The Ted talk “5 keys to Success for Social Entrepreneurs”  really helped me understand what a good one liked. He spoke of five  points. Each one made so much sense. Number 5 was actually realizing  that your idea is worth nothing unless you have action. Talk is cheap but tam to implement what you have  is value. Number four was hating whatever they were fighting for. They are fired up about the social issue. Number 3. They are not quiet about their project. They want everyone to know about it. Number 2, They are paranoid! They are so focused they can’t sleep. They are keeping themselves up at night worrying about their venture. The number one tip for success is to look at social impact and at money

This week was not the easiest for me. We talked about lean start-up and business model canvas. The business side of things is not my expertise however I know how important it is in all aspects of life. Having a social business or non profit will need business skills to make this work!

Sharpening my business skills is imperative to being successful We are learning that all sectors of social entrepenurship needs money. Even if you are not for profit, everyone needs money to function. There can and are people with excellent skills but if they can’t run a business they will be ruined. 

Financial Impact

 NGO’s have a big job to raise money to solve the ills of our society today. Social Entrepreneurship  has become a great way to solve issues. Start up expenses are high for such adventures. This week we talked about options to fund the amazing ideas and business’ that can literally solve some of the the ills of this world. 

One such option is crowd funding. It is a great way to start up a business venture. Many people are invested in social issues and they want to make a difference in the world. One holdback is many people don’t have large capital to invest. Crowd funding allows many people to put in a small amount of money. Many people contributing a small amount ends up being a large amount. The article “Social Entrepreneurs don’t have it easy raising capital” does a good job of sharing these principles. It seems like people are wiling to donate money and invest in  a good cause. 

Can money change the world? I think it can. Money along with people with good hearts and  desire to do the right thing. Those desires to change the world and do good by the people of the world but it also takes money to solve many of the problems we face. So Yes, money can change the world along with good deeds of others. However, money doesn’t buy happiness. Life is happier when you have money. It is hard to be happy if you are hungry or don’t have a warm house to live in but I have learned from people who have very little, you can be happy. The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our life. No matter what, we can have happiness depending on where our life is focused!

Impact Change

 This week learning about impact evaluation and change reminded me that knowing the full impact of the things you do is not as easy as it would seem. Data is important in identifying the impact. Evaluating the data on a daily weekly, monthly and yearly can help you understand the impact you are having. Figuring out how you will measure success is and important step. Also identifying the steps you must take to measure that success. Figuring out your impact and the steps to get to that data will help you understand the impact of your data. 

The eight word mission statement was very interesting. I won't lie, reading long drawn out ,mission statements often never get to the point. Having 8 words really gets to the point. These mission statements include concrete results and they talk about the what, not the how. These are made by using a verb, a target population and an outcome in eight words or less. 

The article Starfish Hurling and Community Service gave a new perspective I had never though of. The author suggests five problems with the story. First, the story is simplistic. Most of the time the problem is much more complex.  Second,  the story is apolitical. The starfish have no voice. Third the complexity is not addressed as we don't know why the starfish are washing ashore. Fourth, the story demonstrates and emotional response rather than a rational one. Lastly, the story is about random acts of kindness. It is an interesting take on a well known story,. I think some things can be simple and often emotional responses are what get things moving. Random acts of kindness may not be the most efficient way to get things done but they are important for the population you can affect with your act. 

Design thinking

I thought this week was going to be difficult for me because I think I am not a very creative person. I really enjoyed the ted talk by David Kelley "How to build your creative confidence". I realized that I do have more creativity then I think and I need to use that creativity. I think I just need to revisit it and get comfortable with it. I also realized that I don't want to be a person who squashes other peoples creativity. Creative design is a process of finding solutions to problems in our world. There are a few process' to design thinking but the basic overview is understanding a need by observing and engaging. Nest step is define the issue and a solution. Then brainstorm different solutions and come up with a plan. The last step is to test out the solutions. Human centered design is imperative as we need a deep understanding of the needs of the people we want to serve. 

I am so glad I took the time to watch the optional video for this week's study called "Design for the Developing World" by Christopher Mattson. When he spoke about putting our capacity to design to work on difficult problems, I realized I need to stop holding myself back. My strong suits are with people and if I am able to be people centered and understand what people need and be creative with my solutions I can solve problems.

This is such a needed skill to have in social innovation. We must have creative design. Understanding a need and them creating ideas around that need are how we will solve problems. It takes critiquing and evaluating and doing the process over and over again. It is hard work but the benefits of solving social issues are exciting!

Be the Change

 I love this week's lesson! The phrase "Be the change" reminds me that everyone has a place and something they can contribute. When it comes to Social Innovation, the Ballard Center uses a pyramid with social entrepreneurs on top. They are fewer in number. The next level is Implementers. This is the level I see myself at more than a social entrepreneur. I would implement the ideas of a social entrepreneur within the framework of the job or organization I work or volunteer at. An implementer encourages those around her to move towards a more social innovation task, trying to get her organization to move towards a goal of making a difference in a social issue. The third level is a volunteer or a donor. Spending time helping in a social issue that you feel passionate about is a great way tp help a movement, cause and issue move forward. Without volunteer and donors it would be nearly impossible to get the work done. 

