Social entrepreneurship is a deeply personal journey, beginning with a personal, and often painful, recognition of a pain or injustice. But it continues with an understanding of the problem, priorities, and people at stake; and it ends with a concrete commitment to constructive action.
Most people respond to the onslaught of global problems by tuning out, drowning in distractions, or adopting an attitude of cynicism and apathy. Many people would like to take action, but feel overwhelmed, don't know where to begin, or feel like problems re too big to solve. And then, there's people like you.
People like you are finding ways to respond with creativity, energy, and even optimism, tackling local, national, and even global problems with powerful ideas and new tools.
People like you are see problems that are being ignored, mishandled, or blatantly exploited by traditional institutions, and they are creating their own solutions. Because you change the world when you hold up a new and more attractive way to live.
Step #1 - Recognize a Pain or Injustice
The social entrepreneur's journey begins with a personal (and often painful) recognition of a deep pain, injustice, or suffering.
"Remember, no one is born a change maker. It is something you become when you see a problem and dare to be a part of the solution." – Melinda Gates
Step #2 - Tap into Your Assets
This recognition inspires or drives you to tap into your own inner resources, insights, and experiences.
"Find ways to embrace the things that make you unique, and you'll unlock the ways you can make a difference in the world." -Dan Miller
Step #3 - Unpack the Problem
You employ empathy to understand the root causes of the injustice; learn from those who are most affected by the problem. and prioritize stakeholders over shareholders.
"If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
Step #4 - Envision a Better Way
You challenge old assumptions, embrace new attitudes, and envision a better way forward that shifts existing equilibriums.
"A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it's an appeal to our better selves; a call to become something more." -Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Step #5 - Build a Better Model
You work alongside those you seek to serve, build on the wisdom of those communities; bring your unique expertise, combined with an apprentice mind. Then you create, and iterate, a model for change.
Step #6 - Share Solutions at Scale
Once you develop a framework for solutions that work, you'll share those solutions and learnings at scale, to be used and adapted in other contexts.
"You are not truly a success unless you have helped others become successful."
Positive Change Starts with You
You are called to change something - in your life, your family, your neighborhood, your community, your country, or your world. (No pressure.)
תגובות