An award-winning social entrepreneur has written a new book all about starting out in social enterprise.

Your Chance to Save the World is billed as the "no fibbing guide to social entrepreneurship" and is written by Craig Dearden-Phillips, founder of disability charity and social enterprise Speaking Up.

It offers budding social entrepreneurs top tips, anecdotes and real life stories from people already working in social enterprise.

"We need more 'normal people' to become social entrepreneurs," said Dearden-Phillips writing in Social Enterprise magazine. "At the moment, social enterprise is a fringe activity, a bit like bridge or taxidermy. However, if it is going to make a dent on the economy and society of the 21st century we actually need it to be the next Facebook.

"Everybody needs to be at it, particularly bright young things. But they need to be persuaded that social enterprise, rather than the City or law, is a great place to start a career. Sure, bright older things are needed too (of course!) but it's the youngsters we really need to go after. That's task number one."

The book will be launched at the House of Commons on 24th April.

More information is available at: www.dsc.org.uk/cw.

For a taster of Your Chance to Save the World, here are Dearden-Phillips' top five tips for budding social entrepreneurs, as published on the Directory of Social Change website.

1. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LIKE YOU WANT TO DO IT, SEIZE THE DAY
Don't wait too long to start your new venture: you'll only regret it! There is never a perfect time so the urge to take action is a good sign that the time is right.

2. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
You need to ask yourself if you will truly enjoy the independence and adventure of social entrepreneurship. Do you have the commitment to devote all your time to making your new venture work? Does it feel like something you must do?

3. BE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
You have to love, live and believe in your business. Not only that,you need to be able to communicate that passion in order to inspire and attract others.

4. NETWORK LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW
Successful social entrepreneurs need to be star networkers: networks are powerful systems for mutual aid that enable the individuals within them to achieve far more than they could on their own.

5. FIND A GREAT SUPPORT NETWORK
You need to get people around you who will support what you are doing: knowing that there are people behind you is a big motivator.

Speaking Up
www.speakingup.org

Social Enterprise magazine article about Craig Dearden-Phillips
http://www.socialenterprisemag.co.uk/sem/tradingplace/index.asp

Directory of Social Change
www.dsc.org.uk

Email this article | Printer friendly page | Top of Page