From Laughing Stock to Goldmine: How These “Bad” Ideas Made Investors Rich
A desk covered in Post-it Notes. A half-empty Starbucks cup. A red stapler that may or may not have been stolen.
It’s a scene straight out of the movie, Office Space—and a familiar sight in offices everywhere. But what most people don’t realize is that two of these everyday essentials almost never existed.
When Starbucks first opened, it prided itself on serving only hot coffee—strong, premium brews for serious coffee drinkers. The idea of a sugary, blended, milkshake-like coffee drink? Absolutely not!
Corporate executives dismissed the idea, believing it would dilute the brand. But a few Starbucks store managers in California ignored the rules and started experimenting on their own, blending ice, coffee, and milk to create something their customers loved.
These rogue managers were onto something. Customers couldn’t get enough, and sales at those locations took off. Starbucks corporate had no choice but to pay attention. In 1995, the company officially launched the Frappuccino—and it became one of their most successful products ever. Today, cold drinks account for over 75% of Starbucks’ sales, and the Frappuccino alone is a billion-dollar brand that fuels its stock price. Starbucks wasn’t the only company to misjudge the potential of a now-iconic product.
In 1968, 3M scientist Spencer Silver was trying to develop a super-strong adhesive when he accidentally created the opposite—a weak, low-tack glue that barely stuck at all. It was a complete failure for its intended purpose, and for years, no one knew what to do with it.
It wasn’t until another 3M employee, Art Fry, realized this weak adhesive could be useful for repositionable sticky notes that the idea found its purpose. Even then, 3M’s executives weren’t convinced it would sell. But once they started handing out free samples, something unexpected happened—people refused to give them back.
Post-it Notes officially launched in 1980, and today, they are a global office staple generating billions in revenue. 3M’s stock has surged over 14,900% with dividends since then, turning every $1,000 investment into $150,000.
The Frappuccino and Post-it Notes were both rejected at first—dismissed as bad ideas or unworthy of attention. But these products didn’t just succeed; they made billions and played a major role in fueling their companies’ long-term stock growth.
This pattern repeats itself over and over. Some of the biggest stock market winners—Amazon, Netflix, and Apple—were all once dismissed as terrible ideas.
Here’s how these companies went from doubt to domination—and how investors who saw their potential early made a fortune.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): The Side Project That Became a Profit Machine
In 2006, Amazon was still viewed as an online bookstore that had expanded into retail. When Jeff Bezos announced the company was launching Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer cloud computing, many people—including Amazon employees—thought it was a distraction from their core business.
Why would a retailer try to compete with IBM, Microsoft, and Google in cloud technology? Even Wall Street analysts doubted the move.
But AWS turned out to be one of the most profitable pivots in corporate history. While Amazon’s e-commerce business runs on tight margins, AWS delivers massive profits, generating over $90 billion per year.
Amazon’s stock (AMZN) has climbed over 250,000% since its IPO, largely thanks to AWS becoming the backbone of the modern internet. Investors who saw its potential early made life-changing money.
Netflix: From DVD Rentals to Streaming Domination
Netflix built its business around mailing DVDs. In the early 2000s, this was a convenient alternative to going to Blockbuster, and Netflix saw solid growth.
Then, in 2007, the company made a radical decision: shifting its focus to streaming.
Investors panicked. The internet wasn’t fast enough to make streaming viable for most people, and critics doubted whether Netflix could survive without its DVD rental business.
Blockbuster executives even laughed at the idea, dismissing Netflix as a niche service that would never replace traditional video rentals.
By betting on streaming early, Netflix dominated the entertainment industry before competitors could catch up. Today, it has over 300 million subscribers worldwide, and its stock price has soared from $3 per share in 2002 to over $1,000 at its peak.
Blockbuster, meanwhile, went bankrupt.
Apple’s iPhone: The Phone That “Would Never Work”
Before Apple entered the smartphone market, BlackBerry and Nokia were the undisputed leaders. Their devices were built around physical keyboards, and industry experts dismissed the idea of a touchscreen-only phone as impractical.
When Apple announced the iPhone in 2007, critics scoffed. The lack of a keyboard was seen as a dealbreaker, and many doubted Apple could compete with established phone manufacturers.
Today, the iPhone is Apple’s biggest revenue driver, generating more than half of the company’s total sales. Apple is now the most valuable company in history, worth over $3.6 trillion. Investors who bet on Apple during the early iPhone years saw massive returns.
How to Spot the Next “Bad Idea” Before It Takes Off
Every major stock market winner started as an underdog. The companies that change industries are often laughed at, doubted, and underestimated—until they prove everyone wrong.
So how can an average investor identify these opportunities before they explode?
Many people assume the best way to invest is to follow trends. But by the time an idea is obvious to the masses, the biggest gains have already been made. Instead of chasing what’s already popular, look for companies making bold moves before the market believes in them.
Some of the key signals include:
Companies that are creating something entirely new. Amazon wasn’t just selling books—it was changing how people shop. Netflix wasn’t just streaming content—it was transforming entertainment.
Businesses with passionate early adopters. Before Tesla became mainstream, its early adopters were fiercely loyal. Apple fans lined up for the first iPhone even when critics dismissed it.
Visionary leaders who don’t back down. Founders like Jeff Bezos and Reed Hastings pushed forward even when critics dismissed them. Their conviction turned their companies into giants. In the case of Starbucks, some unconventional employees in California ran with the idea of making and selling cold fancy coffee drinks.
Long-term potential over short-term noise. The best investments often look bad in the beginning. If you had sold Amazon when it was losing money, you would have missed a 100,000% return.
The Bottom Line: The Next Big Investment Won’t Be Obvious
By the time an idea seems like a “sure thing,” the opportunity to invest early is gone. The biggest gains come from buying before the masses believe.
The challenge isn’t finding the perfect company today—it’s recognizing which underestimated ideas have the potential to change the world in the next decade.
What’s out there today that seems like a long shot—but just might be the next billion-dollar idea?