We, from small communities to global networks, need entrepreneurs to build things that are less about making a profit, and more about contributing to society. This need led to the rise of social entrepreneurs; individuals who pay attention to the areas of lack in their communities and seek ways to fill those gaps while still making a profit. Our selection of social enterprise quotes share some of their stories and may inspire you to stake similar steps.
Social entrepreneurs are starters; they build social enterprises. They tackle challenges and take initiatives. Social entrepreneurs are risk-takers and they play key roles in sustaining the small economies of their communities. They all face challenges, especially young starters. Some of the significant hurdles they have to overcome include financing, team building, creating ideas that sell, and loneliness which is a long-standing problem that's often been tossed aside.
Whether you are an existing social entrepreneur or a beginner, challenges are inevitable. Here are some of the best social enterprise and entrepreneurship quotes from top industry experts to help you stay ahead, build and innovate creative ideas that impact lives.
Being an entrepreneur is a mindset. You have to see things as opportunities all the time. I like to do interviews. I like to push people on certain topics. I like to dig into the stories where there's not necessarily a right or wrong answer.
Maria de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is an American broadcast journalist and progressive producer. She is the chairwoman of Starfish Media Group and runs PowHERful foundation with her husband, Brad Raymond, which mentors women and sponsors their college tuitions.
Many small businesses collapse because their founders did not spot the right opportunities in their markets. To be successful as an entrepreneur you need to develop a knack for digging up opportunities even when they are not evident. You can achieve this by asking the right questions.
Do not waste time dreaming of great faraway opportunities; do the best you can where you are. Open your petals of power and beauty and fling out the fragrance of your life in the place that has been assigned to you.
Dr Orison Swett Marden is an American inspirational author and founder of Success magazine. Many know Marden for his books on financial success. Marden emphasizes that financial success is a result of cultivating one's personal development.
Entrepreneurs struggle to grab opportunities because they often look in faraway places. It is important to acknowledge and study your business environment before looking elsewhere. Sometimes this isn't enough. You need to ask questions your competitors aren't asking to gain the pole position in your business niche.
Lots of entrepreneurs don't want to be hassled by a board of directors early on. The entrepreneurs want to control the company, don't want to be responsible to a board, or don't want to waste time communicating with board members. This is a classic error of thinking about the early stage board incorrectly.
Brad Feld is an American blogger, author, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist at Foundry Boulder. Feld co-founded Techstars, a start-up accelerator, in 2006 and Foundry Group in 2007. Feld has authored books focused on entrepreneurship, technology venture capital, and startups in general. He is also a member of the Xconomist, a group focused on providing news on business, life sciences, and technology.
A board can push a company to maintain or disregard its social objectives. The board is responsible for steering a firm and ensuring it’s sailing at a good speed in the right direction. Since organizations entrust their directors with the role of decision-making, a company’s success depends on their input.
I don't believe in work-life balance. I think it's more about work-life integration because, increasingly, so much time of ours is spent doing work, so I've always wanted to dedicate my work life to having a social impact.
Elaine Marie Welteroth is an American journalist and New York Times best-selling author (amazon). Welteroth is a dynamic public speaker and has spoken on topics ranging from integrative technology and global health to activism and culture.
Work-life balance requires healthy prioritization between the personal areas of your life, such as family, friends, hobbies, social activities, e.t.c., and work requirements. Though we may think this approach to be good for improving productivity, this clear separation can have a different impact. Especially with less time and brainpower dedicated to your work. Sometimes, the social inspiration for your work comes from the ability to look at everyday interactions as an innovator and solution provider.
I don't want to waste my energy in other things; instead, I would put all that in reaching the next level in a craft that I love the most.
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao is an Indian film actor and TV personality known for his works in Telugu cinema. Rama Rao is an active philanthropist who donates to disaster victims.
Public speaker Terri Trespicio in a TED talk, said, "Passion is where your effort and energy meets someone else's needs." She was right. As individuals, we all have things that pique our interests. Whatever that is, turn it into a money-making craft. Use your efforts and skills to meet the needs of others. It's the perfect way to kick-start your entrepreneurial journey.
The core of what I do is solve problems, whether that's in graphic engine flow or rockets. I like working on things that are going to have an impact one way or the other.
John D. Carmack is an American computer lead programmer, video game developer, and engineer. He co-founded the video gaming company, id Software.
Carmack believes making a profit while impacting positively society is the way to go. As his social enterprise quote suggests, any venture that does not solve problems or have any sustainability value is not worth undertaking.
In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.
Leslie Calvin "Les" Brown is an American motivational speaker, author, former radio DJ, and former television host. Brown was a recipient of Toastmasters International's Golden Gavel and an Ohio House of Representatives from 1976 to 1981. Brown is famous for encouraging people to follow their dreams.
Entrepreneurs have keen eyes for opportunities. They think of solutions when faced with obstacles. They ask challenging questions to offer additional value to their societies. To be successful as an entrepreneur, Brown's social enterprise quote advises making the most out of each second. Because in each moment lies an opportunity to help others.
