It’s not always about changing the world
March 17, 2010 by Terri
Filed under Making a Difference
According to Rob Carpenter , CEO of Friendgiftr.com, being a social entrepreneur is about more than solving a global problem.
An article in youngupstarts.com quotes Carpenter: “It’s not just the fact that you are your own boss, but it’s the notion that you have a profound opportunity to create new jobs, new industries, and re-make society,” says Carpenter. ”There’s nothing better than to introduce innovations that allow people to live better, more convenient lives – whether you’re offering them a product or service or trying to save the world.”
The biggest lesson he’s learnt as an entrepreneur is to be patient and persistent. “If you want to be an entrepreneur, run a company or nonprofit, make bold changes, and do all of the other incredibly difficult and challenging things that entrepreneurs do on a daily basis, you have to have the tenacity to hold on to your hope until one day your time arrives,” he shares. ”If you believe strongly enough in yourself, other people will start to believe in you, too.”
Carpenter advises other young startups to “Dream big, work hard, learn everyday, be true to yourself, and never give in. If you follow some variation of these themes, you will one day get to where you want to be and achieve your wildest dreams.”
If trying to change the world feels like an overwhelming goal for you right now, how can your business or your dreams create new jobs, new industries or impact positive change in your own community? As always, we’d love to hear our comments.
You can learn more about Rob Carpenter here: Friendgiftr.com.. For more on how you can start a business that makes a local or global impact, CLICK HERE
Entrepreneurs as Change Agents-Can you Make a Living and a Difference?
June 1, 2009 by Terri
Filed under Making a Difference
When friends and family ask me what I do, my description often includes the term “social entrepreneurs”. Typically, I see puzzled look and I explain that I help inspired entrepreneurs to make a difference in the world. This is frequently followed by, “you mean you work with non-profits?”.
While some social entrepreneurs do run non-profit or not-for-profit organizations, and draw a nice salary as director, many social entrepreneurs are in private enterprise. The terms “social entrepreneur” and “for profit” are not in conflict. There’s a common misconception that making a difference means living on peanuts. That’s absolutely false.
Social entrepreneurs can make a substantial living, however their mission is to for “more than profit.” Unlike “cause marketing” which is attracting customers by promoting the fact that a percentage of profit goes to a particular cause, social entrepreneurs are moved by a specific social problem and use entrepreneurial principles to aid in social change. As opposed to a business deciding to donate to a cause, the cause is the impetus for the business.
According to an article in Business Week last fall, there are now 30,000 known social entrepreneurs producing $40 billion in revenue. The same article reported that President Obama suggested starting a new government agency to help socially conscious startups gain more access to venture capital.
Although we’d all love to make changes on a global scale, social entrepreneurs can make a positive impact by using their business acumen to facilitate change in their own community.
Daily, I hear from entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs who’s priority is making a difference. Coaches, counselors and other re-careering professionals report that the most common criteria their clients express for an ideal livelihood is that it must have meaning. A traditional career counselor hears this and steers the client to social work or other helping professions. The idea of entrepreneurship isn’t part of a career counselor’s toolbox.
Do you have a strong pull to make a difference in your community or the world but no idea where to begin to build a business around it? Or are you already an entrepreneur looking for greater meaning in your business and your life but can’t figure out how to have both? Either way , you’ll not want to miss the summer “Inspired Livelihood Tele-Summit” where you’ll learn from entrepreneurs who are making a living, doing what they love and making a difference.
