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6 Inventions to Recover from Daylight Saving Time (National Napping Day)

Are you dreading this upcoming daylight saving time? Even if you plan ahead and to go to bed early, you may still feel ridiculously tired the next day. Time and time again, studies show this practice to be dumb and consistently dangerous to people’s health in a variety of ways. This national event is so notoriously terrible, it sparked a second national event, National Napping Day. In 1999 William Anthony, a Ph.D professor from Boston University, created National Napping Day to aid in the loss of sleep on a national scale. Currently, the states of Arizona and Hawaii have succeeded in fighting against this standard, as well as several countries such as China and Japan. Conversely, Florida is fighting to permanently keep daylight saving time, the Senate voting 33-2 in rally of the idea.

We can’t do anything now, but we can help with the drag of it all. We’re pretty passionate about inventions here, and even more passionate about sleeping. Here 6 inventions to help you through the drag of daylight saving time  enjoy National Nap Day to its fullest potential.

1) The Barisieur

Waking up today is going to be a bit harder than normal, so why not wake up like a king or queen? We’re suggesting the best case scenario, waking up to the sweet smell of coffee…..literally. The Barisieur is an alarm clock and coffee brewer. Imagine the soft sounds of bubbling water greeting you in the morning, your stirring intensified by that perfect coffee smell permeating your bedroom. Not only is this the dream we’ve all been waiting for, but it’s design is quite possibly more sleek and sophisticated than the actual idea of waking up to the smell of coffee. MMmmmmmm.

2) Bath Buzz Caffeinated Soap

Now that you’re awake, it’s time get ready for your day. How can you fit in another caffeine boost to your morning routine? The shower of course, where Bath Buzz offers a solution in their caffeinated soap. There’s a whopping 2400mg of caffeine infused in their peppermint scented soap. That equals up to at least 24 cups of coffee! In addition to the energizing benefits of caffeine, you may be surprised to know caffeine is really good for your skin. Caffeine is a prominent ingredient in countless anti-aging skin care products and helps to improve blood circulation. This unassuming bar of soap is guaranteed to help jump start your day.

3) Shelterin Inflatable Car Air Mattress 

You’ve made it past the first half of your work day and it’s lunch time, you’re doing good! Many studies show that short 10-20 minute naps are super effective when dealing with afternoon-slump fatigue. You heard science, now’s your chance to find a cozy spot! I suggest using the Shelterin Inflatable back seat car mattress to aid in your nap-quest. Don’t worry about finding an air-pump, this air mattress comes with a car electric air pump. It shouldn’t take more than a minute to inflate this mattress that’s compatible with 95% of car models. After all, it may be easier to fit in a quick nap from the back of your car if your work doesn’t like your sleeping at your desk (I can’t imagine why).  

4) Ostrich Pillow

Maybe you can’t get to your car, or you’re lucky enough to have If you have a super cool work space. If that’s your case, then I highly suggest using the Ostrich Pillow. Don’t let its looks deceive you, this pillow can conquer any surface for the perfect power nap. If you frequent planes, it’s the perfect travel accessory that you didn’t even know you needed. There’s also an opening in the front for nose and mouth breathing, which is really relevant for those of us that value sleep without that “hot air” feeling.

5) Portable Coffee Cup Holder

Congrats, you’ve made it halfway through the day! You’re doing great. It’s time to stack up on another cup of coffee. After that power nap, it’s going to take everything you have left to motor through the rest of your day. You can’t risk keeping your eye off the ball for even a second. And by ball, I really mean that precious, precious cup of joe. That’s where the Office Table Desk Clip comes in handy. Now you really can keep your eye on the prize. Besides, you can’t risk spilling your drink all over your papers, computer, or keyboard! As an added bonus, this nifty tool double to hold your phone, cosmetics, or even a flower pot.

6) Coffee Joulies

Alright you’ve made it to the final stretch and your work day is almost over! I don’t know about you, but I’m always burning my tongue on a fresh cup of joe. Coffee Joulies conquers against this classic tongue battle by using advanced phase change material technology to store and release energy. To translate this to English, the beans absorbs and conserves the heat from the initial pour, making sure the cup doesn’t exceed burning temperatures. As your cup cools down, the stainless steel stones will then release the previously stored heat to maintain the “perfect” temperature for your coffee. Food Network can be quoted saying “The beans really work” and that’s honestly more than enough for me.

