In the social enterprise world (not unlike the "real" world) the social entrepreneur hopes for that one big opportunity through which all hopes and dreams will be fullfilled. At the School for Social Entrepreneurs in Sydney this past week we had an example of that. One student received a call from the Prime Minister's office to be a part of a "town meeting" in which this student was able to make her 1 minute project pitch to the PM directly. Immediately doors swung off their hinges and her project leaped lightyears forward. We, students, listened to this story mouths-a-gaped, applauding success and drooling with envy at such a win as this.
But let's talk reality. Most of us in the social world will not get that kind of opportunity. And it's ok. What we will get is this: the opportunity to make the small connections which over time will add up to a powerful force for change in our communities.
Social Entrepreneurs can be loners. I speak from experience. It's not just a male thing, but there's got to be some connection, that we think we can do this thing alone. No one can really do it as well as I can! And we try to develop projects which are not well-connected to anybody else's. It's almost as if we think taking time to connect will slow us down in our projects moving forward.
I am learning what it means to connect; yes, even to schmooze. Schmoozing is that ability to put yourself and your project forward, to develop presence, to let people know who you are and what you are about. And to do so confidently and assertively without missing many opportunities. And this has been a learning curve for me. But what's amazing, I see it paying off a little at a time.
Let me give two recent examples.
Neville is the head of Mission Australia's Work for the Dole programme in Canberra region. We met a couple times and he shared his dreams with me. We hoped these dreams would materialise through M.A. but the government had something else in mind when they didn't award them the contract and Neville was to soon be out of a job.
When the Jobs Funds were made available through the government, we at NationsHeart called for a round-table discussion on how we could approach this opportunity. Despite Neville's future uncertainty, I decided to ring him and invite him to this discussion. He came. We had some great talks about dreams and methods and enterprises. Two weeks later we learned that Neville has been appoint head of the Belconnen region of Campbell Page which won the government grant for Work Opportunities. We look forward to having this connection in such a opportune place and time as this.
One more illustration of my point.
Last month I decided to attend a seminar hosted by Social Ventures Australia offered in Sydney in order to connect (with anybody!). I had heard that SVA was starting enterprise hubs and were tragetting Canberra. I wanted to have some connection to this endeavour but was finding emails not returned, dead-ends to connections and uncertainty about this project. This Syndey trip cost me project time and money as I had to stay overnight in Sydney (out of my own pocket) to make the seminar.
At the meeting I had the privilege of meeting the speaker and the host leader. (Doing this is neither naturally or easy for me). Then I was told someone was there who was leading a conference the next day on the Jobs Fund. I was doing the same in Canberra and wanted to connect with her to get her notes for the next day. My only opportunity was to try to talk with Mandy at the break. But the moment the break was called for I saw someone (whom I realised was not going to stop chatting with Mandy for the entire break) cornering her. I felt my opportunity was lost.
Unlike the Ron of old, after waiting 5 minutes, I approached the pair and interrupted them. I explained my dilemma, excused my rudeness and made a quick overview of my needs to Mandy. The connection I made was not more than 3 minutes, I got what I needed and she could put a face and a project to my name. These two went back into their discussion.
Yesterday, I received an email from this Mandy. Mandy is moving to Canberra to work on the hubs that I had been pursuing with frustration and that we would be catching up soon. This connection should and could be valuable toward the future of our projects.
Being from a church culture and trained as a preacher we were told we must be ready to preach, pray and die at a moment's notice. None of which I really took seriously. As a social entrepreneur we need to be ready to make connections at every turn. That, we must take seriously. You really never know when and which ones will pay off. Yes, you may get that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But it's really going to be the never-miss-a-little-opportunity ones that will win us the day.
Ronaldo
16 May 2009
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