The bicycle stand example has exactly the same problem as the ones suggested. You need something to measure the tire pressure, you need materials to make the booth and the signs. I bet you'd have trouble finding those for $5.
ronando
· 1 month ago
You are missing the point. The point is to get beyond the perceived constraints we have, be it self imposed or by society, and to utilize our grouped ingenuity in recognizing a potential demand and acting on it without the preconceived and self defeating perceptions that we require X amount of money and resources. Opportunities surround us, yet it wasn't until these people were in a classroom with a challenge in front of them before these small opportunities were converted into dollars.
Pretty cunning thinking by those students; quite out-of-the-box. I wonder if any of these students kept up their mini-businesses while at uni. Probably not the long-lines business as students enjoy their Saturday nights too much, but the bicycle one was genius - $200 in 2 hours is a pretty decent wage and an exceptional income for a student!
I miss all these tales that you hear from university lectures. It was enthusiastic lecturers like this lady who encouraged me to make a go of running my own business.
sddg
· 1 month ago
Put a bullet in the head of a rich pig and siphon off his cards
BaristaOnDutY
· 1 month ago
I Would Buy 4lbs Of Coffee Roast It, Sell It approximately (160)Cups @ 1.50 = $240
Phil Rae
· 1 month ago
Problem with that is you need to buy the coffee beans, the roaster, the cups, the peculator, etc, and that'll cost more than the original $5 seed fund. The great thing about the student examples (except the guy who suggested a party) was that they could be funded on only $5 (or less!). The only exception may be the bike tire pressure guys, but I'm sure you could get a second hand pump for that price.
BaristaOnDutY
· 1 month ago
Well Actually Since You Put It That Way, I Already Have All Of The Above, So I Could Just Throw A Coffee Party Pay What U Can & Make A Mint. I Feel It Just Depends On Ur Environment, Mine Is Coffee. If I Was Located Near A Gym With 2hours, I'd Do Group Personal Training :D Thanks For The Reply..
Bob
· 1 month ago
I Type All My Words With A Capital Letter At The Start And I Didn't Understand The Point Of The Exercise.
BigKate
· 1 month ago
prostitution
this works for both men and women
probably the quickest is oral
the other suggestions assume having other equipemnt
for example forex - access to the net, an account, computer resources
making coffee - the kit to make coffee and sell it
if you ONLY HAD $5 and two hours, not if I gave you $5 and told me to return in two hours with the maximum return
Matt
· 1 month ago
I guess if they were allowed to go the illegal route, they could have bought a 2x4 and hit someone over the head with it and stolen their wallet. Probably could have made 100x ROI in an hour.
Ben Kudria
· 1 month ago
Because violently attacking someone and then robbing them is exactly the same thing as sex between two consenting adults.
Larrysob
· 1 month ago
I'd go to convenience story and buy candy and balloons and tell a heartfelt story that I am trying to buy airfare home to my little girl in time for her birthday.
Most people would not even want the candy or the balloons and give me money any way. I could probably make a couple hundred dollars
IGT
· 1 month ago
Advertising dollars strike again. After evaluating through all their plans, there is one element that was consistent, a skill of persuasion; this could be something that came naturally, but perhaps also a skill to be honed. Ultimately no matter how great the plan might be (ie advertising to possible recruits) the entrepreneurs need to have the ability to persuade the investors/buyers in such a manner they did not have time to think about or simply downplay the inherent risks/lack of returns.
Becky Morrow
· 1 month ago
I don't think it's realistic for the students to only be confined to that $5 to spend. Out in the 'real world' they would most likely put a lot of their own hard earned cash (in addition to their seed funding) toward their venture.
Sean Masters
· 1 month ago
They were out in the real world - they were dealing with students and non-students around the Stanford University campus and making real money solving real problems. That sounds like a perfectly reasonable proof that this exercise works, and works well, at getting entrepreneurship students to think outside of the box.
Furthermore, given that it happened in the past, I find it extremely realistic. And obviously very successful (turning $5 into over $600 in only two hours is excellent, they should try and package that system and repeat it thousands of times over).
jraby3
· 1 month ago
To hear about hundreds of these ideas, visit our shared new york office space at www.sunshineny.com in downtown Manhattan. We cater to hundreds of start-ups and charge only $275/month/person for an all inclusive office, with the networking done by us all day and night for free!
