I'm a certified Kauffman Foundation facilitator of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program. This slide deck is designed for a class discussion on entrepreneurship, focusing on mindset, one of the most important predictors of entrepreneurial success. This is my tool for "visual discussion" following the lessons based on the book, "Who Owns The Ice House?" The Kauffman Foundation's Ice House Entrepreneurship training is offered in a blended classroom (online, texts, and live instruction) to inspire individuals to plan- and most importantly to generate ideas, experiment, and take action steps to develop their business concepts. I hope this presentation will encourage student participation and the development of their critical thinking skills. Feel free to download it and tailor it to your needs. - MJ Clark, Raleigh, NC

1. Recognizing
Opportunity
Mary Jane Clark, Certified Ice House Facilitator 2014
Contact mjclark@stepupministry.org

2. S t e p U p E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p
Lesson #2
Recognizing Opportunity

3. entrepreneur

4. Ques tion
Entrepreneur is a slightly pretentious word!
What does it mean?
• Entrepreneurship doesn’t necessarily mean high
tech, high growth, big risk, all-consuming effort,
financial risk, or even something new.
• Entrepreneurship is having the motivation to start
something and to explore possibilities to earn profit.

5. Ans wer
Entrepreneurship is mindset
… a set of beliefs or way of thinking that
determines one’s behavior, outlook,
mental attitude, plus one’s capacity to
take action.

6. Ideas?
Look for what’s not working
Entrepreneurs solve problems for profit.
It can include simply improving a process.

7. Look for opportunities
It can include figuring out how to monetize a hobby or passion.
Ideas?

8. Look close to home
If you can
make it work,
you may
have found
an incredible
opportunity.
It can include solving everyday problems in your own life!
Ideas?

9. Reality
Spanx: Sara Blakely started with a problem, an idea, $5,000 and a NC
textile manufacturer. The textile industry’s decline played a significant role
in the manufacturer’s decision to accept her order for “footless” pantyhose.
They called it crazy.

10. Got Questions?
Why do children ask
the most difficult questions?
Natural curiosity?

11. Problem
Why have adults quit asking important questions?
Is creativity is being killed by our educational system?
• Systems are for mass production.
• Systems demand compliance.
• Systems are for replication.
• We are not cogs!

12. Demographic s
Your future is entirely in your hands.
Studying demographic trends
is one key to identifying opportunities.

13. Headline
The Future of Employment?
Lower hours, low wages, low skills,
no benefits and no security.

14. Ques tion
What is the level of engagement
in America of people in their jobs?

15. Factoid
70%
Does this figure ring true in your life?
What else might it mean?
Thank you Gary Schoeniger of Kauffman Labs for sharing this fascinating information!

16. Your Proc es s
• PLAN by defining a specific opportunity and
understanding how it is valuable in the business
world.
• DO take concrete steps to test and
document the idea. Just do it!
• CHECK what needs
improvement or adjustment.
• ACT on the plan and
work your strengths.

17. Watch PBS
To enlarge
Your world!
Ideas ?
Everywhere…
all time!

18. As an opportunity specialist, you will have the advantage if
trends, patterns, problems, and changes are detected
before others have noticed—
and then you can put those ideas into a plan
and take action to achieve a potential profit.
So, what’s the problem?
Opportunity

19. Fear or challenges?
Can we talk?
X- Factor

20. W h a t d o y o u e n v i s i o n ?
Learn to recognize patterns as they are forming.
What trends are apparent here?
I magine

21. D o T h e M a t h !
How can you combine products or ideas
to create value and make money?
Expansion Theory

22. Valuable opportunities can often arise when
two or more things are brought together for
opportunity examination.
Combos
Combining
• Ideas
• Forces
• Products

23. What Is The Potential Value of
Combining Ideas, Products and Forces?
{ } =
Question

24. T h i s i s w h y y o u
h a v e t w o e a r s —
a n d o n l y o n e
m o u t h !
U s e t h e m
w i s e l y !
Characteristics
Listening

25. Characteristics

26. Write about an opportunity you’ve recently
spotted:
This is recognizing opportunity. Seek
simple solutions, common-sense, ideas or
changes rooted in reality, good service
ideas, automation, simplifying a
cumbersome process, improving
outcomes for customers.
Always ask: Where’s the pain?
Activity

27. Discuss
Brainstorm Breakout!

28. Ac tions
• Identify and cultivate mentors. Look for contented people.
Here you will find insight into what has worked and what might
work better.
• Look for contrarians. They complain all day for free!
• Pay close attention to all types of people, ask more questions,
listen— to the world around you.
• Opportunities are everywhere.
Little steps! Maximize your lunch hour!

29. Free
Ideas

30. W h a t s e c t o r s a r e
i n v o l v e d i n r e c y c l i n g ?
Recycle old products by looking for "left-behind"
markets or untapped markets—old cars, older model
computers, tape and record players, televisions, books.
As long as people continue to use certain things, they
continue to have needs. Look for new adaptive uses or
secondary markets for old products—old jeans, natural
fabrics, tires, end pieces of lumber, record players,
records, CDs, computer mother boards, etc.
Idea- Work in our lab on the project with Teaming 4 Technology
Got
Nothing?

31. Get Going
Look for what has worked elsewhere?
Examine the concept in depth.
• History is a powerful teacher.
• New ideas are great, but not required.
• Copy-catting is fine if you can do it better!

32. Case Study
In 2011, StepUp launched three initiatives:
Vocational Training: Fiber Optics,
Auto Mechanics, Customer
Service and Management. Mixed
results. Rethinking how! YELLOW
= CAUTION!
Veterans: Job readiness
and job placement for
Veterans. Unintended
consequences.
RED LIGHT = STOP
Entrepreneurship Program:
Teach graduates how to run
a successful business.
GREEN LIGHT!
We’re even adding to it!

33. I nnov at iv e
We are not cogs!
If you are dissatisfied in your work, then develop
your mindset. Make a plan, do it, check the plan
and act on your ideas. Repeat.

34. Inquiry
A genie has granted your
wish for financial freedom
and you will receive
$1,440.00 daily for life!
*You must spend all of it every day.
What will you do with it?
We all have the exact same amount of time each day. 1440 minutes.
Time is money! Focus your time, dream big, and make a firm plan.
Experiment in the margins of your life.

35. What’s Hot Now?
Information is the world’s
new currency!

36. 1. Finish reading Who Owns the Ice House?
2. Watch your video lesson online and take notes.
3. Complete the assignment in your workbook.
4. Fill in your Opportunity Discovery Canvas.
Assignment

37. Expectations
Please describe in detail on your canvas…
• the problem being solved (opportunity)
• your specific product or service (idea)
• solutions currently available (OR)
• how your product or service is different (USP)
• estimate how many people have this problem (scope)
• how you will reach potential customers (marketing)
• why will customers buy from you (their value)
• how they will buy from you (process)
• formulate a specific plan as to how you will test these
assumptions in the real world.(test)

38. Decide how to test
your assumptions
over the next month
in the real world.
Your Mission

39. Lessons In Opportunity
Mary Jane Clark, Certified Ice House Facilitator 2014
Contact mjclark@stepupministry.org
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