Presentation...Almost Here

It is almost time for myself and my group to present our presentation. During the course of the semester, our professor has been informing us about this day to come. We have been in class talking about social entrepreneurship. The pros and cons, different types of businesses, etc. Then afterwards, the class (which was divided into groups) went out into the "Real World" to find a social entrepreneur and help them out with their business venture. The Social Entrepreneur that I have worked with during this whole process has been an interesting person to work with.

The task that we were assigned to do for her, was interesting and different then what I expected. During the time working with this task, I was able to learn how different entrepreneurs have started their own business, was it beneficial or not to start their own business, and so many other information. During the time of this project, I was able to build up some skills that were not so steady. For instance, I am now able build up my researching skill (searching different places to call and information to help others); interviewing skill (asking questions to people that I usually do not talk to or associate with); patience skill (some people are very hard to schedule with or get information from, so I had to be calm and keep myself content in each situtation that seemed to be difficult); and business skills (I have learned so much infromation that has occurred with other entrepreneurs that I can inform others about als).

If a person was interested in taking my Social Entrepreneurship course I would recommend it. It informs you about information that is at times not really talked about. For instance, if it was not for this class, I would not have even considered being a social entrepreneur. The reason so is because, I thought that social entrepreneurs did not make money at all, but come to find out that they can make a decent amout of money all at the same time help out with a social issue.

I am ready for my presentation to come along. I might be a little nervous informing people about the topic, but I will make sure to keep a smile on my face, look positive, and smile.

-Edgal

Phone Interview

As defined in Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an interview is defined as information that is obtained during a meeting. For about 2 weeks now my group and myself have been going out and interviewing different types of people, from librarians to entrepreneurs. We were asking different questions to find out how to basically start a business and what are some important factors that are needed during that time.

I had gone out and found several different entrepreneurs and interviewed them. At first I was scared to interview a few of these people, because they were all business owned people wearing nice business attire and then myself (a student). During the time I was interviewing people, some I did over the phone and some in person. I has asked questions like: What type of business did you start? Was it easy to start your own business? What factors did you go through? What would you recommend to a person who wants to start their own business?

After each interview, the most common comment that I had gotten, was that "Entrepreneurs are not only people who want to make money, but also want to create a business which could help people out, whether it is giving them food, clothing, shelter, etc."

-Edgal

THE ACT OF CALLING
EL ACTO DE LLAMAR

Have you ever tried to call a business to ask for basic information such as: how did it start out? what are the struggles of the company?. Well, this is the first time I've ever tried to do that, and it is not as easy as it seemed. Sometimes the person in the other side of the line just hang up when you say you are student and you are looking for information for a project. Sometimes people is willing to help you and they are excited to answer your questions even tought you don't speak a good English.

Alguna vez has tratado de llamar a un negocio para preguntar simples preguntas como: de que manera comenzó? o, cuales son las dificultades de la compañía? Bueno, esta es la primera vez que lo intento y la verdad no es tan fácil como parecía. A veces la persona al otro lado de la linea simplemente cuelga el teléfono al momento que les dices que eres estudiante y estás buscando información para un proyecto. A veces la gente simplemente está deseosa de ayudar y muestran interés al responder tus preguntas, aún cuando no hablas inglés adecuadamente.

Lira-

Library Interview

I had recently interviewed a person in the library for a project that my group and myself are doing for Social Entrepreneurship. Myself and one of my group partners had decided to go to the library after class and just start asking questions about where would we go if we wanted to start our own business. It was interesting to find out that libraries actually have a lot of good information for anyone. We had gone through some public websites and were even able to find out what different types of businesses are around North Carolina. They had informed us that in the University Libraries there are so many resources out there for students, but students just have to be willing to look for it. They also said that even if you are a University student or not, you can still find information. The public library, for instance, is one good place to go and find out information about how to start a business. They will give you books, different websites, articles, etc. I am glad that I am working on this Social Entrepreneurship project, because it makes me realize that even if I was going to start my own I would be able to get resources to help me start out.

-Edgal

Case Study

Recently, during the time looking at the Case Study "Homeboy Industries" it seems to be an interesting company. They seem to want to help out so many people who need jobs, as well as, try to keep a good image. While working on the Case Study and realizing how much money they earned and/or did not earn, it made me realize that it is important to always keep track of your records. The reason so is because at one point it seemed that the company did not keep all records of their items. While calculating things like the net working capital, it made a realization that it is important to keep track of things like that, because who knows you could be making more money then is recorded. It was a long Case Study to read, but did enjoy getting to know some informartion. The phrase "you learn something new each day" did work for me today, because it made me think about how when I am to run my own business, I better start making sure that I keep track of everything (from donations, loans, etc.).

