Do you need a business degree or non-profit to make a difference?

There are reports nearly every day of social entrepreneurship programs being added at major universities worldwide. After decades of business schools turning out MBAs focused on corporate management, it’s refreshing to see the new entrepreneurs with goals of  driving social change and making a difference. But most of these graduates are starting up non-profits funded with large grants from government organizations, private alumni foundations  or corporations.

You don’t need a business degree, non-profit status or massive start-up capital to make a living and a difference in your community or the world. Sometimes starting small with just your knowledge and strong desire to drive change can make a significant impact in your own neighborhood and eventually you or those you influence will continue the momentum. You may  dream of making change on a universal scale but even starting in your own community you’ll set an example and create a template that can be duplicated throughout the world.

Do you have an idea for a product or service that could change lives on your block or in your town? What tiny step can you take now with the knowledge, equipment or resources you already have, that would make a difference to a few people? Can you get those first few people excited enough to each show a few others whatever it is you teach them? Some of the most successful businesses that had a wide impact were born as a dream in someone’s basement or garage.

Do artists and writers have an obligation to take responsibility for the effect their art has on society?

Just days after viewing the 1994 Oliver Stone film “Natural Born Killers”, written by Quentin Tarantino, young newlyweds went on a random killing spree. When arrested, they gave the names Mickey and Mallroy, the Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis characters who’s killing rampages were glorified by the media. We all recall the “Taxi Driver” connection when John Hinkley attempted to assassinate Ronald Regan, to get the attention of Jody Foster. These are just a few examples of the copy-cat syndrome that occurs when already disturbed people are exposed to horribly violent art. And Catherine Ryan Hyde’s “Pay it Forward” had the opposite effect on the public and was the impetus for a whole movement of doing good for the sake of spreading good. There are endless examples of how specific books, films and music have directly and profoundly impacted society and how responsible writing has had a positive effect on individuals. In defense of freedom of expression, there are times when violence or a disturbing story line has a vital role in creative work. And it is of course a parent’s role, not the artists, to control what children are exposed to. The question is, what responsibility do you think an artists, writer, etc has to influence the reading or viewing public? And, is it possible for someone to make a living in the arts if they are committed to only turning out socially conscious material? Last year in a hot tub overlooking the Pacific, I was fortunate enough to strike up a conversation on this topic with Catherine Ann Jones, an award-winning writer for television and film who is committed to socially responsible writing. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Catherine about her writing and teaching and the role artists play in making a difference in society. To listen to this interview now, CLICK HERE Just days after viewing the 1994 Oliver Stone film “Natural Born Killers”, written by Quentin Tarantino, young newlyweds went on a random killing spree. When arrested, they gave the names Mickey and Mallroy, the Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis characters who’s killing rampages were glorified by the media. We all recall the “Taxi Driver” connection when John Hinkley attempted to assassinate Ronald Regan, to get the attention of Jody Foster. These are just a few examples of the copy-cat syndrome that occurs when already disturbed people are exposed to horribly violent art. And Catherine Ryan Hyde’s “Pay it Forward” had the opposite effect on the public and was the impetus for a whole movement of doing good for the sake of spreading good. There are endless examples of how specific books, films and music have directly and profoundly impacted society and how responsible writing has had a positive effect on individuals.
In defense of freedom of expression, there are times when violence or a disturbing story line has a vital role in creative work. And it is of course a parent’s role, not the artists, to control what children are exposed to. The question is, what responsibility do you think an artists, writer, etc has to influence the reading or viewing public? And, is it possible for someone to make a living in the arts if they are committed to only turning out socially conscious material?
Last year in a hot tub overlooking the Pacific, I was fortunate enough to strike up a conversation on this topic with Catherine Ann Jones, an award-winning writer for television and film who is committed to socially responsible writing. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Catherine about her writing and teaching and the role artists play in making a difference in society. To listen to this interview now,

CLICK HERE

Find More Meaning in March

My friend Alice Barry  (www.entertainingtheidea.com) calls March the Month of More Meaning.  Throughout the month of March she’ll be focusing on  and exploring the many ways we can contribute to the world in meaningful ways through our businesses.  As you know, the mission of “Inspired Livelihood” is to  support, inspire and encourage artists, musicians, authors and aspiring entrepreneurs to make a living while making a difference in their community or the world.

As Barbara Winter, author of  ”Making a Living Without a Job” said in her recent Joyfully Jobless newsletter the “search for meaningful work that makes a positive impact in the world is a huge motivator” of the successfully self employed. If you are ready to activate your inner activist and add the meaning/purpose piece to your bottom line, the “Inspired Livelihood Workshop” is for you. .

