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Social Entrepreneurialism
I have a number of clients, mostly from Berkeley or
San Francisco, who believe that making money is
somehow intrinsically bad. So, they only will
consider working for a nonprofit or the
government.
I often introduce them to another option which
offers the opportunity to make good money while
honoring their nonprofit values. I call it social
entrepreneurialism: coming up with a business idea
with an underpinning of nonprofit values. Today,
for example, I saw a client who dislikes capitalism
and money-making so at age 36, despite a
bachelor’s in history and masters in
journalism from Berkeley and a law degree, she has
been making less than $20,000 a year, and living on
the edge. I asked her what issues she cares about.
She said, “I’d like a society with less
individualism and more community.” She said
she enjoyed hearing stories of the Depression,
during which residents of a block looked out for,
rather than ignored each other. I then asked,
“Why not write a book called “Community:
Why We Lost it; How to Regain It.” Then, based
on what you learn, develop a consulting business in
which you help the residents of a block to
establish a sense of community. What do you
think?” After a reflexive revulsion at the
thought of asking people for money, she’s
considering it.
An example of someone who did more than think
about social entrepreneurship is Craig Newmark,
founder of Craig’s List. He started an online
bulletin board where, for free, everyone could find
everything from a car to a one-night stand. He made
money only from employers placing job listings.
That was enough to have created jobs for 14
employees while making millions of people in 48
cities around the US happy, with no environmental
or other side effects.
If you have nonprofit sensibilities but are
tired of the poverty, perhaps an answer is social
entrepreurialism. Ask yourself: What money-making
idea could you pursue that would make the world
better?”
© 2007, Marty
Nemko
* * *
Marty
Nemko holds a PhD from the University of
California, Berkeley, and subsequently taught in
Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education. He is
the worklife columnist in the Sunday San Francisco
Chronicle and is the producer and host of Work With
Marty Nemko, heard Sundays at 11 on 91.7 FM in
(NPR, San Francisco), and worldwide on
www.martynemko.com
 .
400+ of his published writings are available free
on that website and is a co-editor of
Cool
Careers for Dummies.
and author of The All-in-One College Guide.
E-Mail.
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