So You Think You are Not An Inventor?

[stantheman55]

Hi Rick,
I enjoyed your discussion, I too, over the last 40 years have “Invented” things that ether made the work go quicker, smoother, or more efficiently. I too was always pissed off at people who would say “You can’t do that” Those very words were my go to HOT button. In other words don’t tell me I can’t do something cause ill prove you wrong or go a long way to attempt to prove you wrong. (Learning a lot in the process.)
It was just such a challenge that led me to selling my house moving my family 1000 miles to a new town and landing a job (Firefighter) that became my career for 30 years.

What irked me even more was when a problem would come up particularly on the Job and I would take the time to solve said problem and then told by a supervisor that we weren’t going to use my solution. I had no problem being told this if someone came up with a better solution, But when none was offered and we continued on with what was clearly not working for the sake of just getting the task over with be it half assed or just poorly done drove me nuts.

Some people particularly in power can’t stand to have an underling make in their opinion them look bad. As Far as I was concerned they made themselves and the rest of the crew look bad because a poorly done job reflected on all of us.

I had a container of used lawn mower oil that had filled up with rain water, ( I’m guilty) I left it out without the cap. I wanted to separate the two to dispose of the old oil. After several failed attempts I took a 2 liter bottle cut the bottom off and filled it with the water/oil mix. I cracked the cap just loose enough for the water to trickle out the bottom. When the oil reached the cap it stopped flowing. After several refills I had the oil separated. A simple invention yet taking advantage of the physics principle that oil is lighter then water, thicker also.

In closing remember the unwritten 4^th rule of physics “You can’t push a rope.

Best regards and keep on inventing, your never to old to learn something new.
Stan.