The Leatherman tool and the art of the big idea

I think there were three more.

One was learn what you need to know as you go along.

Throughout the process, I came to many, many different steps of the process where I didn't know the answer.

If I'd learned it in engineering school, I'd forgotten, so I had to go back and relearn.

Or it was a new step like when it was time to write the patent.

I decided to try to do it myself.

And I went to the library and checked out some books and was able to get a really good start on writing my patent until I came to the very end where you're supposed to write what's called the claims, where you identify exactly what it is you've created.

And then I realized that a professional should do that.

I hired a patent attorney to help me with that.

But to learn what you need to know as you go along, to me, is a real key thing.

There are many, many steps along the process where I had to stop and do that.

Even if ultimately, like you say, you needed to hire a patent attorney, better to go into it with a lot of background knowledge and having done a lot of research?

Right.

When we did start a company and we've been manufacturing the Leatherman tool for 43 years now, there were many more times in the business when I didn't know what I needed to know and I had to stop and learn what I needed to know as I went along.

Could you talk a little bit about the tenacity and perseverance?

For sure.

Perseverance is one of my qualities.

It was very important for the success I've had.

And I think it's very important for anyone else that wants to try to turn their idea into something from which they can make money.

You asked for other lessons I have to pass along.

And I said the first is to learn what you need to know as you go along.

I think the second is to sweat the details.

And the third is to make sure your product or service improves the lives of others.

Any good invention does that, right?

Correct, yes.