Teacher Notes: Remove slide before presenting• Use this presentation/activity as a way to get students thinking about their business ideas and recognizing opportunity.• Notes about each slide are included for when you present to the class. You can print out “Notes Slides” that will give you a copy of this presentation with the notes underneath.• The purpose of the activity at the end is to let students think as creatively as they can. Do not reject “impossible” ideas during the brainstorming session.• The activity may require the ability to do some internet research if students want to research leading experts in a field.• You can have students present their ideas and plans after, or you can have them turn in a written copy. Remember, students are creating PLANS, this means they do not have to actually take steps on inventing their ideas, but rather they must think critically about how they could potentially develop their “crazy ideas”.

CRAZY Business Ideas…THAT WORKED!!!Surprising ideas that caught on

Adapted from MSN Money, August 18th, 2010

Source: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/10-crazy-business-ideas-that-worked.aspx?Gt1=33002#q=10%20crazy%20business%20ideas%20that%20worked%3A%20Surprising%20ideas%20that%20caught%20on

Why Entrepreneurs shouldn’t always listen to “Experts”…

Source: http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/17-reasons-why-entrepreneurs-shouldn%E2%80%99t-listen-to-%E2%80%9Cexperts%E2%80%9D/

• “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” – Ken Olson, Founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

• “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” – Western Union internal memo, 1876

• “Everyone acquainted with the subject will recognize it as a conspicuous failure.” – Henry Morton, President of the Stevens Institute of Technology, on Edison’s light bulb, 1880.

• “The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty, a fad.” – The President of the Michigan Savings Bank advising Henry Ford’s lawyer not to invest in the Ford Motor Co., 1903.

• “Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible.” – Simon Newcomb; The Wright Brothers flew at Kittyhawk 18 months later

• “Television won’t last. It’s a flash in the pan.” – Mary Somerville, pioneer of radio educational broadcasts, 1948.

Silly Bandz

Twitter

Farmville

Roomba

Virtual Worlds

Zappos

Crocs

Amazon.com

FedEx

Chipotle

Activity: What do you think the next great idea will be???

• Step 1: In small groups, brainstorm the most creative, innovative, and “crazy” business ideas. Do not be worried about if they “make sense” or are “impossible”.

• Step 2: Pick your favorite idea from this list and create a “plan” on steps you could possibly take to make it a reality.