Entrepreneurial Mindset
Creativity, Innovation & Invention
Problem Solving Tools & Frameworks
Business Models & Competitive Strategy
Pitching, Networks & Execution
Games - Challenge
How Well Do You Know Mr. G??
100
An entrepreneur and a non-entrepreneur both notice that grocery store checkout lines are frustratingly slow. What most likely happens next?
- The entrepreneur pauses, asks why the bottleneck exists, and considers who else is affected
- The non-entrepreneur researches the problem for weeks before taking any action
- The non-entrepreneur files a formal complaint with store management and moves on
- The entrepreneur immediately hires a developer to build a checkout app
- The entrepreneur pauses, asks why the bottleneck exists, and considers who else is affected
100
A company takes an existing folding bike design and adds a solar-powered battery pack that charges while you ride. Which term best describes this?
- Innovation, because it improves and adapts an existing product to create new value
- Invention, because combining solar power with a bike had never been done commercially
- Pioneering innovation, because it creates an entirely new product category
- Creativity, because it required original thinking to combine two existing concepts
- Innovation, because it improves and adapts an existing product to create new value
100
A founder keeps getting complaints that her delivery app is "too slow." She asks why, learns the routing algorithm is outdated, then asks why that is, and discovers the team never prioritized optimization after launch. Which tool is she using?
- The 5 Whys, because she is drilling into root causes by repeatedly asking why
- A SWOT analysis, because she is identifying an internal operational weakness
- SCAMPER, because she is looking to eliminate unnecessary steps in her process
- A fishbone diagram, because she is mapping all possible causes of the slowness
- The 5 Whys, because she is drilling into root causes by repeatedly asking why
100
A meal-kit company loses customers to a rival meal-kit service AND to people choosing to cook from scratch using grocery stores. Which statement best describes this situation?
- Both are indirect competitors because neither offers an identical product or service
- The grocery store is a direct competitor because it serves the same customer need
- The other meal-kit service is an indirect competitor because it solves the problem differently
- The other meal-kit service is direct; the grocery store is an indirect competitor
- The other meal-kit service is direct; the grocery store is an indirect competitor
100
An investor hears two pitches. Founder A delivers an emotional, well-rehearsed story that earns a standing ovation. Founder B presents clear unit economics, acquisition costs, and realistic revenue projections. Whose pitch is more likely to result in a sound investment?
- Founder B's, because a correct pitch with working economics is more fundable than a merely convincing one
- Founder A's, because emotional storytelling is the primary driver of investor confidence
- Both equally — investors weigh passion and financials at the same level in early-stage deals
- Neither — investors always require a working prototype before evaluating any pitch
- Founder B's, because a correct pitch with working economics is more fundable than a merely convincing one
100
Challenge Flappy Bird
Highest
100
What is my cat's name?
a) Blaze
b) Rocket
c) Sparky
d) Junior
junior
200
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the entrepreneurial thinking pattern in the correct order?
- Spot a problem → pitch to investors → raise capital → then research the opportunity
- Spot a problem → study it deeply → identify an opportunity → develop an idea
- Spot a problem → jump to prototyping → test with users → define the opportunity
- Spot a problem → research competitors → copy the best existing solution → launch
- Spot a problem → study it deeply → identify an opportunity → develop an idea
200
What distinguishes the "Creative Pause" stage from the other stages of the Five Stages of Creativity?
- It is when the entrepreneur formally presents their idea to potential investors
- It is the stage where the subconscious continues processing after active thinking stops
- It is the final stage where a refined idea is implemented with real customers
- It is when the entrepreneur shares their idea publicly for the first time
- It is the stage where the subconscious continues processing after active thinking stops
200
A product team reimagining the traditional library asks: "What if we removed the physical building entirely and put all resources online?" Which SCAMPER step are they applying?
- Substitute, because they are replacing physical materials with digital ones
- Reverse, because they are flipping the traditional model of library access
- Combine, because they are merging the library concept with online technology
- Eliminate, because they are removing the physical component entirely
- Eliminate, because they are removing the physical component entirely
200
A startup's Three Circles analysis reveals strong passion and solid market demand, but a significant gap in available skills and resources. What does this most likely signal?
- The startup should pivot immediately to a market with lower skill requirements
- The entrepreneur needs to expand their network to fill the skill and resource gaps
- The market demand data is unreliable if it doesn't align with existing capabilities
- The business idea should be abandoned because gaps cannot be overcome after launch
- The entrepreneur needs to expand their network to fill the skill and resource gaps
200
Why is it strategically dangerous for a solo entrepreneur to try to build a business entirely alone?