What I strive for is that everywhere I go, I leave a positive impact.
Clarence Seedorf is a Dutch professional football coach and former player. He is considered as one of the most successful midfielders of all his generation. Seedorf is involved in many social development projects and is part of a selected team of philanthropists who supports the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
It is not enough to make a profit as an entrepreneur. A successful entrepreneur is a person who is also focused on driving economic growth and innovation. This includes generating economic wealth, benefits, and advancements for society at large.
You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, writer, music composer, and painter from the Indian subcontinent. He reshaped Bengali literature as well as Indian art. Tagore is considered a 'towering figure' in Indian politics and culture and is widely celebrated around the world. He opposed imperialism and supported self-help and education.
Social challenges and problems won't go away unless you tackle them head-on. If the challenge is overwhelming, chop the problem down into smaller bits to reduce anxiety. Then identify practical solutions that you can offer to solve one bit at a time.
For an entrepreneur, motivation is the core of all things.
Brendon Burchard is a New York Times best-selling author and "the world's leading high-performance coach." His book High Performance Habits (amazon) became a Wall Street Journal best-seller and was on Amazon's top three "Best business and leadership books of 2017" list. Burchard is considered one of the most influential leaders in the field of personal growth by Oprah Magazine.
Poorly motivated people can cripple the soundest organization. Rensis Likert describes motivation as "the core of management". A lack of motivation dips individual performance and breeds a negative attitude towards business.
I'm driven by making an impact on the individuals I interact with and leveraging my success to give back to the world.
Julie Sweet is an American business bigwig and CEO of Accenture, a multinational professional services company. She is also a member of the Global Management Committee for Accenture. Sweet advocates for diversity, inclusion, and parity in the workplace. She previously worked for TechNet Executive Council, a network that promotes growth.
Social enterprises go out of their way to help individuals and communities. Connecting with communities through the services or products you provide as a social entrepreneur not only gives your business a huge boost but makes you a consumer favorite.
The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.
Many consider Thomas Edison to be America's greatest inventor. He was a businessman and the innovator behind many devices in areas such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures.
Opportunities are difficult to spot because we don’t expect them to occur naturally. Many people expect a eureka moment after thousands of hours of intense research. This kind of thinking throws you into a difficult corner. Be open-minded as a social entrepreneur and see everything around you as a tool to not only create economic stability but impact lives.
As an entrepreneur or social entrepreneur, you will face numerous challenges on any typical day. Consider these practical tips to help you navigate your daily encounters.
I have been inspired by Martin Luther King and how he inspired a movement. I have learned that a cause must be organic; if it is to have an impact it must belong to those who join the movement and not those who lead it.
Every person has a legacy. You may not know what your impact is, and it may not be something that you can write on your tombstone, but every person has an impact on this world.
Impact investing has become a broad umbrella that includes all investing with a focus on both financial return and social impact, but in its best form, impact investing prioritizes impact over returns and achieves outcomes that traditional investing cannot.
By simply capitalizing on core strengths and knowledge, companies and entrepreneurs can engage in an emerging business model that will enable them to create - and demonstrate - real, sustainable social impact in society.
Let the tech firms and consulting firms build your skills, but be sure to ask yourself, 'Am I maximizing my impact?' 'Am I living up to my values?'
The worse thing in the world is for an individual to live, breath and exist and leave this earth, die, and not make impact.
Your mission is to find a product or service that can positively impact the lives of 1 billion people because that's the game we're playing today.
You can't forget that organizational success flows from the hearts and minds of the men and women you lead. Rather than treating your people as you'd like to be treated, treat them as they would like to be treated. Small gestures like opting for face-to-face meetings or sending personal notes can have an enormous impact on teams and their morale.
I've always known I've wanted to build companies that have a social impact.
Fame is easy to acquire; impact is much more difficult.
Millennials are eager to make an impact, which makes them ideal for start-ups.
I want to be remembered for doing something bigger than myself and making a positive impact on the world. I want to make my life worth something and to die a legend and to make my family proud.
I don't want to waste my energy in other things; instead, I would put all that in reaching the next level in a craft that I love the most.
I don't want to waste my energy in other things; instead, I would put all that in reaching the next level in a craft that I love the most.
In order to build a great technology company, you have to hire lots of incredibly smart people. It's a total waste to have lots of big brains but not let them work on your biggest problems.
I wish I had known that that process of figuring out what you're good at, what you want to do, and where you want to have an impact is not a one-time exercise, but an ongoing one. Instead, I bought into success being an endpoint rather than a constant process.
I love to use technology to help people have better lives and to reduce our impact on the planet.
Change happens from the bottom up - all of us as individuals deciding that we will and we do have an impact.
To create an organization that's adaptable and innovative, people need the freedom to challenge precedent, to 'waste' time, to go outside of channels, to experiment, to take risks and to follow their passions.
Whether you reach a lot of people or have a profound impact on a few people, their memories of you are your afterlife.
