The Dreaded Step One

Let me guess…

You were just thinking to yourself, Jeepers, I would love to start my own social enterprise, but I have no idea where to begin!

And wow, have we been there before. Taking that first step can be scary, but what’s even more frightening is not even knowing where to begin. For those times of uncertainty, we have compiled a list of tools and resources to guide you towards your Step One.

If you’re starting to toy around with the idea of changing the world, you should take a look at the Stanford Social Innovation Review. SSI Review provides well-researched, engaging content for the budding innovator.  We are particularly fond of this article from 2007 that seeks to define what Social Entrepreneurship is and what it isn’t. 

After you’ve danced around in the academic deep, you might be looking for something with a little wit and sass to break the mood without sacrificing on content. For that, we recommend Olga Mizrahi’s YouTube channel.  She has compiled some great instructional videos for Chunk of Change on the basics of business growth and development. We highly recommend her video on How to Create a Unique Value Proposition. 

But wait! I haven’t even begun to think about a product or service yet. How can I jump to Value Propositions?

Designing a product or service that is both useful and in demand is a tricky process. For that, we’ll point you to toward our friends at IDEO. Their Human-Centered Design Toolkit is a treasure chest of innovative product-design techniques and activities.  Their resources will light a fire of motivation within you.

Once you’ve got an innovation, a value proposition, and a strong handle on where you want to take it all, swing by the Mulago Foundation. The key to a strong social enterprise is the ability to monitor and demonstrate your social impact. This can be a tricky process, but the Mulago Foundation breaks it down in a way that makes it both easy and accessible.

Do you have any favorite “Step One” resources? If so, we’d love to hear about them! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn…  

Until Next Time,