‘Good enough’ is a very important concept in bringing a product to market because anything can be made better, more durable, aesthetically more pleasing, with more features - but all at a cost in time to market, investment, and ultimately retail price.
There is a point at which a product is good enough to bring to market for the target audience.
As inventors and developers we often struggle with knowing when a prototype is ‘good enough’. And I'm not talking about 'good enough' as in, "Screw it, I am tired-of-working-on-it,” but rather, "We have hit the sweet spot of enough features, acceptable cost, sufficiently developed play pattern, good play value, and proper timing within our client's development cycle."
An industry colleague wrote to me this touching note in regards to my book, Bruce's Beliefs:
“I was reading it and it is such a wonderful look into you and your heart. I just wanted to comment on the chapter about Roxy. I don’t remember ever crying while reading a book until now. That was such a perfect, beautiful story and experience. I have two dogs as well that I love dearly. Thank you for sharing and thank you for making me see the true value of those that bring that shining example of love into my life. . . “
Wow! That is everything I could have ever hoped for in writing this book - to touch the lives of others in some positive way, that readers will feel that their precious time was well spent and their lives richer in some small way for having read it.
Mission accomplished. Should you be so inclined to read our book, I hope that you will feel the same.
My friend, Dr. Stevanne Auerbach aka Dr. Toy, has already posted a review of my new book on Amazon from which the following is a redacted excerpt:
“The book is a beacon of light for not only toy inventors who will enjoy learning some valued secrets to success, but for anyone who is fortunate enough to discover a book loaded with wisdom. Any reader will come to better understand not only the mind of a . . . generous inventor, who has continuously contributed fun and joyful playthings to children, but will find the content valuable guidance for enriching their lives. Bravo to Bruce Lund for his many inventions and for Bruce’s Beliefs, and for sharing everything with all of us lucky enough to know . . . you. Can’t wait to play with his next invention.”
Just a week after the release of our first book we have already had some very positive reactions.
The book was an expensive project. A great deal of time and resources went into its creation, but not in an effort to make money - I don’t ever expect we will break even, much less turn a profit on the book.
The book, like the book release party, is a gift to those who will take the time to read it. I have known fascinating people, I have experienced great love, and I have learned some things that I think worth sharing and that I hope others might benefit from.
My first book is ready, and about time, I would say. I wanted to get this done before I met my maker because afterwards is much more difficult to get an agent, I have heard.
We are having a book signing party, I suppose, cause that's the thing one does. We have put on some spectacular parties, don'tcha know, and I expect this will be a doosie, as my mother would say. That is to say, it'll be a memorable celebration. After all, a party is for you, our guests, like a gift of sorts.
If you are a reader of this blog, whether on our email or other lists, then you are invited! I hope you can make it. Be sure to RSVP. I promise a good time, good folks to meet and talk with, prizes, entertainment, good food, the works. So come one come all but do let us know ahead of time so we have enough of the good stuff, the comestibles and all that, to suffuncify your sufficiency, so to speak.
So, as a reader of this blog or a fan of our products, you are invited to do us the honor of being present on the 20th of July, 2012, from 7-11pm here at our offices.
Oh, and once my book is available we are going to have a kick-ass book signing party here in our offices on July 20th. Clear your calendars and mark the date!
You really ought to consider coming, as my team really knows how to throw some legendary parties. Our grand opening for our new offices will be remembered always by those who were in attendance - we had a Bengal tiger, albino python, mind-reader, fire-eater, and the Great Scorpini - a magician using a live scorpion.
We intend for this to be an event you wouldn't want to miss.
39 years ago today, an excerpt from day 29 of Bruce's first cross-country bicycle adventure:
Tuesday, June 12th, 1973
"We rode to Vernal, Utah, an oil-boom town, dirty and not too friendly, 105 miles. We rode into Vernal in the early evening after a long haul uphill against the wind. It seemed level or downhill, but was not and completely dragged us out. We spent the night in the jail. It was a large clean cell block form the outside, very fancy, a promise of free breakfast and the people were real nice."
