Entrepreneurs of Change

By Andrea Kobylnik

Abstract This essay shows that entrepreneurship is actually a way to be an agent of change, and suggests ideas and recommendations to be successful in this mission. To be an entrepreneur of change, I emphasise the need of three elements: social entrepreneurs, entrepreneur networks and the process of involving other people. In this sense, entrepreneurship can become a global phenomenon that activates economic activity and shift behavioural patterns and perceptions. Firstly, you recognize and understand a social issue; then, you manage projects with a mission of positive change while generating profits. Secondly, the social networking of entrepreneurs is becoming more important than ever because you can generate a powerful synergy between you and your connections, and you can also promote businesses, spread the voice, and attract other people that are looking for a change. Finally, I highlight that it is essential that entrepreneurs carry out every action that involves others with truth, honesty, integrity and ethics to contribute to sustainable development of future generations through renewable energy projects, social integration, education, art and culture, and so on. In a nutshell, an important social change is likely to begin with a single entrepreneurial author with the strength, talent, motivation, and creativity to make it. Without any doubt, I invite others to join this amazing mission to improve our world. _______________________________________

ENTREPRENEURS OF CHANGE
First, let me introduce myself...

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. John F. Kennedy

I am exhausted of seeing people who take no for an answer, who give up as soon as they have gone as far as possible, who are simply afraid of me. They believe that I can be a nightmare, that I mean their bankruptcy or something like that. In contrast, I represent

leadership, opportunities, development, freedom, change... However, they would still rather keep the status quo. Nevertheless, some other people just love me the way I am. I know that I am the personification of hard work, perseverance, investment and determination to succeed, but they still prefer ME. You already know me: my name is entrepreneurship, and I am sure I can be a good friend to those looking not only to change their lives but also others. Eventually, I see it. I understand my mission in this world. I want to change our world, and I now that I can do it. I understand that if I cannot change the whole world but I can start changing by myself. I can generate an impact in people that surround me, my neighbours, my community, my country.... Step by step, I have an impact on them and their lives. All starts when I wake them up, maybe at first just in their dreams, but then it becomes real... More than once, I have heard these stories... and believe me, they are getting more frequent than you might think: I just woke up one day and I saw everything. I understood how the world works. I saw the world in a different way. I had everything I had always wanted, but I suppose it wasnt enough. I wanted more than that: I wanted a change. I have the perfect job, I work from 9 to 5 and my mobile phone is always on. But I cant have a real life. I need more than that, but is this the right time?

Yes, we all need more than just a job. I know. Im here to give answers. I wouldnt say that Im easy to handle, but I want to share with you a good way to do it. If I want to be an agent of change, I will have to do more than just pay taxes and protect my environment.... I have to become something completely new. I have to be a new concept of entrepreneurship. A concept that involves interactivity, collaboration and networking, that can spread like a virus and generate a loud buzz.

Can I be an agent of change? The answer is really easy: YES. But I need your help and often I don't even know where to start. There are a few ways to become an agent of change. This is my plan: think about social entrepreneurs, entrepreneur network and how to involve others.

a. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Maria Robinson

When am I really successful? I truly believe that I make it when I have a social, cultural or behavioural change proposes. This isnt a new concept of myself. However, it is essential to keep it in mind if you want to become an agent of change. It is believed that an important social change frequently begins with a single entrepreneurial author: one obsessive individual who sees a problem and envisions a new solution, takes the initiative to act on that vision, gathers resources and builds organizations to protect and market that vision1. In this sense, these motivated and ambitious people will recognize and understand a social issue and then they will create and manage projects with a social mission and a positive change. Their business is oriented to generate an impact on the certain community while generating profits.

To succeed, you will need to keep in mind some aspects: Use your talent, inspiration and creativity to create a new reality. Have courage, and direct action to ensure social benefit and a better world for everyone.
1

Be loyal to your values and strive to serve society. Look for opportunities to profit by fulfilling unsatisfied social needs.

David Bornstein, How to change to world: Social Entrepreneur and the Power of New Ideas, (United States: Oxford University Press, 2004), p. 3.

