Giving in to what organisations want instead of sticking to what you know is right….or being too flexible so stakeholders take you for a ride……you are selling your birthright for power, prestige and connections.
Would you lose all morals for that……and it doesn’t have to be big, it can be as small as agreeing to something that you internally know you don’t like.
Don’t do it! Stick to your guns…will it mean shooting yourself in the foot? sometimes but if you do things from a place of truth that is more important and it sets standards for those around you as well.
In the beginning of SSE when I knew I got in I shared what was happening with an American Indian/ Maori Seer that is a good friend of mine and she had simply shared how people will be in it for more than what you think etc
Sitting in a more realistic position now at the end of the year and reflecting on the amount of time I have put into this school, the people involved including stakeholders connected to the School and what they’ve asked from me is quite a sobering reflection.
I have set up a social enterprise before and I haven’t set up this organisation yet and all year I’ve been disseminating information gained and entertaining relationships with everyone who pulls at you and your project and now I just want to withdrawal from all of it feeling distracted and so I can concentrate. I’m disappointed with how little resources have been given to support our projects such as a Social Enterprise Business Plan – a basic tool I would have thought.
I can see clearly how SSE comes under SVA and how they organise everything including the Business Angels. They’ve been writing an article about my relationship with the Angels throughout the year to encourage more Angels to work with students which is fantastic. However, all the information I gave has been ‘edited’ which means changed to suit and some of it no longer true…… I’ve been asked to look over it but they want it signed off by lunchtime today. incredible…..so I’ve asked for my contribution to be withdrawn…..and SSE now wants to help me find common language to complete it, adding insult to injury as no apology or acknowledgement has come from SVA . It shall be an interesting day.
To be quite frank I think social enterprises were done before SVA came along or SSE for that matter and if anyone wants you to think that you can’t do it without them and their input than they’re kidding themselves.
I also feel passionate about Social Entrepreneurs needing the space and isolation like a butterfly in a cocoon because all of the things they do on their own, all of the little breakthroughs stretch our muscle and pump our blood to our wings to make these projects fly – some of us need the struggle to make things happen and I know I don’t need someone helping me to break open the cocoon for me because that will do more damage than good, it can ruin the potential to fly. i.e don’t let anyone else tell you what they think is best for you and your project because you will know deep within you what is right and you are the only one who knows all the details and no one else can see in your head.
I have heard a speaker with a very successful Social Enterprise that helps thousands of people annually – she talked about how she built this successful enterprise and then was introduced to some very savvy business women who became her board members and they guided her in a direction that was away from her purpose and the mission of her Social Enterprise……..so I want to point out that yes the corporate sector has alot to offer however they also need to respect our space, knowledge, expertise and inherent abilities to do our projects often with intuitive skillsets they know nothing about and could learn alot from us as well.
I have learnt a great deal this year and all of which I am very grateful for and I write these experiences knowing it could shoot myself in the foot regarding connections, networks, reputations but I’m not selling what I believe in to anybody for limited success, position, prestige, money or power and I want to speak the truth of my experience because if I’ve gone through it there will be others coming after me who will go through this too and they need to know wht they’re feeling is absolutely legitimate.
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