I’d really like to get into social enterprise, but where do I find the time to do it?
Q. I’d really like to get into social enterprise, perhaps in a big way, but where do I find the time to do it? I’ve already got my hands full with what I’m doing now. And, even if I find the time, where do I get the money to finance it?
A. Right – I hear this one a lot. I’ve lived this one. We read a great article, or hear a wonderful speaker, or attend a workshop, or just get struck with inspiration. We get all fired up and then lift our head up and face the reality of our work – there’s always too much, and we find ourselves saying, “I’ll get to that as soon as things settle down a bit.” But they never do. So you put it off and deal with what’s in front of you. This happens with more than just social enterprise; it’s common with many would-be private entrepreneurs as well. The problem with this pattern is that we’re really, really good at what I think is the first part of a four-part process.
We’ve all got “dream big” down. It’s what comes after where things grind to a halt. So, I’d like to suggest a little mantra for you: dream big, start small, start now, and grow as you’re able. Say it in your head once. Now, say it out loud. Good – you’re on your way. Let’s deal with each one of these important steps.
Dream Big
Like I’ve already said, we’re all pretty good at dreaming. And there’s nothing wrong with dreaming – it’s where everything starts. If we do anything wrong at this stage, it’s that we don’t dream big enough. We don’t paint a picture of the future that’s exciting enough to give us the juice to put in the effort that will be required to get and stay moving. So spend some time with your idea and give it some colour, imagine how big it could be, how much good it could do, how many people it might help, how much money you might make. And describe in your ultimate terms, what you’d ultimately like to achieve with it in the long term. Give yourself some time, push that horizon out so that your dream can be BIG. Talk to a colleague – an optimist – who can help you blow some additional passion into your idea. Make this thing something that you MUST do, that makes you pulse quicken, puts a silly grin on your face, gives you chills – make it sing. And now, on to the next step.
Start Small
Okay, now you’ve got this amazing idea. (Maybe you were already there.) Now what? This is where we separate the entrepreneurial doers from the dreamers. Being innovative isn’t just about dreaming big; it’s about figuring out how to take that first, small step without almost anything – money, support, etc. This can require some time and effort, but it’s worth it, right? You really want to reach that dream, don’t you? Still with me? Okay. And don’t say, “I can’t start small. I’ve got to ‘go big or stay home’.” (Or say this and be prepared to stay home and complain how nobody will fund your big idea. You’ll have lots of fellow dreamers to keep you company).
Look around at any of the big social enterprises and you will see an enterprise that began very small. The Grameen Bank has loaned out over $7.5 billion over the years, but started with just one small loan of $27 in 1976. I didn’t forget to leave out any zeros. A little closer to home, Pioneer Human Services in Seattle started with an investment of just $2000 in 1963, and has grown its annual revenues to over $63 million – 99% of which comes from the sale of goods and services – and served over 100,000 people. The thing is, when we look around at the successes, we only see the ones that are big enough to get the press; we would never have heard about them when they were tiny start-ups.
So, it’s time to get truly innovative and figure out a way to take that vital, small first step to test and develop your idea. Want to start a restaurant? Try selling your food at a booth at the local farmers market this weekend. Get your hands dirty, just like every successful entrepreneur had to do when they started.
Start Now
One nice thing about starting small is that you can get going soon, with limited money and effort – like today or next week. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have to do a business plan at some point – you will, if and when you need to secure external financing – but leave that task for later, when you’ve got an actual enterprise to plan, and when you’ve got some experience, however limited, however small scale, to inform your planning process. Another nice thing about starting small is that you can make a BIG mistake with a small venture and it won’t be a crisis; it’ll be a learning experience. But make a small mistake with a large first venture, and it might put you out of business, and leave you with a whole bunch of unpleasantness, like a pile of unmarketable inventory, a huge line of credit, a 3-year lease on a big commercial property, and a bunch of laid-off staff looking for a paycheque.
Grow as You’re Able
So, you’re first step will be small, but you’ll learn from it, and take that insight with you into the next, larger step, and the next one. Along the way, you’ll make a bunch of mistakes, but you’ll roll with them and learn from them – they’ll make you and your enterprise smarter and better. Your managerial competence will grow as your enterprise grows. There will always be growth spurts that will challenge you to stretch your capabilities as an entrepreneur, but they’ll be less likely to break you (and your enterprise) than if you were given that big loan or grant at the beginning and started the enterprise bigger than it should have been, and bigger than you were able to handle. In the process, you’ll become an entrepreneur with a track record, someone whose proposals and ideas mean something to potential funders. And that’s not a bad thing, right?
You may be thinking that this sounds like it could take a long time to get to where I want to be. Maybe. It may well take you longer than you want to, but it will take exactly as long as it needs to. And you’ve got this great dream to keep you moving forward, right? And remember, in just five years, Grameen went from just 10 members to over 24,000, so a little bit of patience is warranted.
So, I want to finish with a challenge to you and your dream: what small (but incredibly important) step can you take over the next few days to get moving forward? Don’t worry if it seems too small – it’s the direction you need to be concerned about. If it moves you forward toward your dream, it’s a good thing. I’d love to hear how you make out.
Related Links
Grameen’s Development Timeline
Pioneers’s Development Timeline