Join Alice, Barbara and me f in Sedona, Arizona on April 16 & 17. With this exquisite community as our backdrop, we’ll explore what it means to create a business that is both profitable and meaningful. Read about this exciting event HERE

Recordings of Fall Tele-seminar Series

As most of you know, I had to postpone the live tele-seminar series in the fall but did record the interviews and the first several are now posted on the Inspired Entrepreneurs page. You may read about these inspiring artists, authors, performers and social entrepreneurs who make a living in the arts and a difference in the world and listen to the interviews here.

Tragedy can be the impetus for a business helping others

This morning a client was asking for guidance on how she could turn one of her hobbies into a meaningful business. As I listened, I realized that she wasn’t speaking as passionately about her many interests as she was about what she had learned from dealing with a recent tragedy. As she talked, it became apparent that a terrible part of her life had prepared her for a new career. Like many people who’ve had to be innovative during tough times, her creative solutions to a crises situation could meet the needs of a whole population facing  the same challenges. My friend found it hard to believe that people would pay her to do for them what she had figured out how to do for herself, but as we we reviewed all the time spent researching and implementing creative solutions, she realized this was a viable business that could help people solve an urgent dilemma.

Sometimes the best business ideas come from something we’ve found lacking . While no one wants to think of a tragedy as creating opportunity,  sometimes  the skills or wisdom we gain during a crises prepares us for a career helping others deal with a similar situation.

After our phone conversation, I thought of John Walsh host of “America’s Most Wanted” and of the horrific experience of losing his six year old son to

abduction and murder. Determined to not let Adam’s death be in vain,  Walsh began a lifelong career helping to apprehend over 1,050 dangerous fugitives and bring home more than 50 missing children in the past 22 years. He’s authored best-selling books and DVDs on stranger safety and internet safety, and has been instrumental in getting stricter laws passed to crack down on sex offenders,  all as a result of the most horrendous loss a parent could face.

What experiences have forced you to create solutions that  others might now benefit from?  Have there been times when you wished there’d been a service to help you deal with a situation that felt nearly overwhelming?  Did you ever wish someone had written a manual to guide you through a difficult time in your life? What did you learn from handling and getting through some of life’s toughest challenges that could be turned into a service or “roadmap” to help others?

Are making a living and making a difference separate parts of your life?

The old idea of philanthropy as writing a check or volunteering after you’ve made your fortune in a high level job is  20th Century thinking.  A trend we’re seeing at universities worldwide is to prepare graduates to build a business that makes money and embraces social change. A business degree is definitely not necessary to start a business, but it’s worth noting that major business schools are turning out a new breed of MBAs who want to make a buck while also making the world a better place. The old MBA model turned out graduates with the goal of landing a solid corporate job. If a student’s goal was to make a difference, they’d go into social work or the non-profit sector.   In a recent article in the Independent, a UK publication,  Pamela Hartigan, director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship was quoted as saying that “rather than separating where they (new MBAs) make their money from where they do good, they are convinced that it is possible to live comfortably and dedicate their careers to pursuits that are fundamentally innovative, philosophically positive and morally compelling.”

Are you ready to join the ranks of 21st Century Entrepreneurs who are creating businesses that improve the lives of individuals, families, communities and countries by using their passions and creativity to solve local and global problems and create social change?  If you’re ready to learn how you can create a profitable business that means something more, I’d like to invite you to join Barbara Winter, best selling author of “Making a Living without a Job” , Idea Artisan, Alice Barry of “Entertaining the Idea”and me, Terri Belford, self-employment muse for a life and

career changing event.

Where Can You Start to Make a Difference in the World?

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of the world wide web? In the past decade, the internet has opened up the entire universe as your clientele. As my friend and mentor, Barbara Winter, Author of  best selling “Making a Living Without a Job” reminds us, your customer base is no longer limited to those who share your geography. So, your message can reach potential clients on another continent, even a different hemisphere.

But, what if you just aren’t sure where to start when the whole world is your target? Or you have a strong desire to make a difference in your own neighborhood?

An article in Sunday’s Cincinnati Enquirer featured a young entrepreneur who got her business idea from a need to borrow a ladder.  Keara Schwartz launched Share Some Sugar, a website that lets neighbors post and share items they own and borrow items they don’t.  Searching for an alternative to consuming items that we all use infrequently, Schwartz took a social anthropologist’s perspective to  create a  business opportunity out of a need she saw in her own backyard.

This business can and likely will eventually expand and go national or worldwide, but Keara started where she was, where she saw an immediate need.

