What is a social enterprise?

We hear these terms used loosely: ‘social enterprise’, ‘social economy’, ‘social enterpreneurship’, but does anyone agree on a definition? Can we come up with our own that resonates with us?

There are several definitions used to describe this highly versatile and multipurposed enterprise. We may consider the following:

'A social economy enterprise operates like a business, produces goods and services for the market, but manages its operations and redirects its surpluses in pursuit of social and environmental goals'-1.

1- Defining the Social Economy, by Fiona Salkie; Senior Policy Analyst, WD Headquarters, Edmonton

I particularly like this one:

‘Social enterprise applies an entrepreneurial approach to addressing social issues and creating positive community change’.

This one also resonates with me:

‘A social enterprise is a revenue-generating business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to deliver profit to shareholders and owners.’

http://www.centreforsocialenterprise.com/what.html

I think the important thing to remember here is not the words we use, but the meaning we are trying to convey. That is why I would like to go the root of the issue, and answer the following question:

Why is the social economy important? What’s it all about? ...

Why is the social economy important? What’s it all about?

In my view, the social economy represents a new way of considering the economy.

Traditionally, emphasis is put on money, numbers and quantitative aspects. We consider a country’s GDP, without considering the gap between the rich and the poor, or the social and environmental conditions the population may be living in. We consider a business’ overall revenue instead of its achievements in social inclusion or environmental preservation in order to evaluate success.

This needs to change. And it is changing. The simple fact that we are using the term ‘social enterprise’ is a refreshing step forward.

Human beings around the world are beginning to realize that there is more to life than money. Even the word economy has a whole new meaning when we begin to include social and environmental aspects. We cannot continue to measure our success with the amount of money we generate. With environmental catastrophe looming ahead, money will not buy you more oxygen, drinking water or uncontaminated land (although some may argue otherwise). There is a limit to how much we can pressure the economy until it burst. In other words, we begin to consider other elements in our equation.

For instance, Canadian Maritimers working in Fort MacMurray, Alberta (out West as we call it), may be making oodles of cash but are they better off? What about their health? If you get sick with cancer as a result of all the contamination you are exposed to while at work, what good is your precious savings if you don’t live to see your 50th birthday?

Money isn’t everything.

It is changing. Some are in denial. Some are apathetic. But there are countless of citizens around the world using social entrepreneurship to transform the economy. To make it something meaningful, something that benefits the masses, our neighbors, our teachers, our families; and not only the extremely rich and powerful whom we don’t even know their names.

The Social economy allows us to make money, to be successful, to provide for our families, but not to the detriment of others. It allows us to act with awareness and precision, to make our jobs and lives count. We relate to others. We are doing something good. We feel good about our work. We feel happier.

Then the domino effect rolls in and a nice wave of positive change is before us. Let’s give it momentum. Let’s consider social entrepreneurship as a realistic and definite way of transforming our economy, our environment, our society, our lives, and the lives of others across the globe. The social economy isn’t simply a term or a concept to learn about, it is a way of life and it has the power to transform the order of things as we know them, for the better.

The true nature of fear

Je tenais à partager ce passage d'un 'e-book' de Seth Godin qui est une compilation de textes d'auteurs divers. Ça vient chercher mes pensées sur le sujet, mais je n'aurais jamais pu le décrire aussi bien. Alors le voici :

“Have you ever wondered who’s behind that little voice in your head that tells you, ‘you’re in this by yourself, one person doesn’t make a difference, so why even try?’
His name is Fear. Fear plays of antagonist in the story of your life. You must rid yourself of him using all necessary means.

We’re often impressed by those who appear to be fearless. The people who fly to the moon. Chase tornadoes. Enter dangerous war zones. Skydive. Speak in front of thousands of people. Stand up to cancer. Raise money and adopt a child that isn’t their flesh and blood.

So, why are we so inspired by them?

Because deep down, we are them.

We all share the same characteristics.

We’re all divinely human.

Until Fear is gone, (and realize he may never completely leave) make the decision to be courageous. The world needs your story in order to be complete.”

-Anne Jackson

Voici le lien pour le livre au complet:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/files/what-matters-now-2.pdf

Alors continuons à monter la montagne de notre vie et à profiter du trajet plutôt que de se concentrer sur le but à atteindre. A chacun son parcours!

The power of ideas

An idea is only an idea until someone else (usually someone prominent) thinks it’s a good idea. In other words, ALL ideas are good. It just depends on how you can SELL the idea, and most importantly, how much YOU believe in it.
Think of all the Best Sellers that were turned down 14 times before getting published (I’m thinking of The Four Day Work Week for example). It’s not that the book wasn’t good (obviously, it became a Best Seller!) but the author had not found the right Entrepreneur to validate the content and believe in it as much as the author did.

