Becoming A Social Entrepreneur

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Something has dramatically changed my approach to business.

It’s brought me more focus, more energy and more clarity regarding what it means to be a successful entrepreneur.

All of this has resulted in my best year of business.

So what is this “something” that has transformed my business?

Watch the video below for details:

A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social entrepreneur focuses on creating social capital. Thus, the main aim of social entrepreneurship is to further social and environmental goals.
- Source:  Wikipedia, definition of “Social Entrepreneurship“

Pictures From Our Recent Trip To Kenya

Our charity (World Teacher Aid) has been involved with a number of schools and orphanages throughout Kenya and during this trip we were visiting our projects and meeting the people, kids and new communities we will be working with.  Plus, we will be getting ready to begin construction on our first school in Kenya!


A little girl from one of the schools/orphanages we support


One of my favorite pics of the kids in school


Every year we visit this little guy ALWAYS has a smile on his face!


Mumma Tunza started the orphanage and school


Outside with Mumma Tunza


Playing a little soccer with the kids


Having a little fun with the kids :)


Visiting a new school we are helping at an IDP camp


This is where a IDP community of roughly 400 families live


Amy getting to know the kids from one of our new schools


The building site of our new school (construction begins soon!)


The “mud homes” of the new IDP community we’ll be helping


Amy meeting the Chairman of the IDP community we are working with


Look at those smiles… I LOVE meeting these kids


Getting to know the new community we’ll be helping


Soccer is my way of instantly connecting with the kids.  It’s always a
thrill giving them a new soccer ball!

Pictures From Our Recent Trip To Uganda

During this trip to Africa we had the priviledge of visiting the school we’ve been working with in Uganda.  This was the first time we have ever met everyone from this school even though we’ve been working with them for several years.  It was a blast getting to know the teachers and kids and look forward to coming back and seeing the progress of the new projects we began on this trip.


Meeting the cow we recently bought for the school


Watching the kids play soccer with the teachers of our school


The school we support in Uganda


Amy discussing our projects with Angelo (school founder)


Amy and I speaking with the students of the school


The kids showing off their new soccer gear (THANKS KATHY TOON!)


Handing over some goodies to Angelo and Moses


Kids reading the books published through our Write To Give program


Don’t these kids just make your heart melt?


The school soccer pitch


Trying some traditional Ugandan lunch


LEFT:  The girls showing me how to play “netball”
RIGHT:  Going to sell some bananas


The boys playing some soccer in their new gear

Pictures From Our Gorilla Trek (Uganda)

Each time we visit Africa Amy and I always try to see something new.  This time we decided to take a couple days and go on a Gorilla Trek.

It was AMAZING and I highly recommend it.  The drive up also proved to be interesting as well.


Those aren’t horns, these are horns!  LOL


Pit stop at the Equator


Amy saying “hi” from our safari truck


After 7 hours of an intense mountain trek, we found the gorillas!


I guess you’d call this “Gorilla Marketing” LOL


This is the youngest gorilla in the world right now (4 months)


How cute is this?


As always, there were plenty of Baboons


On our drive up to our Gorilla Trek we encountered a family of 12 elephants!

Related posts:

  1. Blog Action Day & Poverty

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23 Responses to “Becoming A Social Entrepreneur”

  1. Tara Kachaturoff Reply 08. Apr, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    Stu –
    Thank you for sharing these touching and beautiful pictures from your trip to Africa. You and Amy are doing so many wonderful things. Thank you for all you do.

  2. Glenn Reply 08. Apr, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    Yes! Stu I get it… Doing it! Let’s all get busy for REAL Value!

  3. Eunice Reply 08. Apr, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Hi Stu and Amy
    Thanks for the beautiful photos I can see you hard a good time with orphanage kids.keep up with your good work.

    Eunice

    • Stu McLaren Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 9:10 am

      Yeh I LOVE spending time with the kids… each year we go back it’s also very rewarding to see them learn and grow.

  4. Doug Reply 08. Apr, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    Stu … Great pics of you & Amy with the kids. “Gorilla Marketing” … that’s a keeper!

  5. Ivan Reply 08. Apr, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    Hi Stu,
    You are doing great job,with those kids,there is nothing more fullfiling then helping others to become their very best.You are great soul.God bless all you are doing.Ivan
    http://www.ivanzitek.com

  6. JPM Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 1:31 am

    Hey Stu, looks like you really had a great experience! I guess it’s when you become a real entrepreneur that you know there’s a real world out there!

    • Stu McLaren Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 9:09 am

      I’m just thankful to my wife who showed me “the real world”. I always gave before but it’s the “experience” of actually going and seeing the people you’re helping that has the impact on the REAL opportunity we have as entrepreneurs.

  7. Ryan Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Hey Stu,

    Long time, no talk… great post! I think it is fantastic what you guys are doing. We have always made charity and giving part of our business but never at this level. I’d like to talk about it more with you.

    I also need some good advice on affiliate marketing – one of your areas of expertise.

    Ryan

    • Stu McLaren Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks Ryan!

      The best way to get advice is on our Instant Business Answers calls – you can get me one-on-one there.

      All the best.

      Stu

  8. Kelly Rudolph Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    “The more money I make, the bigger impact I can have” is an excellent! And social entrepreneurship sounds like a movement you are having a big impact on, Stu. Glad you’re home safe. Great pics. Thank you for making such a difference in the lives you touch every day!

  9. Hugh Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    We are in the early planning stages of building 9 MILLION of these dome homes you see at our site for the world homeless in the next decade through the Social Entrepreneur model.

  10. Mike Lopez Reply 09. Apr, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Awesome trip! Here are my comments:

    @girls teaching you netball – LOL.

    @Having a little fun with the kids – you look like a kid yourself there.

    @Going to sell some bananas – Some huh?!

    @Getting to know the new community we’ll be helping – not hard to spot the white guys. :)

    @Meeting the cow we recently bought for the school – touched!

    @The school we support in Uganda – now that’s just beyond what normal people do. I’d definitely love to do the same soon.

    @gorillas – is the gorilla the white creature wearing a cap in the pic?

    All in all, nice pics and definitely challenging.

    Mike

  11. J.R. Durruthy Reply 15. Apr, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    Stu, you and Amy totally get it. Love IS the answer and you certainly show it. Every entrepreneur out there should either do their part and contribute to society or support individuals or companies like yours that do(by buying your products, which are awesome anyway) like I’ve done and will always do.

    Love you man.

    JR

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