Social entrepreneurs develop solutions that lead to measurable outcomes by establishing repeatable change models that are developed and implemented inclusively and with a long-term perspective. They leverage existing assets and measure social impact by outcomes rather than just outputs. The document outlines six habits of highly effective social entrepreneurs: developing solutions; measuring outcomes; establishing change models; practicing inclusion; leveraging assets; and thinking long-term. It provides examples and encourages readers to learn more at socialcreatives.org.

1. 6
The Habits of
^
Highly Effective
S O C I A L
Entrepreneurs

2. We are what we
repeatedly do.
Excellence, then,
is not an act, but
a habit.
Aristotle

3. # 1
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Develop
S OLUTIONS
S

4. They don’t just
“make some noise”
and ask for
donations and
signatures.

5. They come up with
new solutions...
especially those that
BREAK PATTERNS
and change systems.

6. And they do this
over and over again.

7. S OLUTIONS
S

8. S OLUTIONS
S

9. S OLUTIONS
S

10. They’re always asking
“How can things
be better?”

11. "Social entrepreneurs are not
content just to give a fish or
teach how to fish.
They will not rest until
they have revolutionized
the fishing industry."
Ashoka founder Bill Drayton

12. # 2
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Measure
O UTCOMES
O

13. They know the difference between
Outputs vs. Outcomes
your effort - your impact -
number of widgets how the world is
you sell better

14. If you’re
helping people,
are they
healthier,
richer, happier,
more skilled or
educated, etc.?

15. If you’re helping the
environment, is it
cleaner, more protected,
more biodiverse, etc.?

16. increased
income?
O UTCOMES

17. fewer
deaths?
O UTCOMES

18. better
health?
O UTCOMES

19. fewer
cars?
O UTCOMES

20. They measure outcomes and
manage their success by
OUTCOMES
not outputs.

21. “If you can't measure it,
you can't manage it.
If you can't manage it,
you can't deliver it.
If you can't deliver it,
you have no social value.”
David Hunter
Nonprofit management consultant

22. # 3
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Establish
C hange Models
C

23. They know SOLUTIONS don’t
automatically lead to OUTCOMES
S≠O
The world is more
complicated!

24. Change requires PROCESS,
not just PRODUCT.
So you need to
establish and
validate
change models...
your formulas for
change.

25. S + A + B + C... = O
And it needs to be
repeatable and scalable.

26. Business vs. Change
Models Models
profit change

27. Solar lantern ≠
Less Indoor
Pollution

28. Solar lantern +
microloan +
warranty =
Less Indoor
Pollution

29. Lantern +
charging station +
warranty =
Less Indoor
Pollution

30. C hange Model
C

31. If you can’t explain it simply,
you don’t understand it well enough.

32. # 4
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Practice
I nclusion
I

