Don′t just make money…make a difference. As a social entrepreneur, you can build a business that changes the world. But you will face some unique challenges. This book will prepare you for them. Packed with advice, inspiration and real–life stories, it will help you: Define what you want to do and why you want to do it Find the right kind of funding Build a brand that makes you unique Find a team as motivated and inspired as you are Measure the impact you′re having How to be a Social Entrepreneur is the only social enterprise start–up guide you′ll ever need. "This is the seminal book on social enterprise" —Martin Murphy, Network 2012 "An essential read for any aspiring or existing social entrepreneur. Full of practical examples of real life social enterprise scenarios and written in Robert′s usual uncomplicated format" —Marc Davies, Wales Co–operative Centre Limited, walescoop.com "Social enterprises need social entrepreneurs. This book will help you decide is you′ve got what it takes to be one" —Peter Couchman, Chief Executive, Plunkett Foundation, plunkett.co.uk "This very practical book will guide you as to what it takes to be a social entrepreneur. Enjoy it and then do it!" —Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, author of The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work , amawsonpartnerships.com "I was genuinely impressed by how comprehensive it is!" —Peter Holbrook, CEO, Social Enterprise Coalition, socialenterprise.org.uk "A treasure trove filled with practical insight and knowledge that will give you the edge to start, grow a sustainable and successful social enterprise" —Stephen Gyasi–Kwaw, CEO/Founder Youth Enhancement Int.Ghana "I particularly enjoyed the section on sales, which is a fundamental topic too often neglected" —Andy Brady, ′3rd Sector Futures′, Anglia Ruskin University, anglia.ac.uk Robert Ashton is a leading small business troubleshooter, entertaining small business speaker and the bestselling author of many business books including How to Start a Business for Entrepreneurs, Instant Entrepreneur and The Entrepreneur′s Book of Checklists .
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′...genuinely impressed by how comprehensive it is .’ (New Start Magazine, October 2010) ‘ …an easy read which mixes practical advice with frank opinions and useful examples.’ (New Start Magazine, October 2010). “…distinguishes a social entrepreneur… from a social enterprise” (The Observer, November 2010). ‘… takes the reader by the hand… guides him/her through the business maze…Lots of creative and lateral thinking…solid, practical advice.’ (Bookbag.co.uk, November 2010). ‘ Thorough and easy–to read with practical examples.’ (The Guardian, Janury 2011). ′This book explains what social enterprises are, how they work, and offers practical advice to starting and expanding one.’ (The Market, June 2011).
From the Back Cover
Don’t Just Make Money – Make a Difference. As a social entrepreneur, you can build a business that changes the world. But you will face some unique challenges. This book will prepare you. Packed with advice, inspiration and real–life stories, it will help you: Define what you want to do and why you want to do it Find the right kind of funding Build a brand that makes you unique Find a team as motivated and inspired as you are Measure the impact you’re having How to be a Social Entrepreneur is the only social enterprise start–up guide you’ll ever need. Marc Davies, Wales Co–operative Centre Limited Peter Couchman, Chief Executive, Plunkett Foundation Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, author of the Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work Peter Holbrook, CEO, Social Enterprise Coalition Stephen Gyasi–Kwaw, CEO/Founder Youth Enhancement Int. Ghana Andy Brady, ‘3 rd Sector Futures’, Anglia Ruskin University
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. R.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
It happens that I do want to be a social entrepreneur, but until I read the book I didn't really understand that this was what I was going to be called. This is a very human book, written as if he were chatting to us face to face, to help people to get up and running, making sure that they've done the groundwork before they start to sew the seeds.
A social enterprise can be anything from a fundraising tea organised by volunteers every Thursday in the village hall, to an international enterprise selling fair trade panama hats from Ecuador. As long as the prime objective is not just to stash cash for the shareholders, and you are putting people, planet or animals first, your organisation can be a social enterprise.
When I worked for an organisation that does care more about the effect it has than the money it makes, we always came up against people saying in an accusatory way, "but you make a profit!" as if this was the same as "but you've sold your souls to the devil!". Unless you've learned a bit about management accounting you might not understand that without profits to reinvest it all goes pear shaped, and if you go out of business, you can't make a difference at all.
How to be a Social Entrepreneur will help the people with profit phobia to get over it before they start their own organisations. Robert Ashton gives us useful examples of businesses and groups that are doing it well, gives us links to the right websites and good guides to selling and marketing. Again, I've met people who are certain that these are two more of the devil's own temptations. Ashton helps to explain that they are just tools; you can use them for well for good or badly for evil, but if you don't use them at all you're likely to fade into nothingness pretty quickly.
Yes, great; if you've got a cause, a passion, or a belief that you can change the world and still make a living, buy it.
A social enterprise can be anything from a fundraising tea organised by volunteers every Thursday in the village hall, to an international enterprise selling fair trade panama hats from Ecuador. As long as the prime objective is not just to stash cash for the shareholders, and you are putting people, planet or animals first, your organisation can be a social enterprise.
