Entrepreneurship has always been a part of the African-America social construct; but never referred to as “Social Entrepreneurship,” a concept steeped in creating social value. In order to continue this legacy of creating value for others we have to look outside of our communities and see the bigger picture in terms of the causes that we can support.
African-America Entrepreneurs’ must lead this effort in educating future generations; about the development, and implementation of Social Enterprise. “Waging war on poverty” is a great opportunity to begin thinking in terms of solving global problems. But, it must be noted that the return-on-investment (ROI) is not measured by dollars; but by the impact that a social impact that it creates.
Social impact is the effect of an activity on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families. Remember that you only get to keep what you give away; so if we want to improve our standing in life then we have to become givers and not takers.
Here's some “Enlightening” wisdom concerning your place as the next “Social Game Changers” and how you can position yourself to provide solutions to one of the world’s most pressing problems.
The body has to be utilized for service to others. More bliss can be got from serving others than from merely serving oneself. — Sri Sathya Sai Baba
At this particular moment in the annals of time it ought to be your mission to serve the world. You must harness the power of “social enterprise” to help the poor improve their living conditions and to earn a decent wage. An effective strategy to take up for building this type of effective business; will hinge upon you being able to solve problems on a massive scale which can be done as a “Social Entrepreneur”.
Your products or services must drastically increase the income of those in developing nations (China, India, and Brazil). In other words you have to design your own breakthrough and be able to cast a big enough plan to meet the developmental challenges of these communities.
You are the next “Social Game Changers” who must solve the world’s most pressing problems. A social game changer is an individual who uses “Social Entrepreneurship” as a means to build future developments, create emerging futures, design technological & social developments, and transform underrepresented communities.
In Bishop Rodney Sampson’s Kingonomics (Inspired by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King): “Twelve Innovative Currencies for Transforming your business and life” makes mention of a nine step process that will get you thinking in the right direction concerning your business endeavors. He states that you ought to: start-up, grow-up, invest-up, fund-up, sprout-up, win-up, connect-up, pitch-up, and crowd-up; all of which are necessary components that will help you to capitalize on these opportunities to become a world changer.
The entire concept of your social mission will hinge on you being able to show the world the type of value that our community can bring to the global stage.
Your thinking process for wanting to be a disruptor of global change must hinge on thinking from decade to decade, in 10 year intervals (Millionaires' thinking), rather than a month to month, or year to year, thinking (middle class thinking).
You must develop a plan to understand how you will blend sensibility, creativity, innovation, optimism, and a drive for success into building a profitable company.
If, you are starting today in (2020) what would the impact of your service look like in (2030)?
In Paul Polak and Mal Warwick’s new book, “The Business Solution to Poverty” explains that there are 3 Billion new customers that are coming into the fold (Globally) which will pose a huge opportunity to innovative affordable products and services in the global marketplace.
How you seek out solutions to these global problems starting from the ground up will ultimately spell success. As, noted in “The Business Solution to Poverty” there are 2.7 billion People who live on $2 a day or less which will represent an extraordinary opportunity for you to utilize your innovative, communicative, and artistic skills that you have been blessed with. The opportunities are endless but waging war on poverty is a fight that must be fought at all levels.
At the end of the day, you have to understand the concept of creating value for others and being able to network with other individuals all over the world, who are conducting business in ways you aren't even aware of.
But, you have to remember that everyone has a specific role to fulfill within their own generation. So, don’t get taken back by another person’s success because you don’t know the price they paid to be where they are. Also, understand that you don’t have to be a business major or have a stellar business background to become a “Social Entrepreneur”.
Take the advice of Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group who said “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be able to run a spaceship company”. So, those of you who may be majoring in Biology, Psychology, Music, Political science, English, Biochemistry, African-American studies, Communication, Art, or Journalism; you can become a entrepreneur and revolutionize your industry as well.
Social Entrepreneurship will definitely be the force that helps to build jobs, create wealth within our own communities, and strengthen our institutions. Social Entrepreneurship is definitely right up our alley as it plays into the core being of who we really are as a community; as it allows us to be Humanitarian and philanthropic in the most proudest construct… Since, you are the next “Social Game Changers” that will build new (Research Institutions, Technology Centers, and Financial Hubs all over the world) it is only right that you understand the need for large black-owned institutions.
So, you can’t keep ignoring your own needs, holding on to the past, procrastinating on the tasks at hand, changing nothing and expecting different results, or remaining uninformed about your future. You have to become creators of your destiny, your wealth, your own opportunities, own jobs, institutions, businesses, banks, and your economic success.
The clarion call has gone out and you must move at the speed of light. Don’t hesitate and let this opportunity to pass you by that God is opening up. The next 5 years will be important as you must ditch consumerism and become creators of your own wealth. Remember that reading and memorizing will never “make it happen” for you. It is only understanding and application of the right ideas that will produce the results you desire.
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. — Mother Teresa
Writer: Tyrone Brackens
Tyrone Brackens is a Mentor and Social Entrepreneur. He recent founded DSLAB Technologies, Inc (Center for the Development of Social Learning & Advanced Breakthroughs) which is a Community Development initiative; where HBCU (Historically Black College’s & University) students can be trained and mentored in the fine arts of “Entrepreneurship, Wealth Creation, & Philanthropy".