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is an online resource for people interested in the “how to’s” from business.
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Tom Minter is an inspiring twenty-nine year old social entrepreneur. His current business is Socks for Happy People, where he creates ‘unique, comfy, and sustainable socks that amaze, uplift, and inspire'. Socks for Happy People exists to inspire a deeper understanding of genuine happiness around the world.
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Working for a better small business community
Pre Start-up
Planning and preparation to start
Social Enterprise: Is It Right For You?
 | Social enterprise is one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding areas of business. It is also one of the most misunderstood. So is social entrepreneurship right for you?
As you read these tips and your understanding of social entrepreneurship begins to deepen even more, notice how these concepts are making you feel. You may get a strong sense that this is what you were born to do, or it may all seem a bit too much like hard work.
Read these words, notice how you feel, listen to your heart, and follow your guts.
If you do this, you will know.
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 Don’t just start a social enterprise because it’s the fashionable thing to do, or because someone said you should. Social entrepreneurship needs to resonate with your guts and you need to feel it in your heart. There’s nothing wrong with creating a business that’s not a social enterprise; the most important thing is to follow your heart and do what resonates with you.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
 As a social entrepreneur you will have a burning desire to create positive change in the world (if you haven’t that’s okay, but you’re not a social entrepreneur (not yet anyway) – see Tip #1) Your business exists as a vehicle for you to magnify your own personal mission.
As an individual there is only so much change you can instigate alone: you only have twenty-four hours in your day and you can only physically meet so many people during that time, yet your business can reach, touch, and influence BILLIONS.
That is the role of your business: To MAGNIFY your own personal mission.
 A social enterprise typically operates on a triple bottom line: social, environmental, and economic, so create your ultimate vision for each of these three areas. Begin your visions ‘We see a world where...’
This will require a fair amount of exploration and honest introspection on your part. Keep improving them until you can communicate each vision in one powerful and succinct sentence. When you finally ‘get it’, you will be inspired like never before.
Dream BIG with these. You do not need to know how they’re going to be achieved; you only need to know where you’re going. If it’s going to take 1,000 years, so be it.
 A social enterprise is NOT a charity. It is first and foremost a business and your primary aim is to make a PROFIT. The difference between a social enterprise and a traditional business is that traditionally businesses would seek to make a profit at the expense of everything else, including human rights, the environment, and the well-being of our children’s future.
Your role as a social entrepreneur is to MAXIMIsE profits while also being sustainable and responsible, and remaining true to your ethics and values.
(Gentle reminder: Keep checking in with how you’re feeling. How do you feel about being a social entrepreneur? Does it feel right to you?)
 Traditional thinking would have us believe that you can either make a great profit OR do good in the world. As a social entrepreneur it is your responsibility to make a huge profit AND create magic.
More and more the market is demanding socially responsible products and services, and – as an entrepreneur’s role is to fulfil the unmet demands of the market – you will be rewarded EVEN MORE for creating and delivering your products and services in a sustainable and ethical way. If you’re ever tempted to cut corners... keep this fact in mind.
 To truly serve the world you must be coming from a place of strength yourself. You can’t truly make a difference if you’re continually worried about where your next contract is coming from or if you’re going to be able to cover next month’s payroll. To create a truly sustainable business first YOU must be sustainable, and that means a healthy cashflow.
Cash is the life force of any business and without it your business will die, and then you won’t be able to serve anyone. Remember: A social enterprise is not a charity!
(PS: How are you feeling about social entrepreneurship right now?)
 Social media is where it’s at, and for a social enterprise this is even more true. Use social media to its maximum effect. Get yourself on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn at least, and learn how it use them properly – like really properly.
By using social media you will attract team members, investors, media, and customers. Social media could be the difference between the success and failure of your business. Do not underestimate its power.
 No matter how good you are, you cannot do this all alone. There is no such thing as a self-made millionaire.
You’re going to need people to be attracted to your vision, which is why it’s so important you’re clear about it and are able to communicate it effectively (see Tips #3 and #7).
Team members must have absolute clarity on how they can magnify their own personal missions through your organisation, and if they can’t – no matter how good they are –be strong enough to accept they’re not the right team members for you at this time.
The energy each team member brings to the table is important in any organisation; in a social enterprise it’s crucial.
 If you’re a successful social entrepreneur you deserve to be well rewarded. In fact, it’s your responsibility to live the life of your dreams and inspire others to do the same. Just because your business does good in the world, that doesn’t mean you have to be a martyr.
An entrepreneur is rewarded in direct proportion to the amount of value they deliver to the marketplace, and if you’re delivering great value you deserve great rewards. Accept them with grace and gratitude.
Keep Tip #6 in mind: YOU must be sustainable first! And remember this: the more wealth you create the more wealth you can contribute.
 As a social entrepreneur you have the power to inspire the world and create positive change. Do not take this responsibility lightly.
It is your responsibility to show future entrepreneurs they can create a magnificent life for themselves AND create positive change in the world.
It’s no longer about ‘doing well OR doing good’, it’s about doing BOTH. Be a living breathing example of this.
By showing others this is possible you will inspire countless future generations, all committed to making the world a happier place.
As a social entrepreneur, this is your legacy.
Conclusion Okay, that’s it!
By now you may be thinking ‘Wow! I’m definitely a social entrepreneur!’ or ‘This is a load of old rubbish,’ or something in between. Whatever you’re thinking, that’s completely cool.
More importantly, how are you feeling?
Having just read this article how does the idea of being a social entrepreneur feel to you? Listen to your heart and your guts right now. What do they say? Trust them.
If you’re now a social entrepreneur, great!
And if you’re not, that’s great too. Go and do something you LOVE; something that does resonate with you.
That’s the most important thing. :-)
Link to this page: Related: TAGS: Social Enterprise, Triple Bottom Line, Social Responsibility, Start up, Entrepreneur, Social Entrepreneur, sustainability, profit, social media, inspire
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