These tips are written from the British perspective. They are passed on as good will, to help fellow inventors. Anyone acting on them must takes full responsibility for their own actions.

The following article was written back in 2001

It's a sad fact that many aspiring inventors become so committed to their inventions, that they lose contact with reality, and as a result, their home and family life is ruined. The problem is similar to gambling. The inventor, having committed months, maybe years to an invention and invested large amounts of ego and money into it, is reluctant to let go. They live in hope, that one day the world will listen and fortune will finally bless them.

This rarely happens.

The following statistics relate to Bill Courtney's work on inventions before receiving his first significant financial backing. They are presented in the hope, that they will assist aspiring inventors, to get a realistic idea of the struggles that lie ahead of them.