There is a saying that if you don’t have expectations, then you won’t be disappointed. While this saying has a rather pessimistic connotation, it holds some truth. More often than not, inventors set sky-high expectations for their inventions and become discouraged when they fall short. While creating standards is necessary for achieving goals, it is important not to confuse them with expectations.
It is also important not to make assumptions. Say you’ve invented a new type of headphones that improve music quality, and you want to give them to your friend. It’s easy to assume that because your friend loves music, they’ll love the new headphones, but they might like the headphones they already have because they fit just right. So when it comes to assumptions, don’t make them. Instead, just ask.
In the end the best way to manage expectations is to accept and enjoy things as they are. Instead of telling yourself you’d be happy if your product was just on the market, or if you had interest from just one company, celebrate the fact that you’re pursuing our goal of developing your invention idea.