“Not only should we be good, but we must be good for something.” —Henry David Thoreau

The times, they are a changin’. The cries of the struggling
and downtrodden of the world are penetrating the walls the wealthy and the aspiring entrepreneur, and they are stirring the hearts of the certain few who can make a difference. In short, the needs are being heard, and an answer is finally being given.

What has changed? Wealth no longer guarantees comfort and peace. Each day, the digital revolution delivers dangerous and compelling images from around the world. The internet places those images right in front of us; willful ignorance is no longer an option, and there are no walls to isolate the content from the suffering. No one with a heart is safe from the challenging pictures of hunger, environmental danger, and the desperation of their neighbors.

Some of those who open the gates of their hearts to the cries around them are being called “social entrepreneurs.” They can be philanthropists, social activists, environmentalists, and socially-oriented practitioners. They can even be called “small businessmen and women,” but their commonality lies in their hearts – hearts that can no longer tally profit and loss only in financial terms. Wealth must have a meaning and benefit society—this is the message many entrepreneurs are hearing these days.

That message is coming out of the mouths of many wealthy people lately. Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of our generation, has made billions and given away millions, because that’s where the true thrill is.

“The joy I get from winning a major championship doesn’t even compare to the feeling I get when a kid writes a letter saying: ‘Thank you so much. You have changed my life,’” he says.

And this message is infecting new, young entrepreneurs who are basing their reasons for profit on their felt responsibility, not their greed. Richard Branson, who began his business career at age 16, may speak for them. Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, comprising more than 400 companies.

“For a successful entrepreneur, it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, creating jobs, employing people, and putting money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.”

How does one become a social entrepreneur?

1. Allow a need to reach deeper than your heart and pockets, be wise, and be totally committed to it.

Scott Harrison, a young businessman who has brought clean drinking water to more than 17 million people in 17 underdeveloped countries through his company “charity:water,” says, “The biggest mistake I see most people make is that they’re half-in, half-out. It’s great that you want to help others, but you need to know what you’re doing. And it’s not easy. So if you’re not sure what to do, look into joining another existing non-profit until you find your passion.”

2.  Run your giving like a business, brand it, and build it to profit the mission.

Make the mission profitable.

Use profits to sustain the mission.

Leverage resources to respond to social needs.

“I think of charity: water as a for-profit tech startup that has no profits,” says Harrison. “We give away 100% of our profits. So the better year we have, the more people around the world have access to clean water. Our shareholders are people in 17 countries around the world waiting for a rig to drive into a village to provide clean water to a few hundred people living there. We use the word business so much more than non-profit, even though that’s what we are.”

Perhaps the major benefit social entrepreneurs may bring to future market places is positive change that doesn’t just feed, or teach to feed, but changes how the need is met and the how the change is sustained.

“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.” -Bill Drayton, Leading Social Entrepreneurs Changing the World

Maybe the times they are a changin’ for the better thanks to the higher ideals of social entrepreneurs.

If you would like to become a social entrepreneur, please allow me to invite you to join me in the 1000 Project. Come see what we are doing, and join us, or copy us if you want to. Follow behind us as we do great things. We will make some mistakes so you don’t have to, and then bounce back to do even greater things. Together, we can change these times for the better .