When I worked for an organisation that does care more about the effect it has than the money it makes, we always came up against people saying in an accusatory way, "but you make a profit!" as if this was the same as "but you've sold your souls to the devil!". Unless you've learned a bit about management accounting you might not understand that without profits to reinvest it all goes pear shaped, and if you go out of business, you can't make a difference at all.
How to be a Social Entrepreneur will help the people with profit phobia to get over it before they start their own organisations. Robert Ashton gives us useful examples of businesses and groups that are doing it well, gives us links to the right websites and good guides to selling and marketing. Again, I've met people who are certain that these are two more of the devil's own temptations. Ashton helps to explain that they are just tools; you can use them for well for good or badly for evil, but if you don't use them at all you're likely to fade into nothingness pretty quickly.
Yes, great; if you've got a cause, a passion, or a belief that you can change the world and still make a living, buy it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Green Book Addict Librarian
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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People, planet and profit
I really enjoyed this book. It's a subject I'm interested in and it offers another perspective for anyone considering starting their own business. You too could be a social entrepreneur! And as the book says - you can still make money and change the world at the same time. Chapters on what social entrepreneurship is and the history of it; chapters focusing on you, your background and what you want to do to change the world, and defining your style; others on how to get started, write a business plan, find funding etc, and giving back to your community will help you on your way. The book is full of examples and snippets of information and quotes from other social entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, Bob Geodolf and Jamie Oliver. It's only a small quote but I liked the story told about Richard Branson's mother stopping the car a few miles from home when he was only four years old and made him find his way home because it would teach him the importance of stamina and a sense of direction. I think Richard Branson's sense of direction is dead on, especially in business, so maybe it worked! 5/5
I really enjoyed this book. It's a subject I'm interested in and it offers another perspective for anyone considering starting their own business. You too could be a social entrepreneur! And as the book says - you can still make money and change the world at the same time. Chapters on what social entrepreneurship is and the history of it; chapters focusing on you, your background and what you want to do to change the world, and defining your style; others on how to get started, write a business plan, find funding etc, and giving back to your community will help you on your way. The book is full of examples and snippets of information and quotes from other social entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, Bob Geodolf and Jamie Oliver. It's only a small quote but I liked the story told about Richard Branson's mother stopping the car a few miles from home when he was only four years old and made him find his way home because it would teach him the importance of stamina and a sense of direction. I think Richard Branson's sense of direction is dead on, especially in business, so maybe it worked! 5/5
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
In short, this is an excellent book - there are lots of books on the topic of 'how to make money', but hardly any that incorporate a social or ethical dimension. The book is clear, well structured and with genuinely helpful advice rather than the usual buzzwords and empty platitudes I associate with these kind of publications. It's also inspiring in a way that few books are - it's very easy to make an attempt to inspire by filling a book full of vague catchphrases, but this book manages something more difficult - it inspires by making the goals seem accessible. This isn't a self-help book in the traditional sense, because it is far more practical. It isn't a training manual in the traditional sense either, because the advice given is not comprehensive. It's really exactly what it says in the title - a book that explains, structures and contextualizes the challenges involved in both attempting to provide a social good as well as earn money.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some sensible advice
I found the book helpful with really useful links but focused perhaps too much on the ideology for me. I found the book lacking in business basics but useful non the less. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Darron Nixon
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit wishy-washy
Despite the various rave reviews on Amazon I was disappointed by this book. Whatever the subject, whether it negotiation, sales, fundraising etc.. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Mr. T. M. Ashe
3.0 out of 5 stars
Social Entrepreneur
There were too many examples of companies and what they do but relatively little about how they did it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Eugene Delacroix
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable and well written practical guide
Right from the outset, the definition of a Social Entrepreneur is established as someone who recognises a social problem and seeks to deal with it through entrepreneurial means. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Toast
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not about knitting tofu
I came to this book with some high expectations. Another book on my shelves is "The Entrepreneurs Book of Checklists" by the same author. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ross Boardman
4.0 out of 5 stars
A beginner's guide to changing the world
How to be a Social Entrepreneur shows you how you can start a business that allows you to make a living, but also makes a contribution to your local community. Read more
Published 11 months ago by TheLibrarian
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last!
This is an excellent little book.
I am involved in the running of a Social Enterprise and am a consultant to other Social Enterprises and finally this quiet and often... Read more
I am involved in the running of a Social Enterprise and am a consultant to other Social Enterprises and finally this quiet and often... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Doug
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great guide to thinking bigger- but not for all
I was quite surprised how quickly this book could be read, having completed it myself in just a couple sessions. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. Simon Paddon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Make Your Own World-Changing Wonga!
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This is the first book about becoming a social entrepreneur I have read. I have to say, this is something I would love to do, perhaps for a well-known,... Read more
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This is the first book about becoming a social entrepreneur I have read. I have to say, this is something I would love to do, perhaps for a well-known,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. T. Newton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and readable
Robert Ashton is an entertaining speaker and unconventional thinker - the kind of man you want to write a book. Read more
Published 20 months ago by William Cohen
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