Introduction
Welcome back to Innovation Café, where we explore the art (and science) of inventing, the ins and outs of intellectual property, and the mindset that fuels creativity. In today’s blog post, I’m sharing the story behind what I call my “greatest invention.” Spoiler alert: it’s not a widget, a patent, or even some high-tech gadget—it’s my children. Surprising? Absolutely. But as I’ll explain, there’s a deep lesson here about the nature of innovation, assumptions, and how revisiting the “rules” can transform our personal and professional lives.
The Power of Questioning Assumptions
One of the most important insights for any inventor—or innovator, entrepreneur, or creative thinker—is understanding how assumptions shape our reality. We often don’t notice them because they’re baked into our routines, or they come from social norms, past experiences, and even family traditions. Over time, these assumptions can calcify into “rules”:
- “This is how we’ve always done it.”
- “No one has tried that before. Must be a reason.”
- “These are the steps you must follow.”
Yet, genuine innovation occurs when we scrutinize these assumptions, challenge them, and replace them with new ones if needed. In other words, we change the rules rather than simply breaking them. Breaking a rule might create chaos or friction; changing it means you rewrite the script altogether, building something new that works better for you and for others. This is made possible by the inherent flaw in human thinking about rules: We don’t want to figure out what our assumptions mean over and over, so we craft rules that implement our assumptions. However, when our assumptions turn out to be wrong or incomplete, that means the rules crafted in light of those assumptions must be revisited.
A Quick Historical Detour: The Tomato Debacle
A famous example illustrates this perfectly: tomatoes. At one point in Europe, people believed tomatoes to be poisonous. That assumption created a rule—“Don’t eat tomatoes!”—that stifled a whole range of culinary possibilities. It took one brave soul (and presumably a hungry one) to question the assumption, test it, and prove tomatoes were safe. Before long, the rule changed to “Tomatoes are perfectly fine to eat,” paving the way for pizza, pasta sauce, and countless gastronomic delights. This is precisely how inventors work: they see a rule, trace it back to a possibly outdated assumption, and replace that assumption with something more accurate.
My Greatest Invention: A Love Story
You might be wondering how all of this relates to my kids being my “greatest invention.” Let’s rewind to a pivotal moment in my life—right after my divorce. I was single, in Fresno, California, and not finding the right partner locally. So I signed up for JDate, which was the go-to dating site for people looking to connect with others of Jewish heritage or identity.
Suddenly, I stumbled upon a profile that seemed too good to be true: “DocDana.” She was a psychologist, well-educated, a dog person (she had a Sheltie in a profile picture), and she lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was instantly intrigued. Then I saw her “three rules”:
- No divorced men.
- No men with children.
- Not willing to relocate.
These were three very big roadblocks. But being an inventor, I don’t look at rules the same way most people do. Instead of assuming these were hard-and-fast, I recognized that they might just be based on assumptions—assumptions that I could potentially address. For instance:
- Perhaps she assumed all divorces are messy and full of conflict.
- Perhaps she assumed any man with kids would come with complicated baggage, or that no kid would be lovable enough to overcome the challenges of raising a step-child.
- Perhaps she assumed no one could be compelling enough to warrant moving from the Bay Area to anywhere else (let alone scorching-hot Fresno).
I was confident that I could challenge these assumptions by being myself—a caring father, a person who is amicable with his ex, and someone genuinely excited about forging a life with the right partner. And that’s exactly what I did.
Changing the Rules, Changing Lives
Rule #1: “No divorced men.”
- My divorce was amicable, and I remained on good terms with my ex. Once Dana realized that my situation wasn’t going to be a soap opera, she was open to rewriting that rule.
Rule #2: “No men with children.”
- She hadn’t met my daughter yet! Many folks understandably worry about the complications of “blended families.” But kids can be a source of joy and a testament to shared values—once she got to know us, that assumption no longer held true.
Rule #3: “Not willing to relocate.”
- A big one, because few people want to leave the Bay Area for the intense summer heat of Fresno. However, as she got to know me, she realized that some rules exist simply because you haven’t yet found a reason—or a person—worth making an exception for.
We began a relationship filled with phone calls, unfiltered discussions, and a decision to remove the usual facade of “putting our best foot forward.” Instead, we got real from the start, letting each other see who we truly were. Before long, she decided that her three rules had to evolve—or be scrapped entirely—because they were based on flawed assumptions. After all, new assumptions led to new rules. And here we are, over twenty years later, happily married and blessed with three daughters (my oldest from my first marriage and two more with Dana).
Lessons for Inventors (and Everyone Else)
1. Revisit Your Existing Rules
Innovation is not just a matter of sophisticated technology or dazzling artistry. It’s about seeing where your life—or your business—has become too rigidly defined by outdated assumptions. Ask yourself: “What rules am I following that no longer serve me?”
2. Test Your Assumptions Deliberately
Much like the historical figure who first decided to try eating “poisonous” tomatoes, you have to be systematic about testing assumptions. Use data, logic, and real-world experimentation to figure out if your beliefs are still valid.
3. Don’t Be Afraid of Seeming ‘Unconventional’
There’s a difference between recklessly flouting social norms and having the courage to explore alternatives. If you’re aiming to create something truly original, you’ll need to risk a bit of discomfort—both yours and the people around you.
4. Communication is Key
Whether you’re building a personal relationship or pitching a new invention to investors, clarity and honesty go a long way. We built our relationship on candid, “filter-off” conversations, and that foundation of honesty remains critical.
Bridging Personal Innovation with IP Law
At Innovation Café, we usually dive deep into patents, trademarks, licensing, and how to protect your inventions. But as you can see, innovation is more than just applying for a patent. It’s a broader philosophy that extends to all areas of life—recognizing that outdated rules may be holding you back from genuine progress, whether personal or professional.
In intellectual property law, this manifests in how we find “prior art” or novel aspects of an invention. We look at the entire landscape of existing assumptions and then figure out what new assumptions—and new rules—will lead to a patentable invention. The spirit of invention in your personal life can mirror your approach in business or legal matters: be inquisitive, challenge the status quo, and commit to thoughtful change.
Conclusion: My Kids, My Greatest Invention
Yes, my children are my greatest invention. They are living proof that changing the rules can transform your life in ways you never thought possible. More importantly, they highlight the fundamental principle behind innovation: every invention begins with questioning the assumptions that rule our everyday decisions.
Thank you for tuning in to this story about love, family, and rule-breaking—*or should I say rule-*rewriting? If you enjoyed it, please consider sharing it. A link goes a long way in helping spread the word. We’ll continue to explore everything from the mechanics of intellectual property to the subtler arts of creative thinking. After all, we’ve only scratched the surface of an inventor’s superpowers.
Don’t forget to share this blog post with any aspiring inventor or friend who might need a little nudge to re-examine their own set of rules.
Until next time, keep innovating—and keep questioning the assumptions that shape your world.
—Gary Shuster,
Innovation Café
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