Written by: Mara Zwicker, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Today we face many challenges, climate change and a pandemic being the current protagonists of them. We need change and we know that. But who is really willing to go forward and make that change for a better future? My answer is: Social entrepreneurs change the world. Why? Because they care. That might be a bold statement, so bear with me.
What Makes a Social Entrepreneur?
Who is crazy enough to take on today's problems on a big scale? Who would sacrifice their time, sweat, tears and effort to do the seemingly impossible? Who is willing to give up social approval and prestige and instead work 16 hours a day for a goal that sounds crazy to others? To me that sounds much like an entrepreneur, doesn't it? Now, add a mission that is not focused on making themselves rich, famous and successful. But instead, will change things for the better on the planet for everyone. Now, you have a social entrepreneur. They are the craziest of all, the 'misfits' that dare to dream of change and actually DO something about it.
Social entrepreneurs have a great passion to affect change. They see possibilities in situations and take the risk to go and act on them, despite the current circumstances.
First the Person, then the Business.
A social entrepreneur puts a service or product that improves people and planet FIRST. The passion and the believe to achieve something good comes FIRST. Second comes the 'how to make it profitable' part. Often, social businesses grow organically, out of an idea or passion of a single person or a group of people who become social entrepreneurs in the process. Because social entrepreneurs are willing to work for the success of everyone and not (only) for their own, they create businesses that first and foremost help, improve, renew, build or safe something.
Social entrepreneurs start with a goal in mind, that goes beyond money and that takes risks to get there. Most times, social entrepreneurs value the product or service, and the impact their businesses make, as a personal goal in life. Their definition of success might not be, to maximize profit and expand as fast as possible, but rather to create a tangible value for others. They work to scale up their own values and principles through a business, to make a bigger impact.
The Road Less Traveled
In order to make a vision come to life that has not been done before, social entrepreneurs have to take the 'road less traveled'. They will have to accept the fact that they might endure more obstacles. They go ahead to pave roads where no one has walked aka done business before. They take the risk that financing might be harder to get, that the product might not work because customers don´t understand it yet, or that their business doesn't take off because customers would rather stick to the 'old ways' or cheaper products that are potentially harmful for the environment but also part of their comfort zones.
A social business is not guaranteed to succeed 'just' because it is social. But social entrepreneurs are willing to sacrifice mainstream recognition when that means they can make a difference. They often think globally and connect the dots between climate, environment, life-quality, success and money.
The Missing Link
Money of course still plays an important role, since any project and business needs to be financed. Any NGO or charitable organization has a social or environmental development goal at heart, and aims to change the world for the better. But its financing is mostly dependent on external sources. This makes them vulnerable to situations in which they might have to compromise or put limits on their goals. Or even to take into consideration the interests of the financing party.
A 'traditional business' does have the independence that profitability gives. But most businesses and corporations are not flexible and adaptable enough to change their processes towards more sustainability, whilst continuing to expand and grow its profits to satisfy their investors or shareholders. Often they are left with no choice but to remain on the path they have been on before, even when that path might be harmful for the environment and society.
A social business sits at the intersection between profit-oriented businesses and charitable organizations. While social businesses also need financial assistance at first, they can become profitable and therefore independent. When a social business manages to achieve that stage, it has a stable ground and opportunities to make BIG changes in the world. In this case, positive change and profitability go hand in hand. When profit grows, positive impact grows, too – a masterpiece for change.
Changing Things Changes Things
Social entrepreneurs cause change not only through their work and their product or service. Beyond that, they provide the opportunity for three other groups in society, to take part in the change as well: employees, consumers and investors.
In all cases, social entrepreneurs are the ones who go first and provide the platform on which then other people can be part of the change. By building a social business, they create job opportunities for conscious employees, who are seeking to earn money with jobs that 'make sense'. People who also want to make a difference in the world with their work but might not want to start their own business.
Secondly, social businesses provide goods and services that offer a chance for consumers, to make an impact with the money they spend. Rather than giving their money to large corporations that might not take responsibility for the harmful impact of their products on the environment, consumers now have a choice to use their money to make a change and consume in a responsible way. Additionally, these products and services often come with a message of education and awareness-building, to help more people reflect on their consumer behavior and improve the impact they have on the planet with it.
The third group are the investors who seek to put their money into sustainable projects. A social entrepreneur who has an unusual new idea might stretch the imagination of an investor and not be right for the one who seeks to only grow their profit quickly. But with growing evidence of climate change and the bad impact humanity has on nature, more investors start to understand, that their money can be the fuel to drive change. They hold the key to bring those businesses forward, that will make a difference for generations to come. Social entrepreneurs give conscious investors the opportunity, to make their money work for a positive change.
Ultimately it is up to each of us to make the change that is needed, so we as a human race can live sustainably for the next millennia to come. Social businesses provide a chance to be part of that change, no matter where we are in life. Whether by financing, working for, supporting or buying from a social entrepreneur, we help them, so they can change the world.
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Mara Zwicker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mara Zwicker is a firm believer in the ability of people to create a positive change in the world.
After surviving a life threatening disease at age 21, she decided to help people discover their true 'why' and create a life around it.
Social entrepreneur and writer by profession, linguist and intercultural communicator by education, Mara has spend her life traveling, living and studying on different continents around the world.
She is affiliated with Positive Global Change, an international group of social entrepreneurs, which helps people to develop their true potential as leaders and impact makers. She is writing in the fields of business, travel and health for clients like Netcoo (Next Economy Magazine), Lonely Planet, Marco Polo and HolidayCheck.