Is it possible you are looking at too big a picture and being paralyzed by too much choice? When you try to figure out where to begin to make a change in the world, does it sometimes feel like trying to decide what to order in a Chinese restaurant? Or not knowing where to begin to sort through decades of clutter in your great aunt’s basement?

Try narrowing your focus a bit and reigning in your perspective. Look around your community, explore what unmet needs you notice on your own block. Where can you make a tiny impact? If you can drive change in your own neighborhood, your vision may eventually make a global difference. If you doubt the possibility, consider Craigslist was started as a local site. You can’t make any change if you don’t start somewhere. So start right where you are.

Creating More Meaning in Your Work

The late Anita Roddick knew “if you can create an honorable livelihood, where you take your skills and use them to earn a living, it gives you a sense of freedom and allows you to balance your life the way you want. ” As founder of The Body Shop, she created a business that was  wildly profitable while remaining socially responsible.

There are many ways to make a difference and they don’t have to be limited to volunteer or non-profits. If you’re like many of us, you dream of doing something more meaningful and making an impact but you do still need to earn a living.

As  social media specialist Jeff Korhan noted in his lawnandlandscape.com post yesterday,  “Social entrepreneurship isn’t philanthropy. It is augmenting your business model to include social needs alongside traditional profit needs.” Contrary to the beliefs of so many aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s not only OK to make a solid income from a socially responsible business, but your business is more likely to make an long term impact if your company is profitable. If you are continually worrying about adequate charitable donations to drive change, you aren’t going to be able to focus on the greater good.

If you’re searching for a way to create more meaning in your work, check out  the upcoming Inspired Livelihood workshop in beautiful Sedona, Arizona with Barbara Winter and Alice Barry, where you’ll learn how you can make a living and make a change in society.

Echo-friendly Giving, Recycled Toys and More

On a recent family visit, my sister and I discovered a photo of the two of us at 2 and 5 under the Christmas tree surrounded by newly unwrapped toys. Each of us held a special treasure in the photo. I held a cardboard paper towel roll up to my eye like a telescope and she posed adorned in recycled ribbons and bows from the gifts. This was the fifties, long before recycling was cool. I’d like to claim that we were just natural trendsetters, but I confess that in the early eighties when my son was little, our home was filled with molded plastic houses, cars and slides. We gave little thought to how these eventually ended up in the landfills.

Somewhere between that magical Christmas morning of recycling and my desire to give my son plenty of opportunity for creative play, I’d forgotten all the rainy days my friends and I spent cutting windows and doors into cardboard refrigerator boxes and stacking television cartons to make apartments houses. Or the way we collected old thread spools, hammering nails around the top to make our own little knitting devices. I’d forgotten that imagination is most active when the raw materials are available without instructions for the finished product.

It’s exciting to see the hot trend for this holiday season is eco-friendly toys. I’ve found a few that are both environmentally and socially responsible. Sprig Toys in Colorado makes eco-friendly “Story Builders” that inspire creative play and strong values. Mary Meyer’ “Fuzz that Was” stuffed toy pets are made out of old recycled water bottles. The Green Toy Company, based in California makes toy cookware, gardening tools, sand toys and trucks (including a Recycling Truck) out of recycled milk bottles.

While it seems early to be thinking about the holidays, if you are going to give responsibly, you need time to plan ahead. The marketplace is abundant with products that have had another life in a different form. If, however, you are crafty, now’s the time to start looking around for what products you tend to throw away and how you can upcycle those into fabulous gifts.

Do you have ideas for eco-friendly gift projects you’ve made or plan to make that you’d like to share with us? If you have found an artist or product line that uses recycled materials please post your recommendation here-we’d love to spread the word and promote your projects or treasured finds.

Paul Hawken’s to the Class of 2009,University of Portland

If you haven’t read this commencement address by Paul Hawken’s to the Class of 2009,University of Portland, read it. If you have, RE-read it. Please. I read it in May and re-read it this morning. This is probably the most important message these graduates heard in their college career.

I have great respect for Paul Hawken, as an entrepreneur and a responsible human. For any of you who believe making a difference is just for non-profits, check out what he’s done with private enterprise. It’s not just about amassing a great fortune and then donating to causes. It’s about living each day taking responsibility for the future and this can be compatible with private enterprise.
Below is Paul Hawken’s to the Class of 2009,University of Portland:
When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was “direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” No pressure there.

Let’s begin with the startling part. Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation… but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, civilization needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food-but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn’t bring lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says: You are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring. The earth couldn’t afford to send recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint.

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