I never really understood what the term “social entrepreneur” meant. Apparently it’s some combination of Mother Teresa and Richard Branson… (I don’t know what to say about that. Social entrepreneurship is a big deal for plenty of folks but I’ve never liked the term or the thinking behind it. Going from telling politically-minded and engaged youth that they are “community organizers” to “social entrepreneurs” seems like a step backwards.
(Until recently I experienced the same discomfort about the term “innovation”. I can’t say that I’m in love with it still, and I don’t like the technological / business slant it has in most uses, but I see a role for it that I didn’t before).
Anyway, I’m starting a new chapter as a straight-up entrepreneur. It will be providing a service that I can feel good about, but the goal is to earn some money. I will be continuing to do public-interest and activist work along the way, but the large portion of my energy will be directed towards a new company. Here goes…