Pat yourself on the back!

Congratulations! Looks like you’ve made it through your work day. Now that you’ve enjoyed National Napping Day to its fullest potential, it’s time to stop and think about everything we’ve learned today, and no I don’t mean confirming daylight saving time is absolutely dreadful. I mean, look at all these helpful products that may have helped you through your day! It’s never too late to start looking at good inventions and assessing their usability. What may come off as a laughable product may really come in handy on days when you need them most, like National Napping Day. If you’re feeling inspired and wanting to create your own invention, feel free to contact us at 888-373-3876. If this article inspired you to take the next step in your own inventing journey, make sure to comment and let us know. As a reward, I might even get an official nap time at my desk (OH BOY)!

Krissy Pizzo is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct, an Invention Company based in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips or comments, feel free to email her at kpizzo@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below! 

Stop Hashtagging “Hustle”: A Labor of Love

I can’t go online without seeing “#hustle” or “#hustling” painted across my social media. Apparently, my friends are “hustling” on their way to the gas station. Somehow they’re “on the grind” while seeing the latest Marvel movie or getting pizza. These terms are so overused, YOLO suddenly took a backseat.

yolo GIF

Don’t get me wrong, the positivity of motivational posts are admirable and great. But I have to wonder, if I’m seeing a person post #inspiration everywhere, what are you actually getting done? When you spend so much time getting hyped by liking/sharing motivational posts, you’re taking precious time away from actually accomplishing those goals. I think it’s time we had a heart to heart.

#1 What does it mean to hustle?

Opportunity is everywhere, with the internet creating a democracy for business. Everyone can sell, market, and post online. And that’s the problem. Everyone can sell, market, and post online. With all this white noise floating around, it’s hard to figure out what to do or who to listen to. What does it really take? Is your friend Jo actually the “biggest hustler out there” while he binge-watches all of House of Cards?

House Of Cards Success GIF by GaryVee

Let me fill you in.

It’s not about being the best. It’s about having the patience, resilience, and willingness to put in the effort. You become the best by working harder than everyone you know. Simply put, there will always be someone working harder than you. The grind is keeping up that, with everyone else, consistently. The real hustle is putting in more effort, time, and sacrifice than you could ever imagine. Starting from the beginning of your journey, it means working really, really, really hard. Weirdly enough, this is where people usually get stuck or give up entirely.

working adventure time GIF

As human beings, we’re inclined to make excuses for ourselves. Working hard becomes tiring and we and say it’s money, we can’t afford to do it. This is our biggest hurdle in our attempts to accomplish our goals.

That’s the true meaning of “hustling”. The willingness to put the effort into your dreams and not stop, for any reasons. Need to pay the bills? Keep your job and work your side-hustle during any free time. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, then you’re not ready to step up and play ball. It’s not hard, it’s long and tedious. Well I lied, it’s also really, really hard. How?

#2 The biggest secret of all

You don’t have to be great.

By Laws of Nature, if you put time and practice into learning something, you’ll eventually get good enough. Even if you’re the very worst ever at drawing, with more time and practice, you literally have to get better. It’s the by the laws of nature. No excuse, even if you mess-up royally or learn from a terrible mentor. If you adjust your sails, you have to get better over time. Time is the key word here. With time and effort, anything is possible.

Grinding 24/7 GIF by GaryVee “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney 

I said you don’t have to be good, that doesn’t mean you have to work any less. The key is working smarter, not harder. That’s the goal and the endless mantra you should always tell yourself. Some parts will easier just as some parts become harder, like everything else. Time and effort are essential because it all comes down to :

  1.  How patient are you?
  2.  Are you willing to wait while you get better? How much effort are you willing to make time for your dream?

