Week 1: How to Change the World

I read the first three chapters of "How to Change the World" by David Bornstein. The first chapter of the book helps me better understand what a social entrepreneur is.  When I first thought of entrepreneurship, I did not think about that there was a social aspect to it, and only thought about the startups that made millions. Then I found out about social entrepreneurship and it sounded like I could do something meaningful in that career path.  I really wanted to learn more about social entrepreneurship because I have always been passionate about the social issues. The book assured me that it is possible to become social entrepreneur and be successful. It said that the nonprofit sector was one of the fastest growing sectors showing me that there will be opportunities for me to be a part of that success.

Chapter 2 and 3 of the book were about two people who changed the community they lived in with their ideas. One was an Indian teacher that came up with a new way of teaching students and the other one was a man living in Brazil who wanted to bring electricity to rural Brazil. What I notice in both of these people's story they both were constantly criticized for their new ideas. They were both outcast for these ideas even though they were doing a good thing. In the Brazilian man's situation, I thought the government would be willing to consider his ideas as a option to solve their problems with rural Brazil but it was the opposite, they constantly stopped his work. In the end his dream was accomplished, so it did not matter what really got in his way. It really showed me how much perseverance social entrepreneurs need to accomplish their goal for social change. I cannot expect to instantly help people if I have an idea. I have to understand that there will be failures and success.