THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

          Social entrepreneurship is a process that begins with recognition of a perceived social opportunity; translation of that opportunity into an enterprise concept; and identification and acquisition or allocation of resources needed to implement/realize the goals (Kuratko 81). A person or people who lead/captain an organization involved in social entrepreneurship are social entrepreneurs.
    Social entrepreneurship focuses on innovation (perception and translation of a social opportunity), risk taking (which is synonymous with entrepreneurs) and large scale transformation [the enterprise when realized, benefits almost everyone by generating “transformative, financially sustainable solutions to social problems that face the nation” (kuratko 82)]. The target of social entrepreneurs is to solve problems that affect the society (especially those at the bottom of the pyramid – the lower class) and at the same time, make profit (they are not charity organizations). Other synonyms for social entrepreneurship include civic entrepreneurship, public entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurs are also called social innovators.
 An example is Muhammad Yunus, an economist and the founder of the microfinance bank; whereby entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain loans from commercial banks, have access to microcredits at comparatively low interest rates. In 2006 Mohammad Yunus received a nobel prize for his innovation.  
    The social action and responsiveness of corporations involved in social entrepreneurship has been classified into three groups, they are: social obligation (the corporation responds to social pressure only if the law requires that they do so), social responsibility (the corporation is more active in its response compared to the former, and takes responsibility for social problems), social responsiveness (here, the corporation is most active in its response, in that it not only takes responsibility for social problems, but is open to contributions from members of the society).
    A recent development in social entrepreneurship is their involvement in seeking ways to solve environmental problems [such as “the need to preserve and protect natural resources” (Kuratko 83)] in such a way that it benefits the society and the corporation (in terms of profit making). An example of a social entrepreneur involved in solving social-environmental problems is Willie Smith. Through his profession as a microbiologist, conservationist, and animal right activist, he became a social entrepreneur. It all began after he saved and nurtured a baby Borneo Orangutan (a rare species of the ape family). Today, he heads a Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. He is also an advocate for reforestation.


                                                     Works cited
      Kuratko, F. Donald. Introduction to Entrepreneurship. South-Western Canada.           
                                               Cengage Learning, 2009.

     "Muhammad Yunus - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 26 Oct 2012 <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/yunus-bio.html>
 
  “Willie Smits.” Masarang.26 Oct, 2012 <http://www.masarang.nl/en/about-masarang/willie-  smits-   en.shtml>

THE FAB. LIFE (WHAT A LIFE!)

THE FAB LIFE OF FILTHY RICH BILLIONAIRES

In a world of more than 7 billion people, only a mere 793 are billionaires (what an uncommon species!). It was after I watched the video on the fabulous life of filth rich billionaires, that I began to understand how extremely extravagant these ‘rare breeds’ can be. When it comes to spending and lavishing, billionaires are simply despicable. Here are 2 of the few billionaires that almost left my jaw hanging even before the video had gone halfway:
Born July 31, 1958, Mark Cuban is an American business man, worth more than $2 billion. A graduate of business administration, he is basically involved in the internet business and other technologies. Mark said, “I’m the luckiest guy in the world and when I die I want to come back as me.” who would blame him? For someone who bought a house (sorry) a 34,000 sq. ft. Dallas mansion for $15 million (wait for the best part) without even setting eyes on it!!!  In this mansion is a gazebo, large enough to be called a ‘millionaire’s mansion’, however Mark refers to it as ‘a place to keep his barbecue grill out of the rain.’
In 2005, he bought himself a Gulfstream V for a whopping $42 million – with a full time pilot, wood imported from Ivory Coast, 24 carat gold cup holders and state of the art technology, all customized to Mark’s specifications.
He also bought the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks for a mouth-watering $285 million. According to reporter Nadira Hira, of Fortune Magazine, “this gives billionaires the opportunity to own people.” One begins to wander if these billionaires have limits!

A more fascinating example is the 49 -year old Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, worth more than an astonishing $20 billion. In 1997, he built himself a palace that cost $130 million (Royal Billionaire). According to a reporter, this palace is bigger, grander and probably more lavished than the homes of the top five billionaires ALL PUT TOGETHER!! With 317 rooms, the palace occupies a space of 400,000 sq. ft. Also, there is a 20 ft. high wall of water fountain and a 75 ft. high jewelled winding staircase (that’s not the end of it) this palace is so large that people usually get lost in it and have to be rescued by one of the 180 search and rescue staff (absolutely absurd!)
He also owns a 747 Jumbo Boeing Jet (the monster of the Boeing line) with 40,000 cubic ft. of well decorated and excessively lavished space. An average Jumbo Jet costs $200 million you can only imagine how much it costs to build an awfully lavished one… (dream on). According to Mickey Broadman, “these billionaires fly on private jets the way you and I need to walk”

This is only a tip of the ice berg. I’ll suggest you visit the link; <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRzg8u_eLnc>  to see for yourself the awfully incredible ways these billionaires live. I look forward to being a billionaire someday (by the Almighty’s grace) however, a very distinct one – a more prudent one (like my father always says, "it's not easy, but it's very possible"). Till then, lets keep watching the 'big boys' with the the 'big doughs' as they inspire and depress us at the same time (no hard feelings).