere, please don't tell me - I have way too much mentally invested here!

Is this a cop out on my part?  Should I have launched these instead of blogging about them?  I don't think so and here's why.  

1. I work full time and love my day job 
2. Sunglasses are a highly competitive category that I know nothing about 
3. I love ideating and am not ready to implement   

If you are an entrepreneur and know something about this industry.  Let me know!  I'd love to get your feedback and perhaps you, yes you, can become the next best friend of Jennifer Aniston.  Thanks to me . . .

 

Another website idea - kids beware!

If you have small children, please cover their eyes or quickly escort them out of the room.  I cannot be responsible for what action they may take upon reading this post.  I'm not talking fire and brimstone, but it won't be pretty.

You see, this idea is a tool for parents to educate their kids on the right things to do and the right way to act in this world.  If you are a parent who already has your kids on the straight and narrow, feel free to shift back to You Tube.  For the rest of us, I have an idea that might just get the right message across to our kids and be the solution that curbs childhood behavior forever.

Before you call Oprah to book me in the next open slot, let's all realize that there is no real solution here.  But there are ways and there are better ways.

As background, I have three kids (12, 10 and 10).  They are wonderful but not perfect.   OK, honestly, they can be frustrating and illogical on some days.  One day, a number of years ago, I got tired of my raised voice and decided I wanted to provide a punishment with a purpose.  We were up in Bass Lake, CA visiting the grandparents and one of my kids was being disrespectful to Grandma (completely unacceptable, right?).

So instead of a "timeout" or "no tv" or "no lake time", I gave him a project.  His project was to:

1. Look up the word respect in the dictionary and write the definition on a piece of paper.  
2. Based on the dictionary's words, write his own definition (in his words). 
3. Interview Grandma asking questions like: "how did it make you feel when I . . ." 
4. Ask yourself: why was I so angry at the time when I said those things?  
5. Ask yourself: what could I have done differently for next time?  

Now depending on the age of your child, these questions may be asking too much.  But I think there is a version of these questions that can work.  Once he was done, my son read me his paper and we talked about it.  The kicker for me?  I was now having a calm discussion with my son instead of feeling bad about raising my voice and, by the way, completing losing him be being angry. 

So here's my idea.  A website where kids can learn the key lessons in life through a structured internet based mini-study.  I'm not talking about Dr. James Dobson stuff here.  Just good basic, respectful behavior.  Topics would include kindness, respect, caring, no bullying, etc.

I'll call it Lessons for Kids™

Would you use this?  If not, what are your best tools to teach these lessons?     

If you are an internet entrepreneur, lessonsforkids.com is available based on a quick search . . . send me an e-mail and I'll tell you more!

Idea For A New Website: Who Was That?

Like other bloggers and internet-focused folks, I am always thinking of ideas for new websites. I'm sure you've thought of some as well. 

Staying true to the spirit of Quixoting, my ideas are better in the public eye than stuck in a bottom drawer or crammed in the corner of my brain. But I've also thought: if it is such a great or interesting idea, why don't you launch it? Good ideas don't become great just because you tell people about it. It has to be launched, money has to be risked and blood must be spilt, right?

But I don't really believe that anymore. I believe that if I do not have the time, the knowledge or the inclination to start it, why not tell others? Maybe someone else would like to launch it. I believe there is good karma in that. And I've, in sharing, reduced my idea inventory (fewer headaches that way!). 

So, the first I'll share is one called www.whowasthat.com and it was inspired by a family trip to Bass Lake, CA.  

We stopped at a rest stop for food. As we were leaving, I noticed a sweet looking Escalade with 3 or 4 big guys around it. Of the four, one of them looked very familiar. African American, tall, impeccably dressed, etc. My wife and I went through all the scenarios including musician/singer, professional athlete, actor but could not figure it out. To this day, I still wonder "who was that"? 

Now you could argue "who cares" instead. I get it. But we are a culture that likes to stare. We are curious about people who are on TV and pictured in magazines, right? Haven't you had an experience like this at a restaurant or on a plane? 

So how will it work? 

Basically I envision you going to the site with all the details you can remember (race, height, weight, car type, city, etc). If you are good with a pencil, you could even upload a drawing. You would then input all that data into a database. The key to this is obviously creating and maintaining a database that could quickly match the provided description with all the database content. It would be like the FBI database on CSI. After you hit "Submit", you would get back your results (like Google). The better your input, the fewer your results. 

Once you find your correct result, you click a button which "rings a bell" letting others on the site know that you were successful. Any unsuccessful searches, would be opened up to the community for anyone to take a guess. 

So, what do you think? If you are a web entrepreneur, like this idea, and have an interest, send me an e-mail. I'll tell you more! 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

When a crutch is used, well, as a crutch

Sometimes (when your mind works like mine does) you see something and the phrase just pops into your head: "there's got to be something better than this". The the other day I was driving and saw someone on crutches. Did I feel sorry for the guy? No. Did I worry that he might not get home safely? No. I thought:

Why, in 2008, are people still hobbling around on old metal sticks from the middle ages?

See the picture below - even high-caliber athletes are using these outdated things!

So, instead of just complaining about it, I decided to create my own crutch. Not because I feel for the people suffering out there but because someone might be able to make a business out of it. But before I share that, there are a few companies innovating out there in this space:

1. Crutch Tote™ created a cool little bag that attaches to the crutch. According to their site: Being on crutches is challenging enough. Having no way to carry your stuff only makes things worse. That’s the beauty of Crutch Tote™ - the ultimate crutch accessory!. Good idea.

