By Devin White
Editor’s note: Devin White is our resident youth blogger.
Sometimes the key to innovation is simplicity, and that starts with simplicity of the idea. 
My first invention was a totally new product that had no practicality and was something only I would have thought to use.
When that invention didn’t go anywhere, I started my second invention. This invention became more of a success, only due to the fact I focused on keeping things simple. I choose a topic and field that I was very familiar with and made a simple invention to improve it. This “simplicity” thing worked for me, so give it a shot.
Simplicity is more than just something small or easy to use – it’s keeping your idea in a clear and consise manner (that line sounded
like I was teaching penmanship) and not trying ot incorporate so many ideas into one invention that you can’t even remember all of them.
You have no idea how many inventions I have seen where the inventor gets so attached and so passionate about an idea that they are
constantly adding things, and making it bigger. Passion is certainly not a bad thing, but you can go overboard. If any of you have seen Wild Wild
West with Will Smith and Kevin Kline, some of those inventions were absolutely the coolest things I’ve ever seen. But ya gotta admit some
were a little too complex. (Will Smith just happens to be one my top 5 favorite actors, ofcourse behind the great Mark Wahlberg.)
As a youth inventor, if you can make the next iPod or nano-micro- tubing thing, you’re going to have a large wad of cash in that pocket of yours. But if not, try thinking simple, you might surprise yourself.
Let’s Show the World…Don’t Stop Thinking
Devin White
