The Art of Social Enterprise: Business As If People Mattered by Carl Frankel and Allen Bromberger

For many people, this is the time of year when they wish to make a difference and help somebody in need. The same is true for business – there are numerous opportunities during the holiday season to lend a helping hand to your community; but what about the rest of the year...or the lifetime of the business? If you haven’t heard the term social enterprise before, you have now. In The Art of Social Enterprise (2013), readers are introduced to the ways in which social enterprise and social entrepreneurship practices are challenging and changing existing business models.

This idea doesn’t need to be complicated or so grand as to be unattainable. Social enterprise can be as simple as working with a local agricultural group to increase access to quality sourced foods through your restaurant or catering business. It can also be as basic as having a policy that everyone gets a smile when they walk through your doors. It’s about feeling good about the work we do while being effective and successful. This book hones in on the central focus of social enterprise as the goal to end suffering, plain and simple. A lofty goal, but a very achievable one through the connections we have to other people. Think of the impact on your business solely from the introduction of social media!

If you are curious to learn more about social enterprise, or just want to know what the buzz is about, add this title to your holiday reading list and settle in for some inspiration.

Jesse Roberts – www.tbpl.ca