Happy Independence Day!
Note that at the bottom, I do assign homework related to this.

The Declaration of Independence is an amazing document.
https://lnkd.in/eawjWrTS
Nowadays, it is common for people to focus on grievances. When you read the Declaration in the above link, you will realize that the colonists had more than ample reason to be upset.

So what does the Declaration have to do with this discussion forum?
Let us focus on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (or in the original version, property).

This forum will address many aspects of maintaining or improving quality of life, particularly at the end of life. All of the companies highlighted here have that in common as well.

You may think that liberty is irrelevant to this forum. It is surprisingly relevant. There are many people who practice envy of those who have been successful, to loot from them, or to mooch from the looters. I hope that anyone in this forum seeks to either help build a new industry (i.e. be a producer) or to be a customer for that industry. In creating that industry, we are pursuing happiness.

At the same time in that pursuit of happiness, it is critical to be able to generate and protect intellectual property and to purchase and protect physical property. You may criticize me for being hypocritical for purchasing Chinese knockoffs of components of devices we are inventing. If so, I accept that. None of us is perfect, and rarely do we have the wealth at the time we are inventing to be perfectly ethical.

Consider two of our founding fathers: Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. It is fashionable in some circles now to criticize Jefferson as a slaveowner. One thing that very few people know about Jefferson is that he was the first American patent officer (https://lnkd.in/eqkYEneB) or that he was an inventor (https://lnkd.in/ex7ZuJKm).

Benjamin Franklin is well known as an inventor (https://lnkd.in/ensfxejZ; https://lnkd.in/eqVD2s6x). Franklin wanted to pursue virtue, but realized that he fell short of some of his ideals. In the link below, look through the list of Franklin's 13 virtues:

https://lnkd.in/eZceMf99

Each week Franklin would focus on a different one of these virtues. Let this be part of your continuous improvement program.

Notice also his use of journaling. This is critical to your development as an inventor.

Homework for contributing to the discussion group:
1) Pick one of America's founders, and explain why he/she inspired you.
2) Pick a virtue, and explain how you plan to pursue your continuous improvement.