So I
was there (as were lots of other people) - the first 5-day festivalof Social Enterprise hosted by Greenwich University (and
pulled together by Harsha Patel who we can't thank enough
for doing so!). And what's even more exciting was that I wasn't just
there to heckle from the back seats and prop up the networking bar,
I'd been invited to be part of the headline acts alongside some of
social enterprise's rockstars.
And
while others can tell you far better (and honestly) how I really was,
and how useful and engaging my activities and support offered were,
it strikes me that I may have been either very foolish or incredibly
brilliant in my contributions as a keynote speaker to the closing
debate - 'should all entrepreneurs be social entrepreneurs?'.
You
see, many people I have the privilege to walk alongside for a time in
encouraging and supporting them to realise their visions (both as
individual entrepreneurs and sector bodies) regard me as a fine
example of a 'social entrepreneur'. Except I don't think that I am
one - a social entrepreneur is motivated by wanting to change the
world for the better, and to earn some money along the way to keep
the lights on and the cats fed. A 'traditional' entrepreneur has an
idea for how to earn some money to keep the lights on and the cats
fed... And I fall into the latter camp - following some questionable
behaviour just over 10 years ago by a very large regional business in
the sector, I'd relocated to the other end of the country and found
myself without employment and a young family to support.
But
having been raised the way I have, rather than sign on at the job
centre (only 2 streets away), I began knocking on doors to find work
(and have been hustling ever since). So you see, my motivation is
about supporting my family - and part of that is not just keeping the
lights on, but also trying to help leave the world is a slightly
better place for my kids as they start to make their way into it. And
part of how I try and live my life is also trying to manifest certain
values and principles in how I work. All of which apparently make me
indistinguishable from a social entrepreneur by my actions and
impacts.
But
what does it matter if people label me as something I don't think I
am? If it doesn't get in the way of what I'm trying to achieve for
myself and others, am I just having an existential mid-life crisis?
Is it more important to consider how we act, and the impact we have
on others, rather than what we call ourselves?
And I
bared all of this publicly on stage at a national event in front of
media, sector leaders, and hundreds of people who were also wondering
of social enterprise is the right thing for them.
So -
what do you think, was I incredibly clever, disruptive, and have
moved the debate on to its next paradigm (never thought I'd use that
word in a non-satirical context!), or have I just
ruined any professional reputation and credibility I may have had...?
Initial reaction in the room and on
twitter seems to be positive - but I think my duck may have had a lot
to do with that ;-)