#3 Time Is Everything

The biggest part of the side-hustling is making the time for it, like scheduling date night. If you can eat ramen for a week to pay for that cruise, you can certainly invest in yourself. Find a job relating to your dream job or whatever your goal may be. If you can’t quit your job, work harder and gain experience elsewhere. As I stated earlier about our internet democracy, literally everything is at your disposal. Invest in online programs through recommended websites or enroll in college classes pertaining to your field. Skip the Marvel movie to accomplish anything and everything to help improve your skills in whatever your dream may be.

tim meadows mr glascott GIF by The Goldbergs

I honestly believe most people are put-off to this all when motivational speakers become too tough or use tough love. When people say “there’s no excuse” it’s not from a lack of empathy. Honesty is key, and it’s okay to admit working two or three jobs sounds impossibly hard. Working super hard isn’t the most fun lifestyle, it’s one of the myriad of reasons why independent businesses so frequently fail. Not only is it work, but it’s time. Time is the key, remember? People become discouraged when they finally gain the self-discipline to work really hard consistently and it doesn’t work out right away. That’s understandable, everyone wants instant gratification. That’s not the reality though, and it’s okay if working super hard doesn’t sound like a fun lifestyle for you. It can take months to years before you even see results, and it’s hard to handle it all yourself. The easiest way around that is to pay someone else to do it for you.

#4 Be Resourceful

You know the saying “there’s an app for that”? There’s a website somewhere ready to help you, right now. There are infinite online programs, business, or independent contractors ready to help you with anything and everything. Outsourcing has become a wonderful tool readily available to anyone because of the internet. 

Outsourcing Working Alone GIF by USource

Hire a cheap virtual assistant to save three hours in your day to read that book that will teach you what you need to know. Pay $15 to have someone do your laundry while you take that free seminar on public speaking or attend that university class that will help towards your degree. If you have more funds? More power to play with to be more efficient. There are businesses for practically anything you can think of, offering their services to help you directly. Have an invention or product that you have no idea how to make, market, or distribute? We at Source Direct make it our priority to assist people in creating and selling your dream product creation. We specialize in manufacturing and distributing and offer our services with every step of the process. We can help from the patent process to selling your dream product in stores for you.

If there’s a will, there’s certainly a way. There’s really no excuse with all of the free information available on the internet. It’s all up to you. Do you want to hashtag “hustle” your way through Netflix, or do you want to get started?

Krissy Pizzo is a writer and social media expert for Source Direct based in Palm Harbor, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips or comments, feel free to email her at kpizzo@thesourcedirect.net.

Does your invention solve a problem? Does it make life easier?

Tips and Strategies for your Invention 

  1. When genius strikes and you come up with a great idea, create a record of your idea before going any further with it. The record of invention should be written in ink and should include:
    • a clear description of your idea,
    • the date,
    • your signature, and the signatures of two people you trust who have “witnessed and understood” your invention and the dates they sign.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. You must have a prototype built as soon as you can to transform the idea into a physical object.Once you have a complete drawing we can help you build your prototype.
  2. Be discreet. Do not talk about your invention with people who are not bound by a confidentiality agreement.

                     Always protect yourself from potential scams with a non-disclosure agreement.

 

  1. Keep good, complete, and accurate written records, including:
    • A written lab book or log, kept up to date as you work on your invention, that documents each day you did something, describes the efforts you have made in taking your invention from idea to reality (including testing results, experiments, modifications).Note: Have two witnesses sign and date your record book stating that they have “witnessed and understood” the work you have done to build and test your invention.

Copies of all correspondence (including e-mails!) and any receipts relating to your invention.

 

  1. Don’t do too much work on your invention until you get a good idea of whether it will sell well.
    • A suggested rule of thumb to determine whether your invention will sell well is that the total sales will be at least twenty times the cost of inventing and patenting it.
    • Include in your cost calculation the cost of filing fees, hiring a lawyer to help with your patent filing and the person who prepares the drawings of your creation.

Do market research, go to the public and see if they would be interested in buying a product like yours. This is a good way to discover value and set price point for your product.

 

  1. Assess whether you will be able to get a patent on your invention. Answer the following questions:
    • Is your invention novel?
    • What is the prior art?
    • If you are improving on something that has already been patented, is your invention a new physical feature, a combination of prior separate features, or a new use of a prior feature?
    • If you are improving something that has already been patented, is your invention not obvious?
    • Does your invention produce a new and unexpected result?
    • Does your invention fall into one of the five classes of items that may be patent-able? That is, is it a process, machine, an “article of manufacture,” “compositions of matter,” or a new use of any of those items?  At Source Direct, we have a network of preferred attorneys licensed by the Patent and Trademark Office. Our patent attorney locator on our website is growing every day! Look for an attorney near you on our locator and let them know you found them on our website!    

