Social Entrepreneurship

social entrepreneurship

Ideology!

People are not naturally cruel. They become cruel when they are unhappy or when they succumb to an ideology!

One ideology against another; One faith or religion against another… – people crushed in between them!

People who are violent or wild at each other in public – could very well have been gentle men, caring fathers and loving husbands who practiced cruelty to maintain an ideology!

If people followed the instinct of their heart rather than the logic of their ideology, world would have been spared the sight of many unwanted events of disgust!

Helping people have their lives has no ideology!

Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises around the world seem to be the catalysts for this big positive change!

Let them have field day all through 2011 and beyond!

~

Social Enterprises are not for risk takers?

Entrepreneur culture in business world encourages and rewards risk taking! This world is full of “heroes” who had a vision, rallied resources behind their goals – with hard work and great passion, created/launched new product/service or marketed new idea – grossed profits/brand value and obtained celebrity status! Every hero had their own bouquet of failures many folds more, compared to their celebrated wins!

The entire business backbone – venture capitalist structure supports who are prepared to take risk (= a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss!) everything for their new business idea! A common understanding in the business community is that some level of risk is necessary to become successful! Failure is considered a learning ground and it is the matter of selling the new project/idea that matters than the result of previous one(s)!

In the non-profit, good-will & social enterprise world, common understanding is that the primary objective is to minimize risk and maximize benefits! Any social project with considerable uncertainty of outcome will find it difficult to secure funds, volunteers and supporters! Traditional funding organizations – Foundations, Social Investment groups, Government agencies, etc., support – projects that already have a successful, proven track record. They remove most opportunities for risk, through their procedural approach to sponsorship! Nothing wrong – in principle.

Consideration of “Risk Taking” is the acceptance of both success and failure.

Risk profile of commercial enterprises is that of risk tolerance – consequently more acceptance of failure! Successful business people mostly have a few great failures under their belt before a commendable success!

Risk profile of Social Enterprises (and non-profits) is that of risk aversion – consequently failures are not commonly accepted. Social Entrepreneurs seeking external funding for their project should exercise serious caution while building their enterprise – mostly the results.

Bootstrapping is the best business model for  Constructing a successful social enterprise!

Dreamer Doers in the crowd, interested in treading Social Entrepreneur route should review and revise their risk management approach to suit the profile of the SE world!

It does not seem to present a favorable fit for pure-play risk takers! Every promise & action in the SE world is setting/ proof of hope towards better today and tomorrow.

It is best suited for those karma-yogis interested in “helping people have their lives” – in a sustainable manner!

~

Construction of a Social Enterprise!

Construction is a Process – a systematic course of actions towards achieving the result! Social Enterprises should stand much beyond the founder, for a long lasting impact. Unlike any other commercial enterprise built purely for making money or for self occupation, social enterprises have a larger obligation – to the society, to the social cause for which they are built!

Construction of a Social Enterprise requires greater care and a firm footing – glued on a set of non-negotiable principles! One analogy of a social enterprise comes from that of a personal temple! If you are building a social enterprise consider all aspects of building your own personal temple!

Let’s examine how some of the great temples were built. Especially the ones standing tall and giving shelter for over several centuries, across the world!

Konark_Sub_Temple_Front_view[1]

People worked slowly and steadily. Every part of a marble/stone temple was made by hand, none of it by a machine. The columns were carved the same patience and skill as the sculpture.

No hurry, not even hasty. It is the quality of the end product that is most important, not the speed at which it is made. Main structures took several years to complete, and its sculptures some more, yet they have endured for almost several centuries.

Each column, moreover was made of separate drums, one stacked on top of the other. Constructing a pillar then, like constructing a pillar of belief, is an incremental process – we should begin at the bottom and ascend to the top in steady, measured steps, making certain that each successive component is carefully and deliberately fitted to the one below!

Sikh_pilgrim_at_the_Golden_Temple_%28Harmandir_Sahib%29_in_Amritsar%2C_India[1]

Naturally, there must be a master plan to which the parts conform. But life is not perfect, and execution of every plan may involve delay. Hence, commitment is essential, especially for a project that is long. But as stone rises on stone, flagging spirits will rise too as the ideal takes visible form!

Temple_of_Artemis[1]

No temple was ever built by a single individual. They were built by a team! In building our personal temple, we will need to borrow the love, strength, and understanding from at least one other human being.

If we are blessed, our efforts will be shared. And if life does not permit us to finish the work, the work may yet go on in the hands of others who have learned our dream!

If you are dreaming of building a social enterprise, go ahead and construct it as your own personal temple!

Make it truly REMARKABLE!

~