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With a pile of Legos, a spool of fishing line, some electrical wires and a smattering of plastic jointers and small motors, 14-year-old Easton LaChappelle created a robotic hand. By the time this genius inventor turned 19, he had figured out a way to produce this hand by 3D printing, and have the whole motion system controlled by our brains. This groundbreaking solution for prostheses doesn’t cost the usual tens of thousands of dollars per limb (the average is $60,000); instead, this invention costs a mere $350. Moreover, at this year’s CES, LaChappelle announced he’d be releasing all of the designs to the world as open-source software… for free.
So, while you were busy catching up on the Kardashians, a teenager has created a solution for a centuries-old problem, giving hope to amputees the world over. Aside from LaChappelle’s young age, there’s much to admire about his story – and much to learn from this inventor.
First and foremost, LaChappelle used “spare parts.” He didn’t wait around for a grant proposal, to bring in funding, to provide the backing for a lab and a fancy prototype. He didn’t take out a loan or approach any VCs, either. Instead, he sat on his bedroom floor and looked at what he had at his disposal. For a teenage boy living in rural Colorado, that pile apparently consisted of Legos and fishing wire. In your innovation efforts, don’t ever overlook these “spare parts.” Oftentimes, they’re better than expensive alternatives, as they constrain your options and force you to think differently about ways to arrive at your end goal.
What’s important is that this whiz kid used his own creativity, determination, and tenacity to solve a problem that mattered. He wasn’t concerned about the temperature of your fancy latte’s almond milk. People who don’t have a limb suffer every day with basic tasks, self-esteem issues, and find themselves limited in many possibilities for activities. According to the Amputee Coalition, there are nearly 2 million people living without a limb in the United States alone, with roughly 185,000 amputations occurring annually in this country; this isn’t a small problem – it’s an issue on a massive scale, and LaChappelle set out to make a difference.
Are you attempting to solve a big enough problem? Are you seeking to make a true difference? Or are you just in your industry to make money? Take a step back and ask yourself these questions; if you’re not passionate about what you’re building, or you don’t truly believe your vision will leave a mark on the world around you, it might be time to rethink why you started. Take a page form LaChappelle’s play book – your innovation has to be bigger than yourself: that’s what makes it special, and that’s what will make it stand out.
At 14, Easton LaChappelle tinkered and used experimentation to uncover something great and he hasn’t stopped since. He continues to push the envelope with the company he founded, all focused on helping people who need a little extra physical help. From the beginning, he refused to accept barriers and balked at conventional wisdom. Do you follow the herd or do you dare to forge your own path? Imagine if Easton LaChappelle had just gotten an “A” in his high school science class, followed the “normal” path, and not steered off that course – our world wouldn’t have benefitted from his brilliance. You’re in a position to do something for your team, community, and broader world – so what are you waiting for?
Follow your passion, target a meaningful problem to solve, and attack with unorthodox vigor.
