The Key to Licensing

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Student Dana Kowles.

Dana Knowles – “ From Recovery to Licensing, Some day some how”

Dana Knowles did not follow the traditional route of going to college, getting a degree and starting a job. Since the age of 16 she struggled with school and eventually ended up dependent on alcohol and homeless. Eventually she made the decision to turn her life around, and went into recovery. She always had an inventing mind and part of her path was to work on getting her ideas to market. She went through a lot of learning experiences as she tried many ways to get her products or ideas out.

She surrounded herself with like minded people in 2005 joined the Inventors Group of Washington D.C, where she later became President in 2016. She also started listening to Stephen Key’s book One Simple Idea and listened to it over 7 times.She eventually met and spoke with Stephen Key and soon after decided to join the InventRight coaching program.

After following the InventRight process her coach was guiding her through she was able to get her ideas to the right companies and is close to finalizing her licensing deal.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Student Brad Kons.

Brad Kons heard about licensing in 2009 after reading the book The Four Hour Work Week, written by Stephen Key’s former student, Tim Ferris. He immediately knew that licensing was something he wanted to learn, and being the type of person who likes to learn from someone with experience he joined the inventRight program.

As he was learning the process, and getting interest from companies he was not able to get a deal right away. However, inventing was always part of who he was.

He returned to the program and got back into coaching again. Incorporating new techniques and focusing on simpler ideas.

He has since licensed 4 products, with a 5th on the way.

His message is to never give up and believe in the process.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Student Tim Brennan.

Tim Brennan decided, at a very young age of 12, that he wanted to be an inventor. He went through the school system and after earning his higher level of education with a Masters in Engineering; he was ready to get his ideas out there.

Tim knew that licensing existed and had a passion project he wanted to get to market. He did not know the process so he went through trying to figure it out on his own. After some painful experiences and ups and downs throughout the process, he was able to license his shoe idea to a company.

Tim dives deep into the emotions of the experience and how he was able to overcome his fears to allow him to move forward. He also learned to take a break before coming back to product development and licensing.

He came across Stephen Key’s book, One Simple Idea, and a month later signed up for the program. He knew there had to be a better way of licensing. Throughout the coaching program he learned a lot about the correct steps to take as well as the psychology and mental aspects to be able to continue moving forward.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Student Sef Chang.

Sef Chang learned the term “licensing” during his last year in Art School from one of his teachers. After learning what it meant he decided to dive deep into what the process was all about.

With an advertising background Sef realized that advertising is more about designing ideas. After graduating from school and searching for a job in the creative industries he decided to start freelancing as well as trying to license out his ideas to companies.

It took him some time, but he was finally able to license an idea in the novelty industry, which proved the licensing model to be true.

Sef read the book One Simple Idea and decided to become a student of inventRight in order to hone in on his skills at licensing and contract negotiations.

One thing that Sef struggled with before is paralysis by analysis. Overthinking things and not doing. Writing a sticky note with the words “PROVE IT” reminds him to take action steps everyday.

Sef has since licensed his second idea and now documents his journey on his youtube show MFSEF.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring Former inventRight Student Sef Chang.

Sef Chang learned the term “licensing” during his last year in Art School from one of his teachers. After learning what it meant he decided to dive deep into what the process was all about.

With an advertising background Sef realized that advertising is more about designing ideas. After graduating from school and searching for a job in the creative industries he decided to start freelancing as well as trying to license out his ideas to companies.

It took him some time, but he was finally able to license an idea in the novelty industry, which proved the licensing model to be true.

Sef read the book One Simple Idea and decided to become a student of inventRight in order to hone in on his skills at licensing and contract negotiations.

One thing that Sef struggled with before is paralysis by analysis. Overthinking things and not doing. Writing a sticky note with the words “PROVE IT” reminds him to take action steps everyday.

Sef has since licensed his second idea and now documents his journey on his youtube show MFSEF.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring Former inventRight Student Jeff Shackleford “You don’t know what you don’t know”

Jeff Shackleford has always been an inventor at heart; constantly building and creating new ideas. With lack of education and knowledge he did the first thing he thought he needed to do in order to protect his idea. He went at spent “gobs of money” to get a patent.

