How to be a social

entrepreneur

About me

1.Failed at school2.Learn by doing3.Start stuff . . . 4.Written 17 books5.Rock boats6.Often quoted7.Have a reputation!!8.Like lists . . .

It’s how others see you that matters most!

My social enterprise

Confronting the inconvenient truth that the best way to reduce youth unemployment is to grow small businesses!

Facts:

•7% of SMEs hire apprentices•99.7% Norfolk biz is SME•9.4% NEET in Norwich•Government policy is changing – currently in our favour•Public sector partners can be unpredictable - beware•Not everyone fits the box – and those that don’t are often the most interesting!

‘Be led by your gut and your market, not by trying to deliver what Government says it wants!’Robert Ashton

Social enterprise is all about pedalling like heck in the opposite direction to almost everyone else . . . but things are changing!

. . . . . . now think about spinning

Top tip

Why bust a gut to re-create a wheel when all you need to do is put a new tyre on one someone else made earlier?

1/10

‘You must be the change you want to see in the world’

‘As human beings our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world- as in being able to remake ourselves’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Harness the pain of personal experience2.Be true to yourself & your values3.Sacrifice what’s not important

What’s Jeremy Corbyn got in common with Martin Luther King?

2/10

‘Nobody can hurt you without your permission’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Conquer your negative responses2.Focus on the possible3.Accept that not everyone will understand

Why is now a good time to step inside the public sector tent?

3/10

‘Forgive and let it go’

‘The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Accept that some are ignorant2.Understand fear & prejudice3.You won’t win every battle

Times change, values change but do people change?

4/10

‘Without action, you’re not going anywhere’

‘An ounce of practice is worth a ton of preaching’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.You have to start before you feel ready2.Acknowledge, then take risks3.Don’t wait for permission – just do it!

How can you help reconcile growing demand for services, reducing budgets & increasing regulation?

5/10

‘Take care of the moment’

‘I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. I have no control over the future’Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Do it now, don’t wait ‘just in case’2.Share your success & build support3.Enjoy each day; it will not return

When did you last spot, and grab an opportunity that won’t return?

6/10

‘Everyone is human’

‘It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Allow others to see your vulnerability2.Make your mistakes public3.It’s OK to change tack when the wind is against you

I learned to walk by falling over. How do you learn?

7/10

‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Stick close to those you seek to support2.Recognise that attack is a sign of success3.Don’t become complacent when you win!

Ask me why we’ve re-invented Swarm three times now!

8/10

‘See the good in people and help them’

‘Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow men’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Accept that even evil people do good2.Support turns vulnerability into commitment3.Knowing yourself really well is vital!

How can the black sheep in your family make you a better person,

and a more compassionate social entrepreneur?

9/10

‘Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self’

‘Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony’ Mahatma Gandhi

Which means for us . .

1.Saying no to things we cannot support2.Saying no to grants with strings attached3.Standing firm when pressed to do things your gut tells you are wrong

Are you bold enough to swap block contracts for the accountability

of payment by results?

Finally, three more things

•The least likely people have the most likely answers

•If the answer you get is no, change the question

•You’re on the right track when you sleep through the night – apart that is from waking up to pee!

‘To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity’

Douglas Adams

10/10

www.robertashton.co.uk