Social entrepreneurship, which is the application of entrepreneurial tools and techniques to non-profits, is gaining recognition both in entrepreneurship circles and among non-profits. Fast Company has honored those non-profits they consider the 25 best social entrepreneurs.
Who are these social entrepreneurs? Endeavor Global is one example.
“Consider the work of Endeavor Global, a New York-based nonprofit that seeds economic growth in developing countries by supporting the work of large-scale entrepreneurs. In 2002, 97 companies funded by Endeavor generated $332 million in revenue and created 8,562 jobs in Latin America.”
One of my favorites is the Grameen Foundation USA, which “uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world’s poorest people.”
How do they achieve this goal?
“With tiny loans, financial services and technology, we help the poor, mostly women, start self-sustaining businesses to escape poverty. Our global network of microfinance partners has already reached more than 800,000 families in 20 countries.”
This group of non-profits clearly shows that it is the private sector that best addresses even the toughest problems our world faces. Explore these remarkable social entrepreneurs and offer them any help you can.

The first Carnival of the Capitalist of this year can be found at Management Craft. A great first offering of COTC for 2005.

I don’t always see eye to eye with the editors over at Inc magazine, but I could agree more with their choice for Entrepreneur of the Year for 2004.
“Above 100,000 feet, the air is so thin that wings become useless and aerodynamics stop mattering. Climbing higher takes sheer propulsion – propulsion that air-breathing jet engines can’t deliver in the deepening vacuum. Here is where the sky ends, the horizon curving away to reveal the star-freckled shadow of space. Call it nature’s Maginot Line, separating the world of planes from the world of rockets….(H)istory may pinpoint the breach (of that line) to that moment on October 4 when an orca-shaped, stubby-winged aircraft planted its almost comically spindly legs on a runway in California’s Mojave Desert. In so doing, the privately funded SpaceShipOne had carried humans to space and back again twice within a week, earning its owners the Ansari X-Prize, meant to spur the opening of the age of commercial space travel.
“The man leading the team that took home that prize is, of course, Elbert Leander ‘Burt’ Rutan.”

The best part is he took a craft into space not once, but twice, with a company that falls well within the boundaries of “small business.” He has 125 employees! For achieving this remarkable accomplishment, his company won the $10 million X-prize. But more importantly he will always be remembered at the father of a new industry: commercial space travel.
If you haven’t seen the documentary about this story, it is worth buying.

I have known a few men over the years who carry purses. It always jars me a bit to see this (knowing these folks I am sure that was their intended effect). One male former colleague who carried a purse always reminded me that I was “just not European enough to understand.” I always took as a complement.
However, this morning I read in the Tennessean that purses for men, also known as carryalls, are catching on. Could I be that far behind the times, again? I know I’m a Luddite when it comes to technology, but is it possible that I am a fashion curmudgeon? To reassure myself, I do a couple of quick Google searches. The results were 3,930 hits for “mens carryalls”, and 344,000 for mens purses. One hit from Inc.com suggests that they are “perfect for visiting a client, sending e-mails from Starbucks, or hanging out at the gym.” I guess it has been a while since I’ve been to the gym, after all!
But, women are not giving up their purses without a fight. Red Herring tells us that women’s purses are morphing with computer bags to create a new generation of women’s accessories.
“Targus, which boasts a 21-year history of making computer accessories, is convinced women are tired of the black notebook cases dominating store shelves. The company did surveys and focus groups to find out what women want, ‘all the way down to the zipper pull and the lining of the cases,’ said Ms. Wirth. The company plans to sell them online and in stores like Office Depot.”
Change. As an entrepreneur I love it. It creates new opportunities around every corner. But, as a middle-aged guy it sure can be hard to keep up with it all….

Last one for 2004!

Reggie White was a leader.
Reggie was a leader with integrity. He spoke his mind and always acted in ways that were true to his values.
Reggie was a leader with courage. He understood what was right and good and never wavered from his convictions.
Reggie was a leader with vision. He saw the Packers as a franchise that could be great once again, and helped to bring others with him to Green Bay to make his vision a reality.
Reggie was a humble leader. He understood that his gifts were from God and that it was his obligation to make the most of them.
Reggie was a leader who understood what was really important. His faith was always first, followed closely by his family. His community was next. Football followed all of these.

The Nativity, Philippe de Champaigne, 1643.
May the joy and peace of Christmas be with all of you.
I will return next Monday.

The Holiday season finds Carnival of the Capitalists at XTremeBlog.

Patent Pending offers a yuletide post: a Santa Claus detector (US Patent #5,523,741).

Anita Campbell at Small Business Trends interviews Watts Wacker, a futurist, to find out his predictions of the major trends for 2005. One includes a 1400 calories burger. Yikes! Just what I need this Holiday season!