So get to it! Develop your idea, expand on it and most of all, believe in it! Sooner or later, somebody else will too!

The beauty of partnerships

Another key concept that I contemplated today is PARTNERSHIP.

No matter what, whether you have the resources, the expertise, the knowledge or the money to develop your idea or not, creating partnerships with other individuals or groups will give you the boost you need to make your idea become a reality.

We are ALWAYS better off working together. It may not seem that way sometimes, but the old saying ‘two heads are better than one’ doesn’t exist for nothing. The reason being this: when you are working alone, you assume all the risks; you must possess all the resources, and make all the decisions for yourself, by yourself. You then have no one to rely on when difficult times arrive (and they always do). But by creating a partnership, not only do you get the benefit of working with other people, socializing and having enlightening conversations, but you bring your idea or your work to a higher level.

So don’t be afraid to call that other business person or community worker up to have a discussion on how you might work together. Maybe there will be nothing there, and you will be home and say, ‘well, it was interesting conversation, but we will not be able to work together’. Maybe nothing will come out of it for weeks or months following that initial meeting. But maybe, and most likely, at some point down the road, there will be room for collaboration, and you will be happy you made that initial contact. They say ‘Don’t burn bridges’, but I believe I’m more of an advocate for ‘Create your own bridges’. So go for it!

Creative Energy

There are two kinds of people in this world : those who stop the flow of creative energy and those who enhance it.


If you are a creative, energetic, innovative, entrepreneurial and motivated person, you have to hang out with the same kind of person. Social entrepreneurs are people that do not necessarily want the security of a 9 to 5 job, and are willing to sacrifice a bit of their own comfort for the benefit of others. Therefore, in order for you to help spread the flow of creative energy, you have to make a conscious effort to be around other people who have that same longing. Otherwise, the creative flow gets trapped and never to be seen or heard of again. What a crying shame that would be!


I had this realization this morning when I was sitting with two (what I realized this morning) other social entrepreneurs. We were discussing ideas on how the stimulate the economic, social and cultural development of a small town like Cheticamp (such as we always do), but today was different. The FLOW was happening. There was no one else there to tell us that this wouldn’t work because of this, and bla, bla, bla. There was a sort of triangular energy flow thing happening and we concluded that we are going to join forces with the Arts Council, the Coop Council, the Economic Development Council and the unending creativity of the local high school students, to form a film cooperative. A radical business venture for a small community? Not when creative and realistic minds are joined together and have enough determination to make it work.

L'entrepreneuriat social...c'est quoi?

Bonjour à tous ceux et celles qui ont pris un moment de votre journée afin de contempler ces simples mots devant vous. Si vous êtes tombés sur ce blog, c'est qu'il y a quelque chose en vous qui vous attire vers l'entrepreneuriat social. Peut-être vous avez déjà entendu le terme ? Ou bien vous êtes déjà entrepreneur? Vous êtes possiblement un activiste social ou environnemental? Peut-être, simplement, avez-vous le désir d'explorer des nouvelles idées.

Ce blog parle d'un nouvel ordre. Une nouvelle façon de voir la vie et les actions qu'on mène tout le long de notre parcours. Je pense que d'une façon ou d'une autre, tout le monde peut se retrouver dans ces idées et même y contribuer afin de maximiser le partage et le 'flow' de pensées créatives.

Selon moi, un entrepreneur social est quelqu'un qui veut changer les choses, les rendre meilleures. C'est quelqu'un qui voit un problème, une injustice, ou simplement quelque chose qui ne va pas, et qui veut entreprendre des efforts pour changer la situation.

On peut prendre par exemple des leaders communautaires qui recueillent de l'argent afin de se doter d'un lieu de rassemblement pour la communauté. Cela pourrait également être quelqu'un qui décide de partir un système de covoiturage, un jardin communautaire ou un club de lecture pour les jeunes. Un entrepreneur social peut également entreprendre des initiatives plus globales, comme militer pour un traité international pour combattre les changements climatiques, ou même fonder un organisme d'échange interculturel afin de créer des rapprochements entre les gens de cultures différentes. Peu importe ton intérêt et ton parcours, si tu as un désir de changer le monde (ou ta communauté) et de le rendre meilleur, il y a de bonnes chances que tu tombes dans la catégorie 'd'entrepreneur social'.

Alors bienvenue à ce merveilleux monde! Il y a tellement de projets et d'initiatives extraordinaires qui ont été réalisés par le passé, mais il y en a tellement plus à venir. Ensemble, en partageant nos idées, nos ressources et nos expertises, il n'y aucun doute que nous pouvons atteindre nos rêves les plus ambitieux. On y va!