-Edgal

Experience So Far

My group and myself have been working together to start helping out our social entrepreneur. We worked on the business plan, completed the practical proposal, and now starting to work on reading up on the history of TWEI. When in class this week, it was good to see the class again. Each group had to tell what their progress was so far and everybody seemed to be focused and accomplished a lot thus far. I feel that our group is at a great pace, but we do have to realize that the semester is coming close to an end and we do need to figure out how we can help our social entrepreneur to the best of our ability. Another thing that was reminded in class, was that we do have to do a Conga Line to advertise for the big final of the presentations. I really did forget about that part of the project, but I am looking forward to doing the Conga Line and see how my fellow classmates act outside of class.

(Edgal)

Course So far

The Social Entrepreneurship course so far is getting interesting. We have been giving the opportunity to work with our entrepreneurs. I am starting to read up on what my Social Entrepreneur's business is and how it was started and everything seems interesting so far. Her business/program, seems to be interesting and can become a stable/successful business. From what I have read about the business plan so far, I would recommend people to this business. The business that my group and I are working on is called Triad Women's Entrepreneurial Initiative. I am excited to be helping them out and wondering what different surprises will be learned during this experience.

(Edgal)

Rubicon Ad Video

Rubicon Ad Video...It is really not the best, but think we did a good job for just thinking up something!

Ecopreneur

Recently this week in class we had discussed about basically how to be eco-friendly. We watched a movie about 'Stuff' and some of the things discussed in the film were good facts, but others seemed a little skeptical. In the film it had talked about how we buy and throw way a lot of stuff in our lives. Which could be true in a lot of ways, because Americans seem to get bored easily (on certain things). For instance, cell phones, why is that a person will buy a new cell phone each year? I feel the reason so is because they get bored of the old phone or when they watch the media they notice that new technologies start to develop, hence wanting them to be apart of the crowd and wanting a new cellphone. One thing that I did really think was exactly true, was when it was discussed about how 99% of stuff are disposed in a bout 6 months. In some extent that is true, because once something breaks people tend to just dispose instead of fix it. Also, what makes that true is that we do dispose a lot of stuff, but it could be that majority of that stuff could be food products, food containers, etc. One thing I will admit that I did learn from this whole film, is that we really need to start figuring out ways to help the earth because by the rate we are going, we are killing the earth more and more each day instead of stabilizing it.

Just a thought...the world is in our hands, wouldn't it be right if we take responsibility and fix (or at least control) what is not good for the environment and our health?

(Edgal)

Team Omo We

When searching for a social entrepreneur, it can be sometimes hard to find the one that best fits your interest. Team Omo We have been spending time looking for the right social entrepreneuer to be involved with. Each person in the group has so many different talents and wants to be able to use them or even develop new talents. This team is so motivated, open minded, and ready to try new things. Who knows what organization we will be involved with. (Omo We)

Hmmm...

So we have been reading different cases and situations dealing with social entrepreneurs. Each case has to do with different business, but the main topic that seems to revolve around them all, is dealing with how to help others out. During this semester myself and a group of people will be working on helping a business with its social problem. It is going to be an interesting project to do for my Course, but I am excited and eager to start.

-Edgal

Apathetic and Indifferent.

After reviewing the Childline Case, the uncertainty and strain of finding, and ultimately choosing a group project became clear. I am lacking the subsequent passion and other raw emotions needed in order to feel compelled to act.

Jeroo Billimoria compassion for the neglected children on the streets of India, developed a child line service which spanned into 35 cities across India. She was driven by the need for change, both externally and within.

The challenge with a group of six is to find a relevant project in which all members feel some sort of urgency and charge. Though it may not be to the extent that Jeroo experienced, I now understand that it is compulsory in order to make our project work.

- Connor

Realize

It is interesting to realize that social entrepreneurs think about the business and social aspect when dealing with a business or organization. When you meet a client, there are some questions that can be asked or should be asked. For instance, a few questions were what are the main issues that you are dealing with? What is your mission statement? From seeing the different types of social entrepreneurs and businesses out there, it is a bit hard to figure out what type of business that you would like to help out. The reason so is because each business has its own mission statement and goals that they would like to achieve. Also, sometimes a person's goals may have to change, due to situations that could occur and where not expected. For example, the economy or environment could go bad. A recognition that should be given to social entrepreneurs is the fact that they are trying to help out a social problem.