Sean Masters
· 1 month ago
It's a bit surprising to me that a room that I suspect to be full of educators and entrepreneurs wasn't more responsive to this excellent speaker. I only wish I could sit in on a talk with her!
Samuel Ian Rosen
· 1 month ago
her book, "what i wish i knew when i was 20" is fantastic. I highly recommend this and tom kelley's "the art of innovation"
Svetoslav Spasov
· 1 month ago
Really amazing stuff. Our minds are our limits :)
Matt
· 1 month ago
To me the $5 is an obvious red herring. The value of your existing resources and connections likely exceed $5. The two hours thing does allow you do some rather unsustainable revenue models...
Francesco
· 1 month ago
I saw once a guy selling corn at S. Marc Square in Venice (Italy) to tourists who wanted to take a picture with the pigeons. Well, the guy was making around 300€/hour tax free. I guess you do not even need a degree for that!
Ben Kudria
· 1 month ago
I knew once a guy who was an upper manager of a company selling antivirus software to clueless computer users who just want to use their computers. Well, the guy was making around $110k/year just sitting in his office playing WoW. I guess you do not even need a degree for that!
lynette
· 1 month ago
Thanks for the excellent video. I found the presentation fascinating and valuable. It makes me want to take the challenge! THanks for sharing.
monicadodi
· 1 month ago
I think I would rather have 5 hours and 2 dollars...
Tina Seelig
· 1 month ago
Thanks for posting this! We are launching the next Global Innovation Tournament this coming week with at brand new challenge. We now have thousands of students in 45 countries participating. http://git09.stanford.edu/
Also, thanks for the mention of my new book, What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20. http://bit.ly/2GUYAD
Adriaan Bouman
· 1 month ago
I sold watermelons on the beach...I had 15 dollars left and made 70 the first day.
andyhenry
· 1 month ago
That's an interesting challenge. I've made money in many ways and it seems that the options are unlimited and can be really creative.
Its simple I would buy me a window wiper a bucket and a small cloth and be off to wash cars or any window to start off.
aylwin_888ware
· 1 month ago
You can always start something given certain constraint. But, is this business from the entrepreneurs students is sustainable? In Australia, we have these unemployed people waiting in the traffic light to wash the car's glass. People making $2 only by putting their soap and wiper on the cars window. But, everybody know that it's a rip-off, and people give them money not because of their service, but because they start wiping before the drivers have change to say "No".
heidi
· 1 month ago
Cest tres bien!
heidi harman
· 1 month ago
Brilliant! Its all about having the mindset, "how to make a buck". Do you know the art of alchemy, how to create something out of nothing, its about wearing the "possibility glasses".
Anurag
· 1 month ago
Register on www.ShaadiKaroge.com and marry a rich man/woman. You will be rich even without spending 5 dollars.
ugg classic cardy
· 1 month ago
i like the quiz, our team once have this game
quiz questions and answers
· 1 week ago
Arrange a quiz night - they are easy to set up,you can charge for entrance fee and maybe sell some food and drinks. Simple to set up, just need to advertise it a bit. I arranged one for 30 people, each paying 3 - 90 for one night!!EASY
All Comments
http://www.nevblog.com/2005/04/bottled-water-ex...
I miss all these tales that you hear from university lectures. It was enthusiastic lecturers like this lady who encouraged me to make a go of running my own business.
this works for both men and women
probably the quickest is oral
the other suggestions assume having other equipemnt
for example forex - access to the net, an account, computer resources
making coffee - the kit to make coffee and sell it
if you ONLY HAD $5 and two hours, not if I gave you $5 and told me to return in two hours with the maximum return
Most people would not even want the candy or the balloons and give me money any way. I could probably make a couple hundred dollars
Furthermore, given that it happened in the past, I find it extremely realistic. And obviously very successful (turning $5 into over $600 in only two hours is excellent, they should try and package that system and repeat it thousands of times over).
Also, thanks for the mention of my new book, What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20.
http://bit.ly/2GUYAD
Andy
http://www.chitchatquizzes.com
In Australia, we have these unemployed people waiting in the traffic light to wash the car's glass. People making $2 only by putting their soap and wiper on the cars window. But, everybody know that it's a rip-off, and people give them money not because of their service, but because they start wiping before the drivers have change to say "No".