Entrepreneur

Activity Details

Time needed: 1–2 hours

Materials needed:

• Phone, tablet, or computer with internet access 

Setup: 

Have you ever had an idea for a new product, service, or technology that you could turn into a business? Even if you haven’t, you can learn the skills you need to think like an entrepreneur. All you need is curiosity and practice. Entrepreneurs start with a process that explores all the possibilities for their idea. They often fail before they succeed and use failure as an important tool to learn and improve.

You are going to work with your friends or family to develop a unique business idea.

Activity: 

Let’s start with the example of how Miko Branch and her sister Titi worked together to launch Miss Jessie’s, a hair care company that sells products designed for maintaining and styling naturally curly hair. Here’s their story: after straightening her hair for years, Miko (who was a hairstylist) decided to wear her curly hair in its natural state. Her customers wanted to know how she kept her curls looking natural and soft. So Miko and her sister, Titi, took to the kitchen table to whip up mixtures from various ingredients, eventually creating products like Curly Pudding and Pillow Soft Curls. Soon, the demand for the products was so great that the sisters launched Miss Jessie’s, a hair care company that sells products designed for maintaining and styling curly, kinky, and wavy hair. 

Start by getting together with one or two friends or family members who like to talk about new ideas. Think about the strengths of each member of this group. Try to find a mix of people who are:

• Curious and willing to ask “how,” “why,” and “what if”
• Challenge seekers, even when things are difficult
• Persistent and willing to try again when things don’t work

What other characteristics do you think might be valuable in a group of business collaborators?

Before you invite the group to participate, ask yourself: do you like talking to these people and respect their opinions? Respect and trust are critical to building a great team.

Once you have your team assembled, either in person, over the phone, or through a video chat, brainstorm a list of problems and what products, services, or technological solutions someone might be able to create in order to address them. Come up with as many ideas as you can, no matter how outside the box they might be! Review the ideas and talk about how to combine, improve, or implement them. Then pick an idea to develop into a business. 

As a group, answer these questions about your top choice: what is the problem, want, or need that your product can address? 

Reflection

Think about these questions:

1. Is there a female entrepreneur you can talk to about how she put together her collaboration partners?

2. What from this experience can you take into other parts of your life?

3. How can you share what you’ve learned with other girls?

Troop Leaders:  The instructions for all badge steps are available free of charge in your  Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit.

Girl Scouts at Home activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming and optimized for use at home during a period of social distancing.

Adapted from Step 1 of the Senior Business Startup badge. Purchase the badge booklet to complete all requirements and earn the badge. 

Made possible by a generous gift from Susan Bulkeley Butler, author of Become the CEO of You, Inc.