(Edgal)

toms shoes

Regarding the "case TOMS shoes is a very interesting case where the story begins when the american Blake Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina and one of his visits he met and saw the extreme poverty in which children lived without shoes. The behavior of initiative and creativity with which social business started was a perfect idea to start the business of social assistance. I think it is implemented 100% in reality what is regarded as "social entrepreneurship" because if so, should be continually monitored is a continuous process of situation where these children living without shoes being one of the main factors of human level… and in this sense the sponsors, the non-profit organizations, are the ones that really being committed to the causes they support. There is more transparency.I believe we must be people committed to our environment, our world and more with children is the greatest treasure we have and therefore we have to care.

tany

Turmoil .

After Monday's class (8th Feb), it dawned on me the actual sheer scale on the global issues and there relationship between one another.

How do you prioritize one impending crisis and suboptimal conditions against another? More importantly how is one suppose to compartmentalize the needs of the homeless to approach the dilemmas of the 800 million that go hungry? Each factor causes me to reflect introspectively.

As each class passes and through every chapter I read, I am beginning to learn the horrific uncomprehending masses of people that live with suboptimal conditions.

Although my passion towards these social factors is unyielding, I do not posses the characteristics of a social entrepreneur. I am simply overwhelmed by each issue and feel incompetent that I am able to make a real difference.

Connor

social entrepreneur

A social entrepreneur is someone with initiative… who know how to identify the main problems of a society focusing and balancing a need for a nonprofit business. Because I believe that social entrepreneurs find that not just work and doing the things right could change something, they look for the system and always try to find the solution persuading people with an innovation.
I also think the person should have love for their society, and especially has the positive attitude of taking things forward through challenges that help the person to be able to solve a problem and help society. The person must be visionary and realistic that would the “ person to change”, the initiator of innovation that benefits humanity.

The TEST!

Social Entrepreneurship seems to be a very interesting class that people should. To sum it up, it talks about how people help others out during their time of need. The class is really interesting and thought I was learning a lot, but when it was time to take the quiz/test that was a different story. I do not know about everyone else, but did not expect to be confused and lost at certain times during the quiz/test. I guess at times it is true that a person may not know as much as they think they do when put the test or challenge.

(Edgal)

Different Types of Opportunities

Recently in class, we were discussing about different types of social entrepreneurship opportunities out there. Some of them seem to be easier then others, but what all brings them together is that they all want to achieve some kind of impact. Whether the impact is helping to save the world, countries, or even a city. Did not really think that social entrepreneurship was a very important topic, before I took the class. The reason so is because it seemed that people who invested in becoming a social entrepreneur did not gain any profit. When in the class, it was interesting to hear that there are some social businesses that do gain profit all the same time gain the happiness of helping out a social problem.

(Edgal)

Reading about ParqueSoft in South America, I couldn't help but be impressed with the collaborative setting set up there. Lots of companies can't even succeed at collaboration within the confines of their own company, but ParqueSoft's companies have found the value in collaborating across company lines to other employees.

In fact, the design of the offices, open and airy, remind the employees that other people exist and can help them, rather than keeping people closed up in a vacuum-like cubicles. In software development, this can be crucial. There is simply too much to know, from UI design to database administration, from sales to marketing, for one person to sit separated from his colleagues is entrepreneurial suicide. It gives your more thoughtful, interdependent competitors and edge over you, simply because they're not building figurative, and actual, walls between their employees, and allowing them to collaborate and hold one another accountable to be productive.

Social Entrepreneurship

To enhance the Tom's shoes post, here is the history of this social entrepreneur. This is also a good example of a social entrepreneur who cares about the deseases comming that affect people from the ground.
We should be aware of social problems in order to fix them and make a difference.

Lira

Change.

The 'TOMS Shoes' video shown in class really was awe inspiring and has led me to believe that it is the lack of knowledge and understanding of these unfortunate situations that people live everyday around the world, that has lead to an increment of social entrepreneurs answering to an increasing crucial duty; through both a sense of moral obligation and vision.

One other thing I felt strongly provoked by was during the class discussion over oil and subsequent fossil fuels. I of course, do believe that there has to be heavy investment into renewable energy but more importantly a focus towards overall reduction of consumption.

It is the reduction of consumption which revitalizes a passion towards the environment within me. There is no need for a light to shine upon an empty room or a T.V to be left on standby over night. It is these medial functions of wasted energy that could potentially save millions of C02 emissions from being released.

I think that though it is clear sustainable technology and resources and needed, we are some what over looking the detrimental effects of a wasteful society.

- Connor

TOMS Shoes

In class we had talked about social entrepreneurship and some different examples of them. To me, social entrepreneurship is a situation realized by someone and they entrepreneurially try to change/fix the problem at hand. It was interesting when we saw a video clip on "TOMS Shoes". The part that amazed me the most was how a man went on a trip just to have an adventure and came out creating a business out of what he saw. (Omoikhosen A. Edgal)

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