Chapter 7
The Socially Responsible Entrepreneur
It's Not Always about You
The best reason to start an organization is to make meaning; to create a product or service to make the world a better place.
—Guy Kawasaki
Acommon thread that often runs through conversations with entrepreneurs—especially younger ones—is their desire to make a difference in the world. Indeed, entrepreneurship itself makes a difference. Business owners create jobs, purchase supplies, buy and rent commercial real estate, and help to keep the economy afloat. When unemployment rates are high, the ability to start a business allows many people to make a living, while the jobs that new businesses create aid in easing the unemployment burden. Anyone who becomes an entrepreneur is making a positive contribution in many ways. Some take it a step further, and we encourage every business owner to look seriously at the opportunities that lie in becoming a social entrepreneur.
As recently as 15 years ago, terms like, renewable, fair trade, and sustainability were considered by many to be the vocabulary of the fringe. The people who uttered these words were referred to by some as tree huggers or granolas, and many businesspeople were more concerned with making some cold hard cash than with making a difference. That's not to say that the corporate world has always been filled with self-centered individuals. The largest percentage of charitable donations has always come from companies, and many corporations have included ...
