This is Social Entrepreneurship

A few days ago, one of my colleagues asked me, "So, what is social entrepreneurship?"

This question made me stop and reassess my understanding of social entrepreneurship. When I started college, I learned that social entrepreneurs are those who have started a business, which serves a higher purpose than simply communicating and selling products. I looked to companies such as TOMS as Bombas Socks as prime examples since they both follow a one-for-one approach. With the examples of TOMS and Bombas Socks, I initially thought that mission-driven business owners were the only individuals who could truly practice social entrepreneurship. However, I discovered that one does not have to fit the textbook definition of an entrepreneur to be a social entrepreneur.

This is what social entrepreneurship truly is:

Finding the root of the problem

In David Bornstein's book, "How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas," he claims, "The ratio of problem-focused information to solution-focused information in the media is completely out of balance." Think about it--how many problems can you identify in 30 seconds? One of the problems you thought about was likely either homelessness or hunger. Did you stop to think about why those problems still exist? It's because no one has found the root of these problems given that these are complex problems.

For instance, if you identified homelessness as a problem, if you want to find the root of the problem, you would ask yourself, "Why is homelessness a problem?" You would likely answer this by saying there are a number of people without a home. You would then ask yourself, "Why are there a number of people without a home?" You may determine that this is because several individuals do not have jobs, cannot afford a place to live, or have been kicked out of their last home. When you want to find the root of the problem, you will keep asking yourself, "why?" When social entrepreneurs find the root cause, they act. Granted, the world has struggled to combat problems such as hunger and homelessness for decades, but few individuals attempt to discover why these problems remain prevalent.

Being fearless in the pursuit of solving the problem

Bornstein uses Florence Nightingale as an example of a social entrepreneur. When I first read about how she was a social entrepreneur, I disagreed given my prior understanding of what a social entrepreneur was. However, as I kept reading, I learned more about what social entrepreneurship is, and became further convinced. Although Nightingale was a nurse, she was not the stereotypical nurse whose task was to deliver exemplary bedside manner and care. She changed the way hospitals operated by seeing problems and taking action. As Bornstein writes, "With a combination of tact, good sense, political influence, and calm authority, Nightingale reorganized the military hospitals in Scutari..."

Therefore, one can act as a social entrepreneur regardless of his or her profession. No one is required to be an entrepreneur to enact change. You can be the intern who has a great idea for a grassroots marketing campaign, the student who organizes a food drive, or the teacher who tirelessly advocates for teacher pay. Regardless of your profession, you can be a social entrepreneur if you make calculated steps to solve an issue.

Seeing more than dollar signs

Steve Jobs was the embodiment of a true social entrepreneur. You may think, "But didn't he just create and sell computers and phones?" Not exactly. Apple was more than just a technology giant to Jobs. In his "Lost Interview" Jobs was asked about how it felt to be worth one million dollars at the ripe age of 23. He surprised me when he said he "never did it for the money." He told the interviewer that he viewed the company, the people, and the products as the most important.

It amazed me to see someone who was a true business mogul and innovator who also showed a passion for making a computer that actually had a graphics display, and learning how he could create one by working with Hewett-Packard at the age of 12. Jobs viewed Apple as more than a profitable technology giant---he knew that his innovations could change lives and the course of history.

If you are someone who has identified a problem in your school, community, or workplace, I encourage you to take action to solve the issue. This may lead to a meeting with your Dean, speaking with town commissioners, or proposing solutions to your supervisor. Granted, your idea may get shot down at first, but Steve Jobs and Florence Nightingale did not stop at the first "no." After all, you could be the next great social entrepreneur.

References:

Bornstein, David. How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas.

Jobs, Steve. The Lost Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zI49YvgXYk