Everyone hankers after that eureka moment, a flash of genius in which they come up with an idea that simply cannot fail and is guaranteed to make them rich.
Among the handful that is lucky enough to have that proverbial light bulb flick on however, fewer still come to relay tales of immediate untold riches.
The idea is, essentially, only the beginning - that much sought after pot of gold lies at the end of the rainbow, not the beginning.
That said, according to a recent article in CNN Money, the journey towards success just got a little bit easier - for both the inventor and the manufacturers looking for the next market-reshaping product.
The exposure won't have done the website itself any harm, with the potential benefits of the online PR numerous.
Entitled 'What's your idea worth? Ask the matrix: A federally funded online service helps small manufacturers find inventors with new technologies - and estimate their worth', the piece highlights a shift in the process of invention to production.
The focus of the article is Planet Eureka, an innovation marketplace that marries inventors with manufacturers.
Indeed, the website's headline reads: "The Innovation Marketplace: Where business opportunities can be found, understood and valued in two minutes or less."
The website is a service backed by entrepreneur Doug Hall and the Department of Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
The aim of the game is simplicity. Mr Hall admits that the site is far from revolutionary - other websites offer similar search programs - but his avoids tech-heavy jargon, allowing for a more accessible service for users.
He said: "The only thing a businessperson wants to know is how much product this will let them sell."
And that's the clever part. Manufacturers and inventors can log on to the website and search for a partner that suits their business.
On finding the said partner, the associated risk and opportunity can be calculated and a balanced business decision can be made.
Emission Control Solutions used the process to locate factories to produce its automotive ozone generator, with chief executive Mary Pruitt suggesting that she had no problem in sourcing investors, but trouble finding manufacturers.
For those lucky enough to have the light bulb switch on, at least you'll now know where to go.
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