Entrepreneurs Wanted

Hardcore with Dr. Rob Yonover

Dr. Rob Yonover getting barreled.

Dr. Robert Yonover is a Ph.D. geochemist/volcanologist with a history of innovative scientific contributions, technologies and patents. Dr. Yonover’s unique background arose from his roots as a non-talking child with a strong connection to nature and the ability to approach problems in a primitive yet creative fashion. Using life and death situations with the ocean as his laboratory, he has invented a multitude of  survival  technologies, including the military-approved RescueStreamer®, an emergency distress signaling device, is now in use by all branches of the U.S. Military.  Dr. Yonover’s media credits include appearances on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, with most major magazines covering the RescueStreamer® technology.

We officially announced the launch of Entrepreneurs-Wanted.org during the first lunch of [re]Think: Hawaii.  In addition to both Ed Young and I speaking, we also had Dr. Rob Yonover share his entrepreneurial testimonies with the group.  Not only did he bring a different type of entrepreneurial plan, but Rob brought a strong energy that resonated throughout the entire conference.

His simple, practical, yet hardcore approach to entrepreneurship continues to inspire me.  I was able to get him to agree to pause for a moment and share his insights for aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs creating intellectual property, as well as his first invention and the spirit of accomplishment.

We all have the official bio that we post on our “About Me” pages and provide in press releases, but who is Dr. Yonover?  Better yet, tell us about Rob.

“Rob is Hardcore Waterman, Scientist, and Inventor that has an unquenchable thirst to solve problems of all kinds in the simplest and most elegant manner.”

What was your first invention?  You know, the one you built in your parents garage?

“My first invention was the electric nosepicker at the age of 5 – much to the shock of my parents – especially when it worked (a simple drinking straw taped to a small battery-powered spinning motor shaft, inserted upward into the nose cavity…ha!)! That one was built a few years after I got out of the playpen (or maybe I was handcuffed to it?).

My first real invention was made on my lanai (20 years ago) with a piece of plastic and a bunch of pipettes from a chemistry lab – that one actually turned out to be the SEE/RESCUE^® Streamer or RescueStreamer^® that is now used by militaries and civilians all over the world!”

For our readers following the inventors path, describe a few of the usual challenges any inventor can expect and the solutions that worked for you.

“(Ask yourself these questions)

1. How do I solve problems? Look to Nature for Solutions
2. How do I open doors? Be a Polite/Persistent Pain-In-The-Ass
3. How can I get my point across quickly/efficiently? Think and Pitch in Bullet Points (e.g., 140 characters)
4. How do I win someone over on your invention? Let Them Hold It, then Take It Away
5. How do I survive as an Inventor? Don’t Quit Your Day Job so you Can Quit Your Day Job!”

Knowledge about patents, trademarks, and intellectual property need to be some of the sharpest tools in an investors toolbox. Talk more about the right tools inventors or entrepreneurs need.

“It’s important to have a baseline level of IP knowledge, however ultimately if you are serious you have to bring in patent/trademark attorneys. You can skimp on other things, but not when it comes to writing the CLAIMS of your invention. My recent book (Hardcore Inventing) provides an overview and resources on all aspects of protecting your Intellectual Property – it’s a good starting point.”

What are the very first steps anyone should take to protect their intellectual property?

“Write down and date your thoughts in a notebook that has pre-numbered pages. Send copies of your notes to your patent attorney to start a file and begin a paper trail. Do not tell anyone about the specifics of your invention (aside from your patent attorney and maybe your partner or family members, assuming you trust them – ha!). Proceed to a Provisional Application or Regular Patent Application when you are ready to get serious. Save money so you can afford to pursue the patents. On the bottomfeeding front, you can always try to pick up some Poor Man’s Intellectual Property by obtaining a specific Domain Name that describes your invention (i.e., NewPatentIdea.com) and only costs about $10 per year.”

Where do you find your inspiration for an invention?  Life, luck, requests, or other?

“Nature is my biggest source for inspiration once I have engaged in attacking a specific problem. I like to go deep in nature (preferably the ocean) and imagine the simplest possible solution to a problem assuming I only have a few pieces of material and a fixed amount of time to solve that problem. Once I have brainstormed a solution and/or observed a similar problem being solved in nature, I move to the most unnatural setting of all – retail stores that have tons of materials (like Home Depot or Walmart) where I wander the aisles looking at for base materials – usually bits or pieces of an exisitng product that I can just cut up to get to the material consistency I need. Be careful they don’t call store security on you when you start asking weird questions and looking at things like you are insane.”

For the entrepreneur building their team of advisors, what type of people should they have on their board?

“I am not familiar with official boards (not part of my business  model), but I definitely surround myself with advisors of all types, typically people that I can trust (family) and people that are not afraid to challenge me – I don’t want pushovers that say “yes” to everything I propose. I grew up getting challenged and debating on every front and believe that is a sucessful way to flush out ideas (devil’s advocates on steriods).”

Dr. Rob Yonover with his invention.

Describe the feeling of closing a deal on one of your inventions.

“A great sense of accomplishment, however your are not quite at the home run level until you get your invention on the market and in my case, meet a guy who’s life was saved by my invention! That was the ultimate for me – a sense that I had really contributed to humanity on a personal and global level, like one of my hero’s, Buckminster Fuller, who preached that the highest level of inventing is when it benefits all of humanity, not just a widget to make a profit.”

When you’re not changing the world, what do you do?

“You’re too kind! My main passions are related to getting off land and converting to water man/ape mode, e.g., surfing big waves on the North Shore, solo fishing runs to the Molokai Channel, or lunch time paddleboard runs into the ocean. I am also an accomplished family man with a happening wife and offspring.”

Any last thoughts and advice?

“‘Embrace your perceived negativity’ (paraphrased from “Thick Face, Black Heart” by Chin-Ning Chu, base on the Art of War by Sun Tzu).  Find something you are passionate about, regardless of whether or not it is respected by your family and friends and make that your livelihood! If you enjoy what you are doing, you can do it a lot better and it won’t feel like work!”

Following [re]Think: Hawaii, Rob launched his blog Hardcore Surviving and you can follow him on Twitter @seerescue.