Ballpoint Pen to Deodorant

What do a ballpoint pen and a stick of a roll-on deodorant have in common? Would you believe the ballpoint pen inspired the roll-on deodorant? The inventors of  roll-on deodorant sticks saw how the newly-invented (1940’s) Biro pen delivered an even flow of ink, and adapted the idea to create an even flow of liquid deodorant. The ball deodorant went on to revolutionize its industry, even though the genesis of the idea came from a completely different sector.

Pablo Picasso is often quoted as saying, “Bad artists copy, while good artists steal.” A bad artist sees another artist’s style and tries to emulate it. A good artist selects elements from another’s artistic work and incorporates it into his or her unique mix of influences. Apple, Google, and George Lucas each developed innovative modern-day products: the iPad, an amazing search engine, and Star Wars. Yet, each of these creative ideas was inspired by other sources that, imaginatively combined, created something uniquely different.

I’ve shared how my idea for The Bronze Dagger came from visiting an antiquities shop that sold ancient coins, jewelry and, what became my muse, an ancient Luristan bronze dagger. What sources have inspired you?