What is Social Entrepreneurship
View Larger ImageI’m often asked why I advocate for social entrepreneurship and why it is so important to me. I find social entrepreneurship important on many levels because it has the potential to be the stepping-stone, which convinces people to eventually start embracing the concept of a resource, based economy, over the current monetary system. I see those who chose to become social entrepreneurs as conscious minded people who care about humanity and who are willing to break away from all aspects of crony capitalism, individualism, and exploitation. If I meet someone who introduces himself or herself as a social entrepreneur, I know that they are trying to use their work to improve lives, not just to gain capital. Let’s go one step further, what is the difference between a social entrepreneur and an entrepreneur? Webster’s online dictionary defines entrepreneur as: a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money.
The discussion of the social entrepreneur is pretty new to academia circles; so many different definitions are currently floating around. My definition of social entrepreneurship is when an individual, or individuals, decide to make a social change in society using the method of business creation and business applications. This business not only has to tailor itself around solving a specific problem in society, it also has to spend most of its resources towards this problem. To be more effective, individuals employed at this business should all share a common goal, in dealing with this societal problem.
Teaching young people about social entrepreneurship is
important because they need to know that there are other alternatives in life
outside of just working to gain a lot of material wealth, or just working for a
job title. We want children to value the
importance of having a hard work ethics, but we also want them to see work as a
way to improve the world, and to improve their communities. We are not telling all of them that they have
to start their own businesses, but we want them to look for jobs that make a
difference in the world around them. We want them to see the world of
philanthropy as a viable career alternative.
When we properly education children about the options and paths
available and obtainable for their success, they are more likely to choose the
best life decision.
By Saye M. Taryor
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Brother Saye (Saye Menlekeh Taryor) is an author, critical thinking education & social entrepreneur activist, founder of 1up Entertainment/Consulting and the leading voice for “The 1up Movement.” The Atlanta/Liberian native graduated from Piney Woods Country Life School (a historically black boarding school, located in central Mississippi) in 1992. Soon after, he enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi, where he pursued a journalism degree. After realizing his true calling was to illuminate young men and women about the importance of social entrepreneurship and critical thinking education, he attended Georgia State University to learn more about critical thinking education and public speaking.
Brother Saye has been active with “Generation Y” leadership workshops, which he first hosted with Linda A. Brooks in 2009. As an activist, he currently promotes his 1up programs and workshops, and is the "Atlanta Travel" writer for the Examiner.com. Brothers Saye’s most recent book entitled, “Overstanding With a 1up Vision, The Critical Thinking Approach to Liberation” has received praise throughout the conscious community.
Other published works include, Child development and the importance of critical thinking education, Critical thinking approach to voting, Part II, “The 2009 1up Entertainment Music Guide and Directory, Vol. 1,” “Country Life School,” "What Do You Think?" and, “A Fathers Burden.”
Brother Saye's New Book "Analyzing The American Divide" Will Be Available This Fall
