Nature vs. Nurture

For years researchers around the globe have debated the issue of whether creative genius was genetic or nurtured.

That issue is no longer up for debate. 

As evidenced by my brother Tom. 

Now, Tom is remarkably similar to me: a creative genius.  

He recently encountered a problem, and created a unique and novel solution to said problem.  

A product amazing in its simplicity. Yet nobody before him had thought of it.

Not even me.

As background, Tom’s wife Maureen injured her lip.  According to Tom, “I don't know if she banged her mouth on a beer can, or maybe got it caught in a car door. Maybe I made her laugh so hard that her lip broke open.”  (Or not, Tom.)

OK, this is not Maureen, nor does it in any way, shape or form illustrate Maureen's lip injury.  

But it is a lip injury.

Now as wonderful as Maureen is, the poor thing does not have Clyde genes. You cannot achieve creative genius by simply saying, “I do.”  Still, Maureen tried desperately to find a creative way to fix her lip. 

To no avail.

According to Tom, "She tried putting everything on it. She put butter, peanut butter, salt, canola oil, crazy glue, WD 40, bacon, gunpowder, and lip balm. She even tried a band-aid."

A band-aid on your lip?  Come on, Maureen. 

Tom added, “This gaping wound, about the size of an eyelash, became the focal point of her existence.”
 
Tom told me he had no choice but to invent something that would immobilize the damn thing till it got all healed up without her meddling.

He recalled the time he hurt his shoulder and the doctor put it in a sling, and the light bulb went off. 

To that end, Tom invented the “LipSling”.

 
Goose bumps.

Note the instructions on his original sketch:

1. Insert the sling into one nose hole.
2. Pull it out the other nose hole.
3. Tie a knot and pull it in till the knot is in the middle of your inner nose.
4. Tuck your sore lip into the LipSling and leave it there till it heals.

At the risk of insulting the integrity of any of my readers who may be tempted to steal Tom's LipSling idea, note that he has protected it with the TM symbol. 

With that said, he is looking for investors. For $100,000 you can get 5 percent of the net profits. You could be one of the first shareholders.

Back to the prevailing debate.  Creative genius: genetic or nurtured?

I think my stinkin' case is closed.