To create an organization that's adaptable and innovative, people need the freedom to challenge precedent, to 'waste' time, to go outside of channels, to experiment, to take risks and to follow their passions.
For a firm to be exceptional, it has to be led by purpose. Our purpose is to make an impact that matters.
Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.
I want to have a cultural impact. I want to be an inspiration, to show people what can be done.
Actually - and ironically - people aren't really interested in a new brand form or flavor as much as they are interested in how a brand can change, impact, or improve their lives. They want brands around them that make them feel special and provide some social cache or confidence.
I like doing things that make an impact.
It's not all about talent. It's about dependability, consistency, and being able to improve. If you work hard and you're coachable, and you understand what you need to do, you can improve.
Social incubators not only create economic impact but also have impact across sectors, such as healthcare, education, and the environment. As the interest in social innovation increases, there is a greater need to help existing programs improve and build new programs.
Life is short, youth is finite, and opportunities endless. Have you found the intersection of your passion and the potential for world-shaping positive impact? If you don't have a great idea of your own, there are plenty of great teams that need you - unknown startups and established teams in giant companies alike.
Above all, we want Millennials to realize that they can have an impact on the world and that, in the course of empowering others, they can also empower themselves.
The culture of a workplace - an organization's values, norms and practices - has a huge impact on our happiness and success.
Social incubators not only create economic impact but also have impact in other sectors, such as healthcare, education, and the environment. As the number of social incubation programs increase in the global incubation sector, there is a greater need to help programs improve and help others start.
I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine.
The biggest waste of time is to do well something that we need not do at all.
When private sector, government, social, and philanthropic leaders apply innovative partnerships and technologies to address social challenges and build sustainable communities, the impact is multiplied.
In order to build a great technology company, you have to hire lots of incredibly smart people. It's a total waste to have lots of big brains but not let them work on your biggest problems.
We need to have a purpose in this life. I'm pleading with you, I'm begging with you to do the right thing. And do it not for the sake of how it will impact your own lives, but only for the sake of doing the right thing.
Social business lies in the spectrum of possibility between the traditional, profit-maximizing business, which directs little to no profit to doing good, and the traditional charity, which relies mostly on donations to sustain itself.
Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement which tries to work out the most effective ways to improve the world. Effective altruists - conform to old-school utilitarian principles - consider all causes and actions, and then act in the way that they believe brings about the greatest positive impact.
I want to impact the world through futuristic yet affordable technologies to make the world a better place.
If we want to impact hundreds - or millions - of people, we have to do things differently. If we look at the problem as an infrastructural problem, we cannot make an impact because it requires a lot of effort. But when we convert this problem into a knowledge problem, suddenly the problem is manageable.
All over the world, social innovation is tackling some of the most pressing problems facing society today - from fair trade, distance learning, hospices, urban farming and waste reduction to restorative justice and zero-carbon housing. But most of these are growing despite, not because of, help from governments.
I have a huge impact with young girls. Young women. That's my demographic.
I love discussing social issues, but I'm not interested in scare tactics. I believe there is a way to bring awareness in tandem with forgiveness and love.
There's no how-to guide for how to change the world. But it's easy to get hung up by misconceptions about what it takes to make an impact.
Absolutely, at a macro-level, I want our firm to be a purpose-led firm. This notion of making an impact that matters, I want that embedded in whatever we do.
The growth of purposeful travel is a good thing. It can have a positive impact. We should continue to experiment and move along this line.
I always grapple with myself, from job to job, 'Is this going to make an impact in some way?'
Lots of entrepreneurs don't want to be hassled by a board of directors early on. The entrepreneurs want to control the company, don't want to be responsible to a board, or don't want to waste time communicating with board members. This is a classic error of thinking about the early stage board incorrectly.
Startups, by their nature, are entrepreneurial - testing new things, launching new products, and disrupting themselves. That's why you join a startup in the first place - to create, to stretch beyond your current capabilities, and to make an outsized impact.
I believe that if you don't derive a deep sense of purpose from what you do, if you don't come radiantly alive several times a day, if you don't feel deeply grateful at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed on you, then you are wasting your life. And life is too short to waste.
The first thing is to hang on to everybody who is talented, who is entrepreneurial, who wants to make an impact and a change and start attracting ones.
You want to find a place where, because of your skills, you can make an impact.
Your income reflects your self-identity. Your impact reveals your personal story.
There's no greater gift than thinking that you had some impact on the world, for the better.
The biggest waste of time is to do well something that we need not do at all.
The life purpose of the true social entrepreneur is to change the world.
The more challenges you face in life, the more of life you experience - this lived experience gives one the 'influence' to impact others' lives.
To make a significant and lasting impact, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations around the world need to work together. We know that if we bring people together, they find innovative solutions.
Slow investing can have the same impact on startups that slow food has had on cuisine: good things come to those who wait.
You don't have to become Mother Teresa to make an impact in the world. But nothing can be achieved if, at the very least, we are not talking about it.
Your Dream, Vision, Purpose, and Mission all come together when you bring products to market - so make sure you're bringing your best.
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