Keep on Keepin' On

Michael Meade is one of my favorite authors and happens to be a Vashon Islander like myself. I was recently listening to a CD of his on mentoring and came across this thought "to not live your dreams causes younger people to lose theirs." It got me thinking - hard. Being an entrepreneur is tough. Being a social entrepreneur is even tougher. There are days when I wonder what I'm doing. I'm a single parent. I try to keep my life simple, but I have a house, 2 young kids and a business to run. Why can't I just go out and get some high-paying corporate gig and quit worrying about cash flow, about trying to scale a methodology, about creating impact in the world? Because I can't. Because I have a dream - one I've been feeding for over 7 years. I deeply believe that applying the rigor of business to the framework of how we address social and environmental issues IS critical to changing the world. I deeply believe that all those intrapreneurs (entrepreneurs working within organizations) in the public and nonprofit sectors and all those entrepreneurs who are starting and running private business that have a social or environmental bottom line are making a difference one transaction at a time. And, I believe that the work I do in the world and the curriculum (Sustayne) I've developed with Bainbridge Graduate Institute is a highly effective tool in helping these ideas to get off the back of a cocktail napkin, get reworked into something feasible and get launched. I believe the work of Social Enterprise Group changes the world by providing an important toolkit for others who are changing the world.

We recently called several of our past Sustayne participants to find out how they're doing. This tool had a lasting impact for every single one of them. That matters. To me, to my company, to every single on of our clients and to all the clients and customers they serve.

So, when I ask myself why I can't just "get a real job"? It's because if I don't live my dream, there might be some fantastic social venture ideas that never quite get off the ground. And, my kids might not have the inspiration they need to live their dreams.