#novelty

#novelty

In fact, I've made a conscious habit of seeking out successful individuals so I can learn from their experiences. But the man often nicknamed the "King of the Hollywood Blockbuster" continues to elude me. And yet, despite never meeting face to face, Spielberg taught me one of the most important lessons of my entire career. It's a lesson I've learned through engaging with his work.

Both times, bungee jumping had presented itself neatly packaged, properly regulated and entirely safe, and I declined with little-to-no hesitation. Zambia, on the other hand, met me differently. On a warm, windless day over the Zambezi River, standing in front of a rickety platform with little to suggest international safety compliance, I found myself ready to jump. Not metaphorically-genuinely, wholeheartedly ready. I would have done it too, if not for the people with me urging otherwise-and that says something.

Filing a patent application is one of the most important steps an inventor can take. It protects your priority rights, signals credibility to investors, and can form the foundation of a business. But it's also one of the easiest steps to get wrong. During my 15 years as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), I reviewed thousands of applications. Time and again, I saw filings that were doomed before they even reached my desk.

The fanfic community overwhelmingly prefers familiarity, consistently choosing it over novelty, though they report greater enjoyment when reading something more novel.