What is Social Entrepreneurism ?

               I am only just beginning my journey as a social entrepreneur. The explanation below is more descriptive of what I aspire to than what I am.

"Social entrepreneurs are people whose creativity and drive open up major new possibilities in education, health, the environment, and other areas of human need. Just as business entrepreneurs lead innovation in commerce, social entrepreneurs drive social change." That is the definition used by Ashoka, a vanguard organization in this field. According to its web site, its network of individuals (Ashoka Fellows) allows individuals " to find and help each other by sharing their professional experiences and methodologies."

According to Jim Thalhuber, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Center for Social Entrepreneurs, there are similarities between the classic entrepreneur and the social entrepreneur in that both are faced with creating demand, acquiring resources, and converting ideas into products and services. Both are action-oriented and focused on profitability. However a number of differences also exist between the two The social entrepreneur seems to combine the best of two worlds. He or she synthesizes the focused, outcome-oriented discipline necessary to succeed in the business world, with the selflessness, passion and humanity that drives social activists.  Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry. Social entrepreneurs go beyond the immediate problem to fundamentally change communities, societies, the world.
Your job as an entrepreneur is not to offer a service just because you can, or because you think (or even, as an expert, know) that people need it. Your job is to find out what your customers want and try to give it to them. This does not mean wholesale abandonment of your values in any sense. But by asking people how you can serve them better, what features they would like to see in your service array, you can serve people more effectively and do better mission.

This process of self-examination and market assessment may mean that you cast off things that you can no longer do well, which is tough, but it is an essential part of any entrepreneurial development. It may mean that you offer new services, or even an outside business as many in the field have done. But for most, it will mean figuring out ways to do what you already do better-much better-and in a much more focused way.

This is my journey.