What’s a patent? A patent is legal protection granted by the United States government “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States” for a limited amount of time.

Not everything can be patented. You cannot patent an “idea”. Patent applications are examined for both technical and legal merit. There are 3 types of patents:

The process can have complicated forms and expensive fees. That is why some people apply for a provisional patent while they work out the financing to manufacture their products, etc. Or, seek out a patent lawyer to assist in the paperwork. You can find more information at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, or by calling the Inventors Assistance Center at 1-800-PTO-9199 (1-800-786-9199).

Let’s look briefly at the life of Solomon. His father, King David, killed his mother’s first husband. His sister was raped by one of his brothers. Another brother rebelled and tried to steal the kingdom away from their father. Tragedy and misfortune, scandal and violence was all around Solomon’s life! However, he knew God had a special destiny in store for him.

Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay cosmetics, was launching her new business. And in the middle of this exciting time of her life, her husband died suddenly!

What can you do when nothing seems fair and your dream seems impossible?

Understand that you cannot prevent every tragedy from happening around you but you cannot let it destroy the purpose, the gift, the plan of God within you.

Feed the dream within by spending time in the Word of God and prayer. It takes time to heal physically and emotionally. Let God help you through it. Fill your ears with music and words that inspire you.

Don’t continue to ask “Why.” Instead, ask “What is the next thing I should do to keep moving toward my dream?”

Push your energy into your future, build it, believe in it. God is standing there, cheering you on!

Psalm 27:10

“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.”

Christian Teen Biz is hosting interviews with successful Christian business owners to inspire our young people to pursue their dreams. Look for more details starting next week.

Do you have any young entrepreneurs (or dreamers) in your midst? Please share your questions and comments here or on our Facebook fan page.

AS PROMISED… here are a few of the entrepreneurs and leaders we will be featuring:

Maybe your competitors left out a vital piece of information that they should be focusing on with their product that they are not.  This could be a perfect solution for you to get in and immediately step ahead of the competitors.

When you determine the positive aspect that is different that sets you completely apart from your  competitors, you can use this information in your advertising campaign. 

You never want to look the same as the rest of the companies in your industry.  Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box and go different.  This is how consumers will remember you.

Creation By Design, has created a Trading Card line based upon the stories of the Bible. www.mybiblecards.com

Creation By Designs goal is to help children and pre-teens connect with the stories of the Bible and to assist parents and teachers impart that story in a manner that is both educational and entertaining for them.  Creation By Design brings together the greatest story ever told with breathtaking original artwork and a fresh narrative voice.  Creation By Design uses fantastic 3D computer-generated artwork to grab the attention of children, and to rekindle their interest in the wonderful adventures of the Bible.

length: 15-minutes
 

Not only is she an amazing business woman, but she is also a master artisan craftsman. Her product is made from hormone free goats milk and is doctor recommended for those with skin conditions, eczema(atopic dermatitis), acne and other sensitive skin care. In this interview, Marsha explains what it is like to start a company in the “middle of nowhere” and watch God increase her customers, products, and income.

Laurel Fork Farm www.laurelforkfarm.com “We hand milk our beautiful Nubian Goats twice daily to get the most important ingredient for our goat milk soaps, hormone free milk. We make all kinds of all natural products fresh from the farm.”

length: 30-minutes

1 – Please provide the name of your business, the URL for the website and the “30-second business card” (a short description of your business).

Laurel Fork Farm www.laurelforkfarm.com  We hand milk our beautiful Nubian Goats twice daily to get the most important ingredient for our goat milk soaps, hormone free milk. We make all kinds of all natural products fresh from the farm.

2. What do you consider to be your strong points?
 Our strong points are that we use only the best God given ingredients that we can find.  We try to do things as natural as we can.

3.  What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
Our weaknesses at this point is the fact that we are still small and can only make so much to keep up with demand.  With the Lord’s help we are moving towards upgrading so that we can keep up with demand.

4.  What inspired you to start your own business?
God was my inspiration.  I lost my job due to down sizing and got the burning desire in my heart to follow my dream of independence.  God continues to guide us through this recession and our business continues to grow.

5.  How did you decide what product or service to sell?
We have always lived on a farm and had many animals.  We try to be as self sufficient as possible, my husband is also lactose intolerant so it was an easy fit to get dairy goats.  The rest was a gift from God.

6.  What were your economic goals when you started your business? How long did it take for you to reach those goals?
Our economic goals remain the same.  We want to provide for our family and be used by God for the kingdom.  It is important for us to tithe and use our wealth to help others as God sees fit.  We have no desire to “be rich with money”.  We are already rich, we just work day to day and let the Lord take care of the details.  This concept drives a lot of people crazy, especially those that don’t know God, but this is what works for us and has never failed us.

7.  Other than money, what were you looking to get out of your business?
Freedom.  The freedom to take care of my two children, work on our farm, and take care of my family the way that it should be. 

8.  Did you ever have a feeling of desperation or insecurity when launching your business? How did you overcome those feelings?
I think that everyone sometime second guesses their decisions, just as I have.  This is when I pray and seem to get the peace that passes understanding and things start to fall into place.  I believe that God has given me this business and he will guide me through my problems with it.

9. How do you use your business to share your faith?
You can not go to our web site and not know that we are believers.  We try to let people know that we credit our full success to the Lord.

Matthew 5:44-46

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Destroying your enemies, by making them your friends.

Whatever you give energy too expands. By feeding hate you get more hate. By loving enemies we feed another powerful spirit, and it in turn, feeds us with peace of mind.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2010 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people between the ages of 8 and 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet.

Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education.

“Each year, the Barron Prize honors twenty-five winners nationwide. Half of the winners have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.

These young people reflect the great diversity of America. They are female and male, urban and rural, and from many backgrounds. Examples are Michaella, who organized a rodeo for disabled kids; Carter, who led the effort to conserve a local river; Ashley, who created a scholarship fund for African girls; Kyle, who organized a reading mentorship program; Joying, who cleaned up South Carolina’s beaches; Ryan, who helped provide clean drinking water to more than 70 African villages; and Barbara, who created a successful oil recycling project in Texas.

The goal of the Barron Prize is to celebrate such heroic young people—and to inspire others to do their part. Like the woman for whom the prize was named—my mother, Gloria Barron—these young people demonstrate the power of one person to make a difference to the world.”

T.A. Barron
Prize Founder

Read more here.