- Investors are legally prohibited from funding companies with only one founder
- Every entrepreneur has gaps in knowledge, skills, or access that a network can help fill
- Solo founders statistically run out of creative ideas faster than those in teams
- Government regulations require a minimum number of people to legally operate a business
- Every entrepreneur has gaps in knowledge, skills, or access that a network can help fill
200
Challenge - Closest too...
My GPA in highschool
200
Which one of these is True?
A. Mr. G's keeps a power rankings spreadsheet w/ his favorite students ranked.
B. Mr. G speaks Japanese
C. Mr. G was a nationally ranked air hockey player in college
D. Mr. G only has 1 cat.
D. Mr. G only has 1 cat.
300
A student notices that her school's lunch line moves slowly because students don't know the menu ahead of time. She builds a simple app that displays daily menus and cuts wait time by half. Which statement best describes her?
- She is an inventor because she created software from scratch
- She is a manager because she improved an existing operational process
- She is an entrepreneur because she identified a problem and built a value-creating solution
- She is an innovator only if her app generates revenue and attracts outside investment
- She is an entrepreneur because she identified a problem and built a value-creating solution
300
Which of the following best explains why "innovation is a system" rather than a random stroke of luck?
- Only engineers and scientists with advanced degrees are positioned to innovate
- Government grants and legal frameworks are what make consistent innovation possible
- Innovation follows a repeatable, structured process that can be learned and applied
- Large technology companies control the pace of innovation through patent filings
- Innovation follows a repeatable, structured process that can be learned and applied
300
What is the key difference between the adaptive and innovative models of problem solving?
- Adaptive redefines the problem; innovative accepts it and improves efficiency
- Use adaptive for creative problems; use innovative for operational ones
- The adaptive model accepts the problem as defined and optimizes; the innovative model redefines the problem to find a novel solution
- Both begin with redefining the problem but differ only in how they test solutions
- The adaptive model accepts the problem as defined and optimizes; the innovative model redefines the problem to find a novel solution
300
A company begins as a nonprofit providing free coding education to underserved communities. Over five years it shifts almost entirely to serving high-paying corporate clients. What has occurred?
- Feasibility correction — the company adjusted its model once the original proved unviable
- Competitive analysis failure — it didn't anticipate the corporate training market early enough
- Mission drift — the company's decisions have gradually moved away from its original purpose
- A successful strategic pivot driven by market demand and investor pressure
- Mission drift — the company's decisions have gradually moved away from its original purpose
300
A pitch opens with: "Three years ago, I couldn't find a single product that helped me manage chronic migraines while working from home. I tried everything. So I built it myself." Why is this opening strategically effective?
- It eliminates the need for market research because lived experience substitutes for data
- It satisfies legal disclosure requirements about the founder's connection to the product
- It creates authenticity and credibility by showing the founder deeply understands the problem
- It signals to investors that the founder has already proven commercial demand exists
It creates authenticity and credibility by showing the founder deeply understands the problem
300
Challenge Math
49 * 31
300
Mr. G's favorite baseball team is:
a) Boston Red Sox
b) New York Yankees
c) Philadelphia Phillies
d) Colorado Rockies
d) Colorado Rockies
400
What does it mean to say entrepreneurship is "a way of thinking" rather than just a job title?
- The mindset of noticing problems and seeking solutions defines the entrepreneur — not a title
- Entrepreneurs must think about their business constantly, even outside working hours
- Formal training programs are the primary way people develop an entrepreneurial mindset
- Only people who legally own a business can truly be called entrepreneurial thinkers
- The mindset of noticing problems and seeking solutions defines the entrepreneur — not a title
400
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Years later, Apple released the iPhone, combining a phone, camera, and internet browser. How should these two developments be classified?
- Both are innovations because they both built on ideas that came before them
- Both are inventions because they both required significant engineering and development
- The telephone is an innovation; the iPhone is a pioneering invention that created a new market
- The telephone is an invention; the iPhone is an innovation adapting existing technologies
- The telephone is an invention; the iPhone is an innovation adapting existing technologies
400
During which step of the creative problem-solving process would an entrepreneur ask: "What is actually happening right now versus what we want to happen — and why does that gap exist?"