2. LemonAid Crutches™ makes designer crutches in different colors and with different, fun fabrics. According to their site: No one wants to be on crutches. They hurt your hands, they hurt your arms and they certainly hurt your sense of style. Many have tried to tackle the challenge of adding comfort to an uncomfortable item, but duct tape and washcloths look…well…tacky. That’s why we created designer crutchwear that’s not only comfortable, but fun and fabulous looking.
Also a good idea.

So, back to our title "When a crutch is used, well, as a crutch" . . . How is it possible that folks with gobs of money are using crutches that could be used as torture devices? Is it the doctor's fault for just using the "standard crutch" that insurance allows? Is it the fault of the insurance companies for not allowing for innovation in the crutch business by limiting crutch expenses? Is it the crutch industry that has no incentive to change? No clue.

Here's my stab. See below:

I call these Forward Motion™ Crutches. Because after all, crutches are supposed to help you walk, right?

Here are my innovations:

1. The wider under arm support not only softens the pain (flex aluminum) but it spreads the pressure in the arm pit.

2. The use of thick memory foam on all under arm and hand spots are there to easy stress.

3. The shock absorbing air or spring chamber makes each step less "jarring".

4. The forward angle of the hand support automatically leans the person forward to allow for an easier step.

5. The pad on the bottom of the crutch is a unique "V" shape to begin and finish each step more effectively.

Now, I know most of us do not get hurt often enough to remember the pain of being on crutches. But think back . . . wouldn't this be better?

Use a Mac? I may have an idea for you.

This blog is written on a Mac Powerbook laptop. While there are software struggles to deal with and websites that do not comply, I love this computer and wouldn't give it up.

But I do have one little pet peeve.

As a new writer and a full time marketer (and a father, husband, volunteer . . .) I don't always get the sleep I need. When I do get to sleep, my ability to get to sleep and stay that way is kind of important. So, you'll understand if any small distraction catches my attention.

So, the distraction I wanted to solve was the pulsing light on my Mac that indicates the computer is sleeping. It goes bright then soft, bright then soft, bright then soft. Oh sure I could throw a towel over it or a t-shirt. But this is my Mac and there are always cool and quirky solutions out there for Macs.

Here's my solution . . . introducing Snuf™

A small piece of foam with an exterior coat of white pearl plastic. It slides gently over the closed laptop while at rest. It would also fit over my Airport Express wireless extender (which burns bright green when operating properly).

Any other Mac users out there?

Does this solve a problem for you? Or am I just sleep deprived and light sensitive?

The hands-free rolling suitcase. Want one?

OK, so here's an idea I added to my ideas book back in 2003. At the time I was doing a lot of traveling including lots of long airport walks (Chicago, San Francisco and the like). During these trips I had many moments with roller bag in one hand, briefcase in the other and a need to also be holding my music player, a cup of coffee and my airplane ticket. Ever been in this spot? So, I started thinking about ways that I could simplify my life on the road.

How could I free up a hand or two? Well, the one written up here is pretty low tech and since then I have a number of additional ideas that I'll share - here's the original idea:

If this is the first time reviewing an idea here, please know that I fully recognize that these drawings are dreadful - hopefully you get the point!

So, the handle of the roller bag (think TravelPro) has a "quick-clip" that attaches easily to a belt or strap on the waist. Instead of wheels on the bottom, there are a series of round roller balls that allow quick and easy directional changes and balance the bag so that there is no weight felt on the hip.

Here are the pros and cons:

PROS
- Hands free
- Easy direction changes
- Comfortable and pain free

CONS
- People will stare at you
- Perceived lack of control

A build on this would be to create a bag that is battery powered and follows you (within 1 foot) based on a tracker carried in your pocket. As you move it moves. Don't they have high end golf bags that follow you?

In terms of the first "CON", you might just look a bit silly walking through the airport with your bag attached to your hip. But, hey, remember the first business trip where you used a roller bag instead of the heavy and painful garment bag? Any embarrassment you felt at that time quickly dissipated as you realized that your back actually felt pretty good!

OK, now it's your turn. Comments? Tell me the truth, I can take it . . .

Left Off™ - The beginning of the end for hip fashion

Of all the "great" ideas I've had, this may be the worst. It may be because I am the least qualified in the world to be messing with the fashion category. It may also be that I just got lazy on this one - or I just didn't pull out the eraser fast enough.

Either way, the promise of this blog is to get all ideas out on the table.

If I used proper restraint this wouldn't be Quixoting™, now would it? The restraint comes in what I decide to pursue someday, but idea generation needn't have a filter.

But hey, there have been some pretty crazy ideas that made millions after they sauntered themselves down a New York runway (no, I've never been there for fashion week but perhaps some of you have). Also, if they can sell jeans that were (so it appears) blasted with a shotgun at close range for premium prices, I say anything goes.

So here's the idea. It's a clothing line called Left Off. It means that key aspects of clothing that are expected to be there, are not.

OK, as soon as the laughter dies down I'll continue. . .

. . .

. . .

Thank you. Here's the page from my idea book:

If you can stand it, you can double click on the image to make it larger.

So what's in the line. Well, of course, there is logo'd apparel. But the key items in the line include:

1. A baseball hat with no brim (hey, we all wear them backwards anyway, right?)
2. A button down shirt with no buttons, no pocket and no collar
3. Shoes with no laces (OK, these already exist - but we need a full line to succeed at Nordstrom)
4. A belt with no buckle

So what do you think? Is it time for the filter? If not, what else should the line include? There's got to be someone out there with some fashion sense!

If you are playing along at home, please leave a comment with your vote.

1 - Stinky
2 - Kinda Stinky
3 - You May Have Something There
4 - Potentially Great
5 - Book Travel for New York, You've Done It!

I'll be waiting . . .