Social Entrepreneurship: Are You Awake?
As we continue to discuss the meaning of social entrepreneurship and the characteristics of social entrepreneurs, I continually turn to the themes of “motivation” , “intuition” and “connection”. To be a social entrepreneur is to be an intentional member of the human family, examine real issues around you, strive to solve them, and create public good. A social entrepreneur is motivated to address an issue because they have the intuition to solve it and a deeper connection with their human condition that inspires them to scale it up and make it matter for others.
I remember that earlier in this Master’s program, our Leadership professor posed a seemingly easy question: “What motivates you?”. A few students raised their hands and provided a series of answers — “happiness”, “money”, “security”, “success”, “productivity”, and “contribution to the world”. He incessantly asked each student “why?”, looking for deeper answers, until suddenly the students had no answer anymore. Then, the professor called on me. I knew he was looking for an even more profound answer, something so basic that it must rest at the heart of every human being. “Survival?”, I thought. I knew this couldn’t be it, so I took a moment to reflect on my own deepest motivations.
In the span of a few seconds, I thought about my experiences in community service, my passion for development and equality, my sense of what it means to be a true global citizen, the lessons learned from my undergraduate major in Peace and Conflict Studies, my present studies in Sustainable Development, my struggles and discoveries in learning new languages and interacting with different cultures, and my experiences learning from others at home and abroad. Suddenly, a quote emerged in my head — one that continues to underscore what I do, what I think, how I act, and who I want to be, each and every day. I refocused on the present moment, looked at the professor, and said:
“Thich Naht Hanh, a world-renowned Buddhist monk and author, was once asked what he considered to be the purpose of life. He answered, ‘we are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness’.”
Ultimately, I believe a life fully lived is one that recognizes our place in the human family, and one that derives its individual meaning by a deep awareness of the collective journey. It is my sense that social entrepreneurs share in this realization, asserting that their existence (both in society and in the economy) is intimately bound up with the wellbeing of others. A social entrepreneur not only chooses to be awake, but is fundamentally committed to awakening others.
Are you awake?
6 comentarios /
13 May 2013
por
Kelly Elizabeth Behrend
IMSD /
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