So, Todd Hannula had a pretty well-aimed rant towards the end of last year at inward-looking research-y type posts on the blog, so this blog's New Year resolution is to focus more on what matters: the people who are doing it; why they are doing it; and how they are going about it.
To that end, my final top 10 over this start of the New Year period is the top 10 things in this social entrepreneurship world that inspired me in 2008, rather than the 10 things that got my goat.
1) SSE students (and Fellows): an obvious place to start, maybe, but this is why we do what we do…and both the programmes that completed in 2008, and those that started, have been full of inspirational people creating positive change, motivating communities, taking personal responsibility, inspiring others and….inspiring us through the tougher moments as well.
2) Obama: OK, he's not our president, but it was a great event, and one that's given genuine hope (and unrealistic expectation) to America and the world. I certainly wouldn't have stayed up till 5 in the morning to hear many other presidential candidates speak….
3) Work well received by new audiences: Sometimes being bogged down, head down, in the UK scene, and the machinations of advocacy and delivery…it's easy to lose sight of what we're doing, and how well we're doing it. So giving speeches in Toronto and Beijing, and doing workshops withnew audiences like the Teach First ambassadors, reminded me of that, and provided a new slug of inspiration.
4) Social entrepreneurs are….the same the world over: While I'm on the international subject, another thing that inspired me, especially given SSE's potential international work, was how similar social entrepreneurs (and their needs, barriers, opinions, and debates) are, no matter the country they are in.
5) Estates: the most interesting, informative and influential book I've read this year (work-wise), though I have heard that a rogue 'social entrepreneur' features in the Booker-prize winning White Tiger which I got for Christmas…..other top books here
6) Shine + other unconferences: Shine 08 was a great success, IMHO (check out the live social reporting site as well), with a good vibe, dynamism and pragmatism to it; we'll be looking to build on it at Shine 09, along with our partners UnLtd, Ashoka and the Hub (+ the real workers behind it, Germination). Of other unconference-type events, Social Innovation Camp is definitely beginning to roll, and 2gether was a lot of fun.
7) Storytelling session at Skoll: The best session at the Skoll World Forum ever (and I've been at them all), and probably at any event this year. And introduced me to James Orbinski, and his book An Imperfect Offering, both of which are amazing.
8) This day: Charlie Leadbeater and Peter Holbrook: One of my favourite days of the year, giving my head and heart a good work out, and satisfying my yin and yang of conceptual and practical work. Both great and inspiring people to learn from.
9) GreenPrint: A little thing, perhaps, but a great example of a product that works and advocates and fundraises all in one; so far, I've "not printed" 183 pages I would have normally (which has also saved SSE $20.80 apparently; which was £10 ish but is now more like about £14). Genius little widget from PrintGreener.com
10) SSE's 10 year reunion dinner: And back to SSE for number 10, appropriately, for our 10 year anniversary reunion dinner. It was great to meet people from the first cohort or two, great to learn more about the initiation of the organisation, and great to get a sense from people how far the organisation has come…and how much further it can go.
Here's to 100s and 100s more inspiring people and moments in 2009.