- Ideate, because generating ideas requires understanding the distance to the goal
- Develop, because prototyping begins by defining what a successful solution looks like
- Evaluate, because assessing solutions means comparing them to the desired outcome
- Clarify, because this step is specifically about recognizing and defining the gap
- Clarify, because this step is specifically about recognizing and defining the gap
400
A PEST analysis reveals a new law banning single-use plastics, shifting consumer attitudes toward sustainability, and a competitor who just patented biodegradable packaging. How should an entrepreneur use this information?
- Use it as evidence that the internal team needs restructuring before any product launch
- Use it to confirm the market is too risky and delay product development indefinitely
- Use it to identify external forces shaping market opportunity and inform strategic planning
- Use it to run a SWOT analysis instead, since PEST only covers external threats
- Use it to identify external forces shaping market opportunity and inform strategic planning
400
A health tech startup claims its device is "used by thousands of leading physicians" but cites only a study it funded itself and never discloses the exact physician count. Which concept does this best illustrate?
- Mission drift, because the company is prioritizing investor appeal over its health mission
- Techniques that make a misleading pitch appear credible — borrowed authority and selective silence
- Feasibility misrepresentation, because the product hasn't been validated by real market demand
- Competitive density confusion, because the startup is overstating its market position
- Techniques that make a misleading pitch appear credible — borrowed authority and selective silence
400
For Everyone!
Connections
400
When applying to college, my original college major was
A) Marketing
B) Entrepreneurship
C) Secondary Ed, Biology
D) History
C) Secondary Ed, Biology
500
Two people see the same long wait at a coffee shop. Person A thinks "that's annoying" and moves on. Person B thinks "why does this keep happening, and would other people pay for a faster option?" What concept does this scenario best illustrate?
- Mission drift, because the café has moved away from its commitment to fast service
- The invention sequence, because Person B is beginning to create something new
- Competitive analysis, because Person B is evaluating the café's operational weaknesses
- The difference in how entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs perceive the same problem
- The difference in how entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs perceive the same problem
500
A student argues: "If something already exists in some form, you can't call it an invention." Is this claim accurate, and why?
- Yes — inventions must be entirely original with no precedent in any form
- No — inventions only require a patent filing, not true originality of concept
- No — innovation requires novelty, but invention does not, making the terms interchangeable
- Yes — if any prior version existed, the correct term is always incremental innovation
Yes — inventions must be entirely original with no precedent in any form
500
Kaizen, lean problem-solving, and design thinking are taught as distinct approaches. What do they share as a foundational philosophy?
- They all require cross-functional teams and cannot be applied by solo entrepreneurs
- They all center on continuous improvement, human needs, or waste elimination rather than one-time fixes
- They all begin with financial modeling to confirm viability before any design work starts
- They all prioritize speed of execution over depth of understanding the problem
- They all center on continuous improvement, human needs, or waste elimination rather than one-time fixes
500
A business has a product customers genuinely love, but the company spends more per unit than it charges. Which concept does this best illustrate?
- Low competitive density — too few competitors are keeping prices artificially low
- Mission drift — the company has lost sight of its financial responsibilities
- The business has value but lacks viability — it solves a real problem but can't sustain itself
- High innovation — the company is sacrificing margins to build long-term market share
- The business has value but lacks viability — it solves a real problem but can't sustain itself
500
Sara Blakely started Spanx with $5,000 and no fashion experience. Nick Woodman maxed out credit cards to fund early GoPro prototypes. What lesson do both stories reinforce?
- Entrepreneurial success is primarily about timing and being in the right market
- Entrepreneurs must seek outside investment and expert validation before building anything
- Formal industry credentials are necessary prerequisites before attempting to build a business
- Starting with a personally felt problem, persistence, and resourcefulness can build success without traditional advantages
Starting with a personally felt problem, persistence, and resourcefulness can build success without traditional advantages
500
Silent Charades
(Challenge a group!)
Toy Story
500
Which one of these is True?
A. I proposed to my Fiance over the summer in Japan - and was able to get deers to pose with us during the photoshoot.
B. Over the summer, when he's free from lesson plans and grading, Mr. G transforms into a full-time content creator, streaming on Twitch for hours at a time.
C. I have spent over $1,000 on Legos this year. What started as one small set quickly spiraled into a dedicated shelf, a color-coded sorting system, and a growing list of sets I'm still waiting to build.
D. Mr. G's favorite sophomore is Rhys.
a!