On the other hand, there are thousands of different ways to get involved in social entrepreneurship. These are some of the areas in which you can get involved: Education: You can create a business to train people who lack educational qualifications in your country and generate alternative business models to provide them scholarships. Help them leave poverty behind. Finances: Build a business that will help to your community have ethic savings as an investment formula. The ethic bank gives you answers to generate economic and social profitability. Culture: Generate a new business by producing or promoting artists, musicians, movies, plays, and other arts in your country, with a moral and social message while entertaining.

b. NETWORKS OF ENTREPRENEURS

It's all about people. It's about networking... Mike Davidson

Potential entrepreneurs are out there, sniffing around. To succeed, I am going to recruit an army of followers. It is said that together we will be stronger and invincible. Members of the networks will not only come up with ideas but also work on common projects and become partners with other companies that represent a diverse range of industries, backgrounds and experiences. In this sense, I am positive that they will be able to feed their business by working for each other. Of course that this is not all; it is just the beginning. Now, it is essential to promote me through education and mentoring to ensure that members will become successful and attract new members. How can we attract more affiliates? Firstly, it is crucial to share key information. Now, social media can be an excellent tool to promote me, spread the voice and recruit new followers and young professional throughout the world, who are interested in becoming agents of change. Among other tactics we can:

Build online applications for agents: we can build Facebook Apps and iPhone Apps among others, to increase productivity and efficiency. We need to develop tools that are free and can help entrepreneurs making easier their work every day. Promote the participation and the generation of new content: It would be very interesting if entrepreneurs shared their experiences, ideas, hopes, queries of partners and investments, and even how they feel about building their own business through video productions, Twitter, social networking sites, social news sites, forums, and so on. Educate others: Provide guidance to teenagers and young adults on what they can do when they grow up. Sometimes, they do not have an idea of having their own business or do not know how to start it. They have to be prepared for the changes and helping them is a way of strategic thinking.

c. INVOLVE OTHERS
Informal conversation is probably the oldest mechanism by which opinions on products and brands are developed, expressed, and spread. Johan Arndt

As we can see, being a social entrepreneur does not involve only you or me of course. Even with home businesses, decisions impact multiple levels of people, from customers to vendors2. But one thing is clear: to be an agent of change, you have to involve other people, create a desire for change in others, not only your co-workers and employees but also your community and customers. To involve other people affected by your decisions, there are some easy-to-do options. But first you have to talk to them, know who they are, ask and find out what they want and need, what their expectations and future perspectives are; thats the way it should all begin. once that is done, then: Organize regular meetings with people from your community. Visit them and discover how you are connected to them.
2

Ten Sun, Survival tactics: the top 11 behaviors of successful entrepreneurs, (London: Praeger, 2007), p. 85.

Encourage people to use new online media such as blogs, social networks, etc. to share their ideas and generate conversation 2.0. Promote their participation in events, workshops and seminars to develop online projects. Carry out internships in projects directly related to social programs. Spread the voice through the media inviting all other businesses indirectly to act responsibly. Exchange experiences with people from different backgrounds and nationalities. Learn about what they are doing well and apply it. Teach them what is working for you.

There are infinite opportunities to get other people involved. Your mission is to place yourself as a central influence to guide the change into a positive path.

And last, but not least

The key to change... is to let go of fear. Rosanne Cash

Since a very young age, many students, young professionals and leaders want to fulfil a dream in life; and I the social entrepreneurship can give them the answer they have been looking for. I wish to be a global phenomenon that infuses economic activity and shifts behavioural patterns and perceptions. But to promote quality management of entrepreneurs that benefits societies, we must keep in mind that the key to success is to contribute sustainably to the development of future generations through renewable energy projects, social integration, education, art and culture, and so much more. You need to make up your mind as soon as possible. I will give you just three options: One: You can be an entrepreneur Two: You can be an agent of change Three: You can be both!

Building your own business might not be easy, but new entrepreneurs must think outside the box. If you are both, you will be motivating others by acquiring innovative and revolutionary ideas that alter the status quo and bring up successful results. You need to be persistent, flexible and fast moving, willing into change decisively, quickly and very strongly. Finally, to be a successful agent of change, you must carry out every action, every step of the way with truth, honesty, integrity and ethics. Every entrepreneur has the power to be an agent of change. I am optimistic and future oriented; you have many chances to be an entrepreneur with wings to soar very high. I am positive that the success of change lies in our hands. I want change; you want it too... I come to you with a proposition: Be an entrepreneur of change.