In Candace Coker’s blog “Social Entrepreneurship: A New Perspective on Business!“, she believes that business is really about impact and social entrepreneurship has successfully captured this aspect.  I agree with her thought and I think that nowadays, more entrepreneurs need to raise their awareness in making more contributions and changing the society in a positive way through their businesses.  I think making a profit and bringing positive impacts to the society does not contradict each other.

For example, TOMS Shoes is a for-profit company that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold.  This donation may decrease the profit the company earns, but it enhanced its corporate image, and more importantly, it helped to solve poverty problems.

On the contrary, some entrepreneurs would try to make profits using very dirty methods.  In China, some restaurant owners would use gutter oil that is recycled from garbage or sewage to cook food for their customers.  These oil are often bought from the black market at a very cheap price.  Although it will generate a bit more profit for the business owners by cutting back the cost, it will harm thousands and millions of people’s health.

Entrepreneurs are gifted people who are innovative, confident, and brave.  Blessed with such gifts, why can’t people just put them into good use and improve our society?

(Photo credit: Kwaku Alston/Courtesy Company; AFP / Getty Images)

Resources:

Coker, Candace. “Social Entrepreneurship: A New Perspective On Business!.” Candace Coker Blog. N.p., 4 Nov. 2013. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. <https://blogs.ubc.ca/candacecoker/2013/11/04/44/>.

“America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs.” BusinessWeek. Bloomberg, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. <http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/04/0403_social_entrepreneurs/26.htm>.

Song, Sophie. “China’s Gutter Oil Scandal: 1/10 Of China’s Cooking Oil May Be Recycled From Garbage.”International Business Times. N.p., 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ibtimes.com/chinas-gutter-oil-scandal-110-chinas-cooking-oil-may-be-recycled-garbage-1448384>.