Barefoot Business News from Robert Ashton
| January 2012
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How anarchic are you?
Maybe I'm just frustrated at the slow pace of things. Everyone accepts that things need to change. Britain now has a trillion pound national debt, flat economy and a growing underclass of workless disengaged people. So why is nothing really happening?
Of course politicians don't want to associate with the grim reality that we are living beyond our means. Cutting back is not a vote winner. Which brings me to people like Terry, who is unelected, un-appointed and yet leading positive, sustainable change within his community. He is passionate, pushy, persuasive and prepared to go all the way to bring about the change he wants to see.
I'd call him a social entrepreneur but he'll never appear on the landscape the social enterprise sector is trying to create. Respected blogger David Floyd pointed out the other day that almost £1m of public money has been blown in what to me seems a crazy attempt to establish the Social Enterprise Mark. Protectionism and preference are not going to build a new order, that needs passion.
Housing professional Janet Hale summed it up well, tweeting that to regulate social entrepreneurs would be like setting up a, 'membership organisation for anarchists.' So does this make true social entrepreneurs non-violent anarchists? I think that perhaps it does!
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| We're all in the same boat | |
I was in Bucharest last week, working with a group of very sparky young people. They were pioneers on a new post-grad entrepreneurship programme, being delivered by their university in partnership with Anglia Ruskin.
To warm up for my session I joined the protesters in the city's University Square. I wanted to know what they were complaining about. 'Our national debt is a disgrace, corruption is rife and the Government are doing nothing about it,' I was told.
As I wrote in my Civil Society blog, they had no alternative strategy to offer; which devalued the whole affair in my mind. Anyone can complain, but without a thought through alternative, however crazy, it's just a load of hot air. Surely, true social entrepreneurs are the people who have create those ideas?
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| Let's catch them young |
I've just discovered tea-time drinking. Earlier this week I enjoyed a couple of beers with a senior civil servant from the Department for Education. We had no particular agenda, other than to chat about how the need for schools to become more enterprising looked from our different perspectives. As Chairman of The Norfolk Way, and working very successfully with a school to bring about both a new building and a fresh outlook, two pints of bitter was a sound investment.
As we parted, my friend threw me a challenge. 'Primary schools need to see themselves as social enterprises,' he said. He's right of course, because they can become dynamic community hubs, making things happen for their community and massively enriching the learning of their youngsters.
All I need now is a volunteer Primary School to work with me to prove the point.
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Hear me
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I am increasingly being invited to speak on social entrepreneurship. Audiences are inspired and encouraged when I explain to them how it's both an attitude and an opportunity. You can hear me over the coming months at these events:
9th February - Empower Sustainability Conference, Swansea
28th February - 'Why being different makes doing different easy?'
6th March - South East Conference 2012
14th March - BforB's Business Networking Masterclass, The Forum, Norwich (Email Lorna for more details)
20th March - Third Sector Seminar, Wolverhampton University (Email Barry for more details)
13th April - TEDx, City College Norwich (Email Louise for more details)
And of course, if you're organising a conference or event, I might be able to help you challenge your audience to become just a little more enterprising!
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| Read me | |
I have three books coming out this year. You can pre-order two of them from Amazon now.
Teach Yourself Successful Copywriting in a Week [24 Feb, Hodder]
How to Start Your Own Business for Entrepreneurs [08 May, Prentice Hall]
I'm also writing an online business start-up course. This will be launched this Spring by Pearson, who already have one or two courses ready to go at www.lovetolearn.co.uk
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| Help me | |
The consultancy work I do tends to focus on finding news to solve old problems. If you've cracked any of these conundrums, I'd love to hear how. Right now I'm:
- Working with a yet to be built hospice and looking for new ways to generate sustainable revenue funding;
- Working with a charity about to introduce a membership scheme for professional service providers;
- Looking for partner organisations to create and blanket the UK with a new 'Localism App'
And it goes without saying that if your own organisation's conundrum is drowning you, then I'm pretty good at achieving the almost impossible. Ring me on 01953 605000 and share!
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| I like | |
I'm very careful who I recommend and steer clear of most affiliate opportunities. However it must be said that there are two companies that consistently impress me with their products, services and above all else attitude.
So if you're wrestling to get your business plan on the mat, try Palo Alto. They are the Blue Peter of business planning, with examples that were 'prepared earlier'. Then once you're ready to count your beans in and out, Kashflow are it has to be said, masters at helping you keep your enterprise sweet. These guys really do stuff Sage!
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Quote of the month
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'Today organisations should be like pizza not cake; everything on the same level instead of stacked in tiers.'
Robert Ashton
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Sincerely,
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