Last week I wrote a tongue-in-cheek ten point plan to get rich quick. David K. Williams, one of my Forbes colleagues, asked that I answer my sarcasm with an authentic ten point plan. Here it is:
- Save every penny. Social entrepreneurs as a general rule can make a bigger difference with less money than entrepreneurs without a social mission. Scrimp, save and devote your own resources to your cause. Whether your venture is for profit or not, start with putting your own money to work with you.
- Keep your day job. One of the key lessons I learned while writing Your Mark On The World was how much impact one person can have if the money she raises for her venture doesn’t have to go to paying her living expenses. Steven Dee Wrigley, about whom I posted a few weeks ago, is a great example. He’s a social entrepreneur who works nights to fund his day-time charitable work. You won’t keep that job forever, but keep your job as long as possible; let your current employer help fund your new gig.