 

  1. Have your attorney conduct a patent search.

 

 

  1. Keep a file for your invention that contains items and information you and your lawyer will need while you prepare your patent application.
  2. Market your invention.

At Source Direct we can handle website development and maintenance, social media management, and online sales. We help you develop your brand while you do what you do best! Don’t stress about contacting big-box retailers or posting daily on your social media we can handle it all!                                                                                                                                         

As an inventor, you would likely rather spend your time perfecting your new invention or idea. Give the experts a call today and see how we can help you take your invention to the next level!

 

Marketing your product

When it comes to bringing a new product to market it’s your responsibility to get your product out there and seen.
You have a great invention that solves a huge problem for people but no one will buy it if they do not know it exists! Marketing is key in product success it can make or break you!

When marketing your product it’s important that your product is seen by your target demographic. Knowing how to reach them and what content potential customers are looking to is imperative! Building a community of potential customers that are engaging and resharing your content is key!

Create value for your followers, a user is likely to unfollow a page that does not push out different content and only is pushing ads for sales! If you have a fitness product keep potential customers engaged by continuously posting fitness related content, recipes of nutritional value, quick workouts, and other fitness products that interest you. Sharing the content of other pages and businesses also helps your reach by tapping into a network of potential customers that you may not have been able to reach otherwise!


At Source Direct we can schedule posts for you across multiple social media platforms, edit and bulk upload your images when you use our services. We target your preferred demographic when posting ads. We want to show how great your product is to people who may be looking for a product just like yours! Using state of the art technology and our expert designers, you will receive the highest quietly representation of your product. We make it affordable and convenient for us to manage your social accounts. get in touch with us today for more information!

 

888-373-3876 X 214

Protect your invention idea!

The lightbulb above your head is illuminating so bright that it’s threatening to blind everyone around you. But what should you do with your great invention ideas? Before you start blabbing about your invention to the wrong person or run to the first company that offers to buy it, you need to do one thing: Protect it!

•Step 1: Document It. Simply having an “idea” is worthless, you need to have proof of when you came up with your invention ideas.

When you come up with an innovative idea, create a record of Invention before going any further. Write down everything concerning your idea. Keep an “Inventor’s Notebook” or journal that records the conception and development of your idea. Use bound notebooks, make frequent entries and date each one. This log may help you in litigation if your invention’s origins ever come into question. Don’t talk with any company or agency about your invention unless they sign a confidentiality agreement. (NDA)

  • Step 2: Research It. You will need to research your idea from a legal and business standpoint.

This may be obvious to many people, however, you would be surprised at how many inventors get excited about an amazing idea and assume that because they thought of it, the idea does not exist anywhere else. Many times a simple Google search or a trip to your local Wal-mart may prove otherwise. Don’t be discouraged if you do find your idea already on the market, you may have a modification or an approach that is not covered by patents held by the manufacturer. If your search does reveal that the invention is out there, at least you did not lose any money on the idea. Also remember if you had one great idea that is in stores, you might have another tomorrow!

  • Step 3: Make a Prototype. 

It’s imperative to work with experienced illustrators for patent drawings, the United States Patent Office (USPTO) requirements are very specific. At Source Direct – Inventing Experts our experienced patent team can create professional patent illustrations of your invention, increasing the chances of your patent application being approved. When it comes to developing a prototype, you may be able to do it yourself if it’s something basic. But if you need help with the execution, you have options. We offer all your needs for creating a prototype.

 

  • Step 4: File a Patent.

Invention experts agree: don’t file your own patent! To properly secure a patent claim, the wording needs to be precise and accurate. It needs to use the nomenclature of a patent authority. Should you attempt to file your own patent, do not expect it to be as specific and powerful as one that is prepared by an experienced patent agent or attorney. Without expert guidance, you may not be granted a patent.

  • Step 5: Market Your Invention.

When it comes to bringing a new product to market it’s your responsibility to get your product out there and seen. You have a great invention that solves a huge problem for people but no one will buy it if they do not know it exists! Marketing is key in product success it can make or break you! When marketing your product it’s important that your product is seen by your target demographic. Knowing how to reach them and what content potential customers are looking to is imperative.