It has nothing specifically to do with software development, but toward that, I remember discovering many things. I discovered that I could keep track of an ar

It has nothing specifically to do with software development, but toward that, I remember discovering many things. I discovered that I could keep track of an arbitrary sequence of dynamically created objects, but I didn't invent linked lists. I also discovered that I could sort things without comparing each item to every other item, and that it was "obviously" more efficient, but I didn't invent merge sort or Big O. If I'm talking to a razorblade salesman who figured that he can make recurring sales of razorblades when gives away handle to hold it with, I don't conclude that he invented the loss leader. I think it's fascinating to have arrived there not by way of rote. Surely you've made an independent discovery in whatever it was you were interested in at one time or another... This is just editorial now, and it's deviating from OP's concept. I find that I like to work with people that have strong ties to their crafts, whatever they are, and those people tend to have made discoveries, not necessarily inventions. Back to the point: really, how many individuals can say that he truly invented something? Great question, but "yes" to that would raise a flag for me.