Community entrepreneurs are typically groups or organizations that seek and act on opportunities to transform communities and create a positive impact on community values.
The reason this is different from social entrepreneurship is that many social entrepreneurship models focus on people and disadvantages.
Community entrepreneurship focuses on the community as a whole and creates a sense of abundance for all.
Examples of activities may include:
• A new indoor and outdoor community facility in an urbanized neighborhood
• A community focus on activities that reduce the carbon footprint.
• Business attraction in rural communities
• Make strategic use of IT to connect communities.
• Creating community identities through music and the arts.
What is a community entrepreneur like?
They are in your community. They have a story to tell, a story that has transformed their community. Or have they probably not yet stepped forward to make their mark? Maybe it’s you Here are some ways to identify your local community entrepreneur or even one in the making.
The anatomy of a community entrepreneur
1. Sharp laser vision
Community entrepreneurs have a clear idea of what they want to achieve, both physically and in terms of impact on the community. His vision is ambitious and innovative by all standards. Your challenge is not just to get the interest and support of the community, but to keep the community patient as all good things take time to build.
2. Mind over matter
Bringing a new idea to life requires strategic thinking. People can be suspicious of anything new. New ideas challenge those who take longer to accept change. From the beginning, community entrepreneurs think and plan above the fray.
Conserving energy to focus on achieving results, community entrepreneurs focus on general thinking. Don’t try to jam them, they will find their way forward no matter what the obstacle is.
3. The language of change
To be effective, they must be able to understand and communicate well to influence change. These groups operate within the community, so the change they are influencing affects them as well. They are already speaking the language of the community.
Their role is to motivate and lead through dialogue within the community and enlist the support of stakeholders and other agents of change to achieve the desired results. Failure is not in your vocabulary.
4. Take responsibility
Leadership is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Along the way, others may want more control or they will fade into the background when things don’t go as planned. Individual personalities can make or break a community enterprise. At some point, the group leading the project must step up and take responsibility, especially when it comes to finances, resources, and processes.
5. Maintain a stable balance
They leave instinctive reactions to others. Negotiations require a firm sinew as you walk the tightrope of change. Navigating obstacles, dodging opposition slings and arrows, community entrepreneurs seize their vision and start with a goal and use a plan to get there.
6. Forward momentum
Community entrepreneurs are going places. Don’t look back for them. Driven by the positive energy that permeates the entire community, they will succeed.
The only thing stopping you is your own doubt. Groupthink can get bogged down in dogma. Break the chains once and for all and bring the dream to life.
Is Your Group The Next Generation Community Entrepreneur? Congratulations. There is no better time to start than now. Don’t let doubts win you over before you start.