What it Means to be a Social Entrepreneur
Though the term “entrepreneur” likely makes you initially think about someone who is trying to make money, there are some types of entrepreneurs that have a strong desire to focusing on other things as well. Recently, there has been a notable increase in a new type of entrepreneur known as a social entrepreneur.
No matter what your current position in life may be, there is a likely way for you to succeed in the world of social entrepreneurship. Though success in any industry will always be far from guaranteed, there are certainly many different ways you can find to grow and develop. We take a look at what it means to be a social entrepreneur and how you can succeed in this innovative, relatively new marketplace.
What is a social entrepreneur?
As the term might imply, a social entrepreneur is someone who tries to use entrepreneurial efforts in order to benefit the society they live in. A social entrepreneur is much different than a philanthropist—someone who is simply giving away money that has already been earned. Instead, social entrepreneurs are people who operate within the normal business framework with a greater social objective in mind.
In the world of social entrepreneurship, there are many different stakeholders involved in every organization.
While most businesses are profit-driven, social entrepreneurs usually consider society to be their primary stakeholder. Though social entrepreneurship does not require the organization to operate at a loss or make poor financial decisions, many of these organizations and individuals do willingly accept lower profit margins in exchange for making the world a better place.
What are some examples of types of social entrepreneurs?
By definition, anyone who is willing to take on the challenge of creating positive social change through their own initiatives is someone who can consider themselves to be a social entrepreneur. Because there is such a broad definition of what can be considered to be social entrepreneurship, naturally social entrepreneurs exist in many different forms.
What are you or someone you care about doing to #makeadifference in the world?
You may already be a social entrepreneur and not even realize it. Many social entrepreneurs operate on a relatively small scale and do things such as create a nonprofit organization, find ways to provide free educational material for the world, develop socially beneficial apps, or offer a highly demanded service for free. Others operate on a larger scale and do things such as engaging in microfinance or providing various other financial services to those who are disadvantaged or are in need of help.
How can I become a successful social entrepreneur?
Contrary to popular belief, becoming a social entrepreneur does not mean living a life without making any income. In fact, many social entrepreneurs do not have very much money at all when they first decide to make the leap and work for themselves as well as the society they live in. But as is the case with most things, managing your life and your social entrepreneurial efforts is all about finding balance.
Becoming a social entrepreneur is something that may be will within your reach.
There are many things you can do to become a successful social entrepreneur. The first thing you have to do is recognize a community cause that you care about and are willing to put the time, effort, and labor into working for. Next, it is important to promote your cause and find other people and organizations who are willing to work towards the same common objective. Using social networking sites, reaching out to relevant people in the world of business, and teaming up with other social entrepreneurs is a great way to get your efforts of the ground and running.
If you are someone who is hoping to make the world a better place through new and creative projects, then the world of social entrepreneurship may be right for you. Even if you’re not, that’s still okay—there is still a lot you can do to help those who are already involved.