Having heard about inventRight he was hesitant and reluctant to work with or trust anyone. “When you have an idea, sometimes you just want to hold onto it tightly and not let it out”. Finally, after trying to get the product to market on his own and realizing the amount of time and capital it would take he knew there had to be a different option and licensing was a better fit.

He decided to research inventRight, watched the videos and felt the genuine compassion that Stephen Key and Andrew Krauss had for helping inventors.

“You don’t know what you don’t know”, and he knew that without the proper knowledge and education on the process he would not be able to move forward. He decided to take the leap of faith and joined inventRight.

This is his story, about how having the right people to help, support and lift you up when you are about to give up can breath back the life that you need to continue pursuing your goals.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring Former inventRight Coach Karen Steinbock.

Karen Steinbock worked as an ER nurse and hospital administration when she soon began to experience the burnout. Looking for an opportunity to be able to use her creativity, she read about Stephen Key and licensing. After reading One Simple Idea, she realized that this was something she could do!

Karen new that she wanted to make sure she was maximizing her time, and after doing her research on InventRight and believing in the power of mentorship, she knew she wanted to get started working with a coach that could teach her the process.

She began the program as a student and when planning on taking some time off from her career in the healthcare field the opportunity presented itself to become an inventRight coach. As something that brought joy in her life, she wanted to help support and share that feeling.

Karen provides a lot of insight and wisdom to coaching, licensing and the process and one thing she touches upon is the common question she would get from students of “what are my odds of licensing”. Her response to this question is one that everyone truly needs to hear.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring Former inventRight Coach Howie Busch.

Howie Busch stumbled upon the book One Simple Idea by Stephen Key after licensing two of his products. He realized that the time and money he was spending on the process could be easily streamlined into something that requires less time and money. He soon became and InventRight student, and shortly after learning the process and he became an InventRight coach.

Coaching and teaching others was his “nature and the timing was right so it was a seamless transition”. He continued licensing his products while also helping his students do the same. Practicing and using the skills he learned while taking his students through the process. Howie, walked the walked and talked the talk.

Shortly into his coaching career, he created a new product, a new robe for men. He knew he couldn’t license it so he decided to go the venture route. Knowing the ups and down’s with venturing he decided to just do it and “not wait for perfect”. After a successfull Kickstarter campaign and funding The DudeRobe in 2 days, he got a call from the casting director of Shark Tank. After launching DudeRobe on June 5th, and airing on Shark Tank, Howie continues to grow his company and build his brand.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Coach Judy DePrang.

Judy DePrang grew up watching her father own a chain of Dominoes pizza. Having to travel every year and watch her father run the business she learned about marketing, business and developed an entrepreneurial mindset.

Being very innovative and always coming up with ideas she later found inventRight and became a student. She considered herself a “pain in the neck” but with the support of Stephen, Andrew and her coach David at the time she felt a strong sense of support.

Becoming and inventRight student has been “monumental” for Judy. After going through the program and learning the process she became an IR coach. She finds that supporting and entire community of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and like-minded people is part of her service to others.

Judy strongly believes in having strong mentors in all areas of her life, and now does the same for her students.

The Key to Licensing - Hosted by Sylvia Pomazak. Featuring inventRight Coach Ryan Diez.

Ryan Diez came up with a hand –held washing device for dog at a very young age. However, having no money and not knowing how to get it to market he wanted to figure out another way. That is when he discovered Stephen Key’s book One Simple Idea and started to learn about licensing.

His child hood idea of soon became The Woof Washer 360, and went viral in 2015 after he found a licensee. After years of stops and starts, he’s eager to share his journey

Working as a police officer for the past 12 years has been his passion, however inventing and coming up with ideas has always been part of who he is, and his “Never quit attitude” is something that help motivate his students to move forward.

He started with inventRight in 2009 and later became a coach. His message of persistence, perseverance, having an openness and willingness to learn and never quit attitude helps drive his students everyday.