"Never invent, always improve."

This four-word sentence is indelibly etched in my mind right now. I also have that quote framed and hanging on the wall of my home office.

The marketing philosophy of choosing improvement over invention has generated millions of dollars for my info publishing business and my students' businesses.

Although the idea of becoming an "Improver" is not as sexy as being known as an "Inventor," it is improvement, not invention, that has generated billions for some of the most renowned Thought Leaders in history. Ironically, many of these folks have been inaccurately dubbed as "Inventors."

Here's one example: Nikola Tesla invented the modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems. Thomas Edison improved it. Telsa died broke. Edison died a millionaire.

Here's another: Charles Haanel is the true "father of personal development" in my opinion. He invented The Master Key System, yet he died in obscurity acknowledged by only a few loyal followers.

Napoleon Hill improved Haanel's philosophies and commercialized it with Think And Grow Rich and today is publicly acknowledged as "father of personal development."

Here's another example to drill my point deep...

The "assembly line" was invented long before Henry Ford walked through a meat-packing house in Chicago on one fateful afternoon. He observed that each butcher had a single, specialized task. This was nothing new to the meat-packing industry, but it was revolutionary new innovation for automaking.

Henry Ford was NOT the Inventor of the assembly line. He was the Improver. Yet, it was this single improvement that gave Ford a definitive competitive advantage over his 2,000+ auto manufacturing rivals at the time. As a result, Henry Ford became one of the wealthiest human beings of his era.

Do you invent or improve in your business?

And what can you improve on today?