15 Questions For inventRight Coach Martin Lombardini

The best knowledge arises from experience. In this article, meet inventRight coach Martin Lombardini, from Franklin, Tennessee. Along with being an accomplished inventor, Martin served as the Logistics Officer in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

CAP, comprising 64,000 members, operates a fleet of 560 aircraft and is responsible for approximately 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions across the continental United States.

CAP is credited by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) with saving an average of 82 lives annually.

Additionally, Martin played a role in supporting Group 3 as the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Officer, contributing to the training of UAS usage for search and rescue operations/missions

Upon his exceptional service, Martin was entrusted with a Command Position, assuming the role of Unit Commander of the TN 185th Composite Squadron for about 2 years.

Today, he continues his service in the reserves as a Captain.

1. How do you stay motivated to work on your inventions when you feel like they're going nowhere?

Martin Lombardini: Creating a new and dynamic way of thinking of the idea and creating new variations.

2. Do you have a tip or strategy for dealing with rejection?

Martin Lombardini: Rejection is part of the process. We have to make sure we know as much as possible why we got rejected and try to get that info.

3. When do you decide to give up on an idea and move on to the next one?

Martin Lombardini: After reaching out to all possible companies and industries and have exhausted all options.

4. What’s a tip you would give to new inventors?

Martin Lombardini: Persistence is the key to success!

Here is Martin and his Flight Instructor, Tim Lake, participating in an aviation tradition. The cutting of Martin's shirt symbolizes a pivotal milestone in his aviation journey, marking the memorable moment when he took his first flight.

5. What is something you thought you needed but actually didn’t when you started inventing? (ie- prototype, patent, etc).

Martin Lombardini: Mastery of all the ins and out of the mechanics of a product. Especially if it is a complex product.

6. How do you decide which product ideas are worth pursuing?

Martin Lombardini: Market demand, simplicity of the idea, potential companies that may be interested in the technology, novelty.

7. How do you deal with doubt and worry associated with licensing and inventing?

Martin Lombardini: I do not deal with it. We all must search ourselves and understand our intentions and expectations in what we want to get out of this industry.

8. How does it feel seeing your invention on store shelves?

Martin Lombardini: AWESOME!!! And just wish more would sell ☺

9. How do you come up with new inventions when you are struggling with creativity?

Martin Lombardini: I am an Idea machine. I do not have this problem. It is the opposite for me. I need to be very picky about which ideas I move forward with because I have so many.

How inventRight Coach Martin Lombardini Applies The inventRight 10-Step System To License A Product

10. What does your inventing schedule look like?

Martin Lombardini: All day, everyday!

11. What inspires you to invent?

Martin Lombardini: The reward of being creative and dazzling others with new and novel ideas. Seeing the spark of amazement in others eyes makes it all worthwhile!

12. What is your favorite invention and why?

Martin Lombardini: The wheel ☺

In this photo, Martin is captured in a race car during his time in the Skip Barber Racing Series, competing in the Formula Ford category. The image was taken at Lime Rock Park Road Course when he was approximately 19-20 years old.

13. Do you have a tip for prototyping a product idea?

Martin Lombardini: Weigh the pros and cons of paying to have a prototype done. Sometimes it's well, worth it, and other times it can be a waste of money. Understanding why you are doing it and make sure you have done the research and taken the time to understand your product and why it makes sense to do it.

14. What do you consider to be the most important part of the inventRight 10 Step system? Why?

Martin Lombardini: All the steps are super essential. One needs to get all the steps done to ensure the greatest possibility of success.

15. What is the most important and/or impactful thing you’ve learned from helping inventRight students?

Martin Lombardini: The reward to help others fulfil their dreams is an amazing feeling. Fostering their success in this journey is SO REWARDING!

Innovation is a journey, filled with highs and lows, rejections and triumphs. Yet, it is the relentless pursuit of creativity, the unwavering belief in one's ideas, and the commitment to see them through that truly defines an inventor's path.