Creativity Lesson Presenter: Ms. Walker What is creativity? The process of making a product or coming up with an idea that is “original and of high quality” (Perkins, 1981, p.6). The foremost characteristic of creative students is that they put things together in new ways (Brookhart, 2010). Creativity Examples: Business Success Stories Vocabulary (from Readings) Founder Business Entrepreneur Visa Platform Self-taught Risk Facilitate Accumulate Diverse Incorporate Outside-the-box Zoom, Founded by Eric Yuan The business success story: Eric Yuan came to the U.S. from China in the mid ’90s to pursue the internet boom—but it took a while to get here. The first eight times he applied for a visa, he was denied. Finally, on the ninth attempt, he was approved, but the process lasted two years. In 2012, after working for a Silicon Valley communication startup for years prior, Yuan founded the communication platform Zoom. In an interview with Thrive Global, Yuan says that Zoom started as a daydream, a solution to a long-distance relationship that required a 10-hour train ride to see the other. Now, Zoom is used by more than 750,000 companies to keep their teams connected through video and audio conferencing, collaborative workspaces, chat, and more. The real-time, face-toface aspect of Zoom makes it easier for companies to stay in touch, so people can easily work from home or stay connected while working remotely or across several office locations. The takeaway: Yuan’s difficult visa experience is a reality for many immigrants. But it’s also a testament to what can happen if you’re persistent and willing to keep trying. Whether you’re applying for an official document like a visa or a permit, or you’re simply trying to solve a difficult problem, determination will yield results—even if it takes a few years. Discussion Questions (for Zoom Piece) In the first section of the Zoom piece, the writer mentions that Eric Yuan’s visa was denied 8 times. Why do you think the writer shares this information with readers? In the second section, which statement supports the notion that Yuan’s idea solved a problem? The third section discusses ways Zoom benefits companies: Zoom keeps “teams connected through video and audio conferencing, collaborative workspaces, chat, and more. The real-time, face-to-face aspect of Zoom makes it easier for companies to stay in touch, so people can easily work from home or stay connected while working remotely or across several office locations.” What are two concepts companies save through these processes? Explain. How does the takeaway help entrepreneurs? Xaviars Restaurant Group, Founded by Peter X. Kelly The business success story: Peter X. Kelly is a self-taught chef. He didn’t go to culinary school, but his restaurants and catering business bring in around $10 million in sales a year. He beat Bobby Flay in 2006 and rose to become an Iron Chef (no small feat, as any Food Network fan can tell you). He became the chef of the Highlands Country Club in Garrison, NY at 23 years old. When asked if he was nervous to be so young in such a position, he said he knew he could pick up and try something else if he failed. He didn’t fail. Quite the opposite, actually. He went on to open Xaviars at Piermont and the Freelance Cafe & Wine Bar (both sold in 2016), as well as X2O Xaviars on Hudson in Yonkers and Restaurant X & Bully Boy Bar in Congers. Restaurants are risky, as anyone who wants to open one will hear over and over again. But in Kelly’s case, the risk paid off. Kelly is also a vintner (a wine merchant) and the founder and culinary director of Impromptu Gourmet, which delivers chef-inspired foods made with real, fresh ingredients to your door. The takeaway: Entering the workforce can be challenging in any field, but especially one as competitive as the culinary world. Even if you don’t have the formal training, you can make up for it with passion and hard work—just like Kelly did. This approach doesn’t work for all fields, but it’s also not an uncommon story. If you’re willing to put in the work and learn by doing, you might be able to make it big. Discussion Questions (for Xaviars Restaurant Group) In the first section, the writer states that Kelly “knew he could pick up and try something else if he failed.” What does this statement suggest about Peter X. Kelly? In the second section, the writer explains that Kelly did not fail when he started his business. Why do you think Kelly was successful? In the takeaway, the writer utilizes the word “might” when discussing making it big. Why does the writer use this word choice? GooRoo, Founded by Scott Lee The business success story: GooRoo is an online platform for finding tutors for everything from basic reading and writing skills to SAT prep to college admission essays and more. GooRoo has more than 1,000 tutors in New York and has facilitated upward of 3,500 sessions. And those numbers keep growing. Scott Lee founded his first company, Peertutor, while he was still in high school in South Korea. Since then, he’s gone back to serve in the Korean army, founded an online clothing retailer, worked for JPMorgan, and served as an advisor for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. After everything, he’s come back to his roots in education to found GooRoo and offer affordable education services to people that need it—and can apply all of his worldly experience to better inform his business decisions. The takeaway: Accumulating a diverse set of experiences can help you run your business best. As Lee says, all of his experiences helped him be a better CEO when he came back to what he knew he wanted to do in high school. Of course, you don’t have to abandon ship and return to the roost, but you do want to make sure you incorporate outside-the-box experiences so you can have outside-the-box thinking. Discussion Questions (for GooRoo) Who is the intended audience for GooRoo products/services? How do readers know? In the business story, Lee’s diverse experiences are seen in a positive way. How might some readers see Lee’s decision to start several different businesses as a negative? Why? In the takeaway, the writer advises: “Make sure you incorporate outside-the-box experiences so you can have outside-the-box thinking” when starting/running your own business. Why is this advice important? Source for business stories: https://www.fundera.com/blog/business-success-stories Out of the three businesses discussed, which business is the most creative? Explain. Your Turn Create a teen-focused business that solves a problem and has a positive impact on teenagers in at least two ways. VERY CREATIVE CREATIVE ORDINARY/ROUTINE IMITATIVE Impact of Business Ideas on Teens Business ideas represent a startling variety of important teen-focused concepts from different contexts or disciplines. Business ideas represent important teen-focused concepts from different contexts or disciplines. Business ideas represent important teen-focused concepts from the same or similar contexts or disciplines. Business ideas do not represent important teen-focused concepts. Development of Business Ideas Business ideas are developed from several different source types that focus on the needs of teens. Business ideas are developed from a few source types that focus on the needs of teens. Business ideas are developed from one source type that focuses on the needs of teens. Business ideas are developed from source types that do not focus on the needs of teens. Combining Business Ideas Business ideas are combined in original and surprising ways to solve a problem, address an issue, or make something new. Business ideas are combined in original ways to solve a problem, address an issue, or make something new. Business ideas are combined in ways that represent the thinking reflected in the sources researched. Business ideas are copied or restated from the sources researched. Intended Purpose of Business Ideas Business ideas are interesting, new, or helpful and make an original contribution that identifies a previously known problem, issue, or purpose. Business ideas are interesting, new, or helpful and make an original contribution for intended purpose. Business ideas serve intended purpose. Business ideas do not serve intended purpose.
