Where do you get your ideas from? This is probably one question which is asked with a lot of excitement and anticipation. So much so, that the answer, however good it may be, can never rise up to satisfy the expectations of the person who asked it. This is one question that people ask artists, storytellers and inventors. It is fascinating, the process of invention, almost magical, which is why people are always eager to know about the secrets behind it.

Inventors are generally known to be well educated people, sometimes holding technical degrees. But when asked, some major prolific inventors make light of their degrees. They give more emphasis on the breadth of their knowledge and education which, they say helps them come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Inventors do share certain traits. It is very familiar to find inventors, who as kids had the tendency to build things and to take apart toys and gadgets just to understand what made them tick. This engineering mind-set is commonly carried on from childhood in prolific inventors.

They also share some basic approaches towards innovations like persistently thinking or working on a problem and then letting it cogitate at the back of the mind. They are curious and possess boundless enthusiasm in their areas of interest and keep thinking and working on their projects, developing their knowledge all the time. This motivates them to push the envelope and go beyond what already exists.

A supportive environment is also very important. This refers to an environment where even wild ideas are listened to with an open mind and discussed. Criticism and mockery can kill a potentially great invention at the idea stage itself. In fact it has been noted that a substantial percentage of the most prolific inventors work for organizations that place a high value on patents, support them in various ways and reward their employees for coming up with patentable ideas.