Discover or create real solutions to technical problems.

Develop valuable new products and processes.

Solve problems in small teams.

Learn from customers, experts, books and experiments.

Small businesses and large businesses that need new products.

Research universities--professors, research assistants.

Out "in the world" part of the time, at a desk/computer part of the time.

Playful, childlike, creative.

Love to learn, love to read.

Curious, want to know how things work, like "things."

Enjoy building things.

Play well with others, respect others (work well in teams).

Willing to take risks, comfortable with failure.

Persistent, stubborn, agents of change, can be "trouble makers."

Willing to work hard, or work smart, or both.

Able to focus, ignore distractions.

Excel at persuasive speech and writing, able to create trust.

May be a tinkerer, usually enjoy computers.

Not very organized, not very good with money, often need to be "managed."

College degree in engineering, science or design is best.

Earn a portion of profits from inventions, in some cases.

Annual salaries start at about $40,000 and can reach over $100,000.

Productive inventors are always in demand, can become famous.

Seeing people actually use something you dreamed up, patents are immortal.

Help inventors protect their inventions.

Degree in science or engineering, pass a patent office test.

Love to argue, able to persuade--mostly in writing.

Learn new things fast, stubborn, love to win.