33. They’ve learned the hard way
to create change WITH not FOR.

34. They design and implement
solutions WITH input and
involvement of beneficiaries.

35. Grameen Bank
They even involve
beneficiaries as
owners,
employees and
evangelists.
Invisible Children’s ME
ND

36. Because the rules of
INNOVATION
have changed.

37. Design WITH not FOR!
I
I nclusion

38. Design WITH not FOR!
I
I nclusion

39. If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
~ African Proverb ~

40. # 5
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Leverage
A ssets
A

41. They know investors don’t fund
IDEAS.
They fund RESULTS.

42. So the key to initial
success is not
BUSINESS PLANS.
It’s your own
BOOTSTRAPS.

43. Learn to leverage existing
ASSETS...

44. People Skills
Assets
Resources Networks
Organizations

45. A ssets
A

46. A ssets
A

47. A ssets
A

48. Use success to build
more success.
That’s the way
the world works.

49. Do what you can
with what you have
where you are.
~ Teddy Roosevelt ~

50. # 6
b it
Ha
Social Entrepreneurs Think
L ong-term
L

51. Real change stands
the test of time.
That means solutions
need to last.

52. And they need to be sustainable...
financially ecologically

53. Social entrepreneurs are always
thinking YEARS ahead...
What solutions do we need
10 or 20 years into the future?

54. L ong-term: Spread
L

55. SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST (FIRST EDITION)
Before induction of anaesthesia Before skin incision Before patient leaves operating room
SIGN IN TIME OUT SIGN OUT
PATIENT HAS CONFIRMED CONFIRM ALL TEAM MEMBERS HAVE NURSE VERBALLY CONFIRMS WITH THE
• IDENTITY INTRODUCED THEMSELVES BY NAME AND TEAM:
• SITE ROLE
• PROCEDURE THE NAME OF THE PROCEDURE RECORDED
• CONSENT SURGEON, ANAESTHESIA PROFESSIONAL
AND NURSE VERBALLY CONFIRM THAT INSTRUMENT, SPONGE AND NEEDLE
SITE MARKED/NOT APPLICABLE • PATIENT COUNTS ARE CORRECT (OR NOT
• SITE APPLICABLE)
ANAESTHESIA SAFETY CHECK COMPLETED • PROCEDURE
HOW THE SPECIMEN IS LABELLED
PULSE OXIMETER ON PATIENT AND FUNCTIONING ANTICIPATED CRITICAL EVENTS (INCLUDING PATIENT NAME)
DOES PATIENT HAVE A: SURGEON REVIEWS: WHAT ARE THE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY EQUIPMENT
CRITICAL OR UNEXPECTED STEPS, PROBLEMS TO BE ADDRESSED
KNOWN ALLERGY? OPERATIVE DURATION, ANTICIPATED
NO BLOOD LOSS? SURGEON, ANAESTHESIA PROFESSIONAL
YES AND NURSE REVIEW THE KEY CONCERNS
ANAESTHESIA TEAM REVIEWS: ARE THERE FOR RECOVERY AND MANAGEMENT
DIFFICULT AIRWAY/ASPIRATION RISK? ANY PATIENT-SPECIFIC CONCERNS? OF THIS PATIENT
NO
YES, AND EQUIPMENT/ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE NURSING TEAM REVIEWS: HAS STERILITY
(INCLUDING INDICATOR RESULTS) BEEN
RISK OF >500ML BLOOD LOSS CONFIRMED? ARE THERE EQUIPMENT
(7ML/KG IN CHILDREN)? ISSUES OR ANY CONCERNS?
NO
YES, AND ADEQUATE INTRAVENOUS ACCESS HAS ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS BEEN GIVEN
AND FLUIDS PLANNED WITHIN THE LAST 60 MINUTES?
YES
NOT APPLICABLE
IS ESSENTIAL IMAGING DISPLAYED?
YES
NOT APPLICABLE
THIS CHECKLIST IS NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE. ADDITIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO FIT LOCAL PRACTICE ARE ENCOURAGED.
L ong-term: Spread
L

56. Scale outcomes,
not organizations.

57. If you think in terms of a year,
plant a seed;
if in terms of 10 years,
plant trees;
if in terms of 100 years,
teach the people.
~ Confucius ~

58. In summary...

59. Social Entrepreneurs...
Develop S OLUTIONS
Measure O UTCOMES
O
Establish C HANGE MODELS
C
Practice I NCLUSION
Leverage A SSETS
Think L ONG-TERM

60. Social Entrepreneurship is about...
Developing S OLUTIONS
that lead to O UTCOMES
O
using C HANGE MODELS
C
that are I NCLUSIVE
A SSET-BASED
and L ONG-LASTING

61. To learn more
about the six habits
and download
multimedia and
toolkits for each,
visit
socialcreatives.org

62. “How is the world
different because
you are here?”
Bill Drayton
Founder, Ashoka

63. Charles Tsai
charles@socialcreatives.org
www.socialcreatives.org

64. Social Creatives Workshops
We offer social innovation workshops tailored to
secondary school and university students.
•Social Entrepreneurship 101
•Six Habits of Highly Effective
SOCIAL Entrepreneurs
•Impact Dashboards - How to
Demonstrate Measurable Change
•Business Models for Social Change

65. Charles Tsai
Social Entrepreneurship Educator
Charles Tsai is a journalist, writer, speaker
and consultant for social entrepreneurs.
A former reporter and producer for CNN,
Charles ventured into the social sector to
help youth design and implement their
own solutions for change. He then helped
Ashoka launch its first global campaigns
to support youth-led social ventures.
Now, he has launched SOCIAL Creatives,
a new framework to learn, teach and
practice social entrepreneurship.