This weeks reading included and article titled "What is your Calling in Life" By Jeffrey Thompson. This was exactly what I needed to push me toward figuring out what my life calling is. In fact last weekend I spent some time contemplating and praying for that exact question. I loved how he offered things you could ask and "Heresies" that sometimes we fall into. It reminded me that I need to put the work into figuring out what my calling is. I loved a quote by John Calvin that said God gives us talents and gifts and it is our job to figure out what those gifts are and how to use them to bless other people. 

We may have a jumpstart on others as our patriarchal blessing usually lists some of our gifts. Mine gives me several and then tells me to work on them and enhance them. I want to be able to use these to bless other people and myself. The scriptures tell us that we have access to all the spiritual gifts. We need to ask for them. We can use the gifts God has given us to bless others. He gives them to us so we can help His children. It is our responsibility to move towards making a change in this world. God has given us everything we need on this earth to solve the problems we face. We need creative people who are willing to use what God has given them to make the change in this world. It starts with each one of us as we pray to know where we are needed and what the Lord would want us to do. |It seems to me that we have been given so much that we need to give back and fight for a cause that can and will make a difference. We can be the change we want to see in the world. 

Social Innovation

 Social Innovation was a term unfamiliar to me until I began this class. Social innovation is coming up with a new more effective and more long term solution to a problem that affects society as a whole rather than just individuals.  I love this concept. It is a way to contribute to society and make lasting change in a neighborhood, community, city, state, country or globally. The idea is brilliant. Innovation is using creativity to problem solve to create social value. It comes in the form of a product and a process.

Social Entrepreneurs are the people who are the game changers. They are the ones who make the changes happen. They are continuously innovating and creating  and learning. They are courageously moving forward without being constrained by the funds they have. According to Say-Schumpter Social Entrepreneurs the catalyst behind economic progress.

The video about the Ballard Center was very moving. It is impressive that BYU is working so hard to find solutions to issues in our world. Some of the solution's the students have invented have made a dent in the issues affecting our community and even globally. It is amazing that there is a way to use your creativity and problem solving skills to change the world, even making it possible to make a living doing so.

One possibility as to why Social innovation is more prevalent today could be the idea that we like in a culture of abundance. We have everything we could ever imagine and often times when people live in abundance they want more. That means we are looking past the things we could own and looking to make a difference in the world. Many no longer struggle for the day to day survival and want to change the world. 

Weight on your back

I joined a cross fit gym a few months ago.  It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. It pushes me both physically, and mentally.  Everyday I wonder if I will make it through the workout and fight a battle inside myself. The one thing that I have been thinking alot about is lifting weights.  We lift often.  We do a heavy lift day every four days, however we usually incorporate some lighter lifting into our WOD's (workout of the day) several times a week.  Last week we did front squats.  I saw this meme.

I have been thinking about this for days.  I totally agree. Usually when I get ready to lift I start with a lighter weight and slowly build up.  When I get to a working weight I start my workout for the day.  Usually it is something like 6 sets of 5 reps.  The thing I have realized is usually the weight is so heavy that I am afraid every rep.  When I take that bar off the rig I am afraid that I will not be able to stand up after I have squatted. I am afraid of failure.  However, one thing I am realizing is that when you keep putting yourself out there, always chasing a heavier weight, always trying for a PR, you will fail. You will get to the point that you have maxed out and are not able to stand back up with that heavy weight on your back.  Failure is ok.  If you are working hard and chasing your dreams, you will fail.  The thing about a back squat is that if you fail you just let the bar roll off your back as you step forward and the weigh falls off.

I loved this idea when I was thinking about failure.  As we work towards our goals and are chasing our dreams, there will be failures. As we are trying to survive this journey we call life, we will fall.  It is what you do with your failure!  Do you let that heavy weight hold us down or do we let it roll of our back and stand up.  Do we turn around and try to make the lift again or do we walk out of the gym?  Do we cuss and swear and throw a tantrum? It is what we do with our failure that makes us who we are.

We have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and pick that bar back up. You have to have the tenacity to keep trying.  You eventually will be able to stand up under the immense weight on your back. Failure will happen but if you keep at it, you will eventually make the lift. We can't be so afraid of the failure.  It is what makes us the people we are.  This so much more than the successful lifts.

  There are days when life is just too heavy and my muscles are just too fatigued to stand back up. I can't do it! No matter what I do I just can't stand back up.  In my life, I know that my Savior and Heavenly Father are on both ends of my barbell. On those days where I HAVE to stand back up and I just can't do it, I know they are on each end and lifting where I can't!  I am so grateful for that knowledge and the spiritual and physical strength I have received from squatting!