Comments on: A Visit to a Small Business Entrepreneur Down Under http://www.microchuck.com/2007/02/12/a-visit-to-a-small-business-entrepreneur-down-under/ Micro and Macro Info on Microscopy Tue, 7 Sep 2010 03:23:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Viv Robinson http://www.microchuck.com/2007/02/12/a-visit-to-a-small-business-entrepreneur-down-under/#comment-17 Sat, 17 Feb 2007 22:45:51 +0000 http://www.microchuck.com/2007/02/12/a-visit-to-a-small-business-entrepreneur-down-under/#comment-17 Hi MicroChuck. Thanks for your kind words words about me and my chosen career path. Like you, I can't overstate the advantages of being self employed. With all the technology being developed by scientists, I find it somewhat surprising that more scientists aren't following suit - it is probably more due to uncertainty of how to do it, than lack of desire to do so. It takes a little time to learn the "ropes" of managing a business, but there are courses available. But once you do that, you are free to find out just how good you really are! You meet new people, travel where you want, no application forms to fill in, no boss to whom you need answer, no one to stop your own advancement - just keep your customers happy. Remember your customers have the same scientific interest as you. And you can always find time for research if you wish to advance your product - indeed research is essential or your competitors will soon put you out of business. (In my case, over 25 years after I started, I developed a new surface material that gives higher signal than any other material - the original and still the best backscattered electron detector for over 30 years.) I really do recommend the self commercialisation of your invention as a wonderful caareer path for up and coming scientists. It would assist the community if this were encouraged more by research organisations. Each scientist who commercialises his/her research saves the government about $0.3M in funds and facilities and generates many times that in increased revenue. Vivian Robinson Hi MicroChuck. Thanks for your kind words words about me and my chosen career path. Like you, I can’t overstate the advantages of being self employed. With all the technology being developed by scientists, I find it somewhat surprising that more scientists aren’t following suit - it is probably more due to uncertainty of how to do it, than lack of desire to do so. It takes a little time to learn the “ropes” of managing a business, but there are courses available. But once you do that, you are free to find out just how good you really are! You meet new people, travel where you want, no application forms to fill in, no boss to whom you need answer, no one to stop your own advancement - just keep your customers happy. Remember your customers have the same scientific interest as you. And you can always find time for research if you wish to advance your product - indeed research is essential or your competitors will soon put you out of business. (In my case, over 25 years after I started, I developed a new surface material that gives higher signal than any other material - the original and still the best backscattered electron detector for over 30 years.)

I really do recommend the self commercialisation of your invention as a wonderful caareer path for up and coming scientists. It would assist the community if this were encouraged more by research organisations. Each scientist who commercialises his/her research saves the government about $0.3M in funds and facilities and generates many times that in increased revenue.

Vivian Robinson

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