Social enterprise: Is it for you?

At the moment, social enterprise is a fringe activity, a bit like bridge or taxidermy. However, if it is going to make a dent on the economy and society of the 21st century we actually need it to be the next Facebook! Everybody needs to be at it, particularly bright young things. Social enterprise is a great place to start a career. But is it for you?

It is important to ask yourself this question because success in social enterprise doesn't come easily. The sacrifices that you will need to make are large and the risks are high. Can you live with uncertainty? Can you handle having total responsibility for the success of your venture?

This is not intended to put you off, but the fact is that really making it in social enterprise is tough.

Social entrepreneurs are special and unusual creatures because they have the ability to create and deliver new responses to problems.

Where most people never get beyond their lattes and laptops, social entrepreneurs are people who decide to take real action to create change.

When I was 24, I had a 'lightning bolt' moment, when I realised this was what I wanted to achieve.

I was working with a group of people with learning disabilities, and through hearing about their lives (or in many cases, lack of lives), realised that if I didn't do something, no-one else would. This was when I founded Speaking Up.

The following three years were hard. Really hard. I had to learn everything as I went along. I made some horrendous mistakes. For three years I worked like a horse, surviving on a diet of Pot Noodles, Red Bull and determination.

This might sound like a sob story, but it was also one of the best times of my life. Building something from scratch gave me a tremendous sense of freedom and creativity. What was really driving me was the knowledge that Speaking Up wouldn’t be happening if we weren't doing it.

This was an emotional rollercoaster. The highs were stupendous, and the lows terrible. But there were more highs than lows.

The most exciting parts of being a social entrepreneur will probably surpass anything you’ll ever experience at work. But be under no illusions - the worst times can be really dreadful. The success and livelihood of your business can depend on a letter in an envelope telling you yes or no.

I experienced losing staff, people saying 'Told you so' and, when times were bad, feeling that years of my life had been lost down the drain.

You will need passion and commitment to your cause. But you also need the right skills.

We all know people who have passion in bucket-loads only to crash and burn because they don't have what it takes.

So what is the golden formula? A recent study for the School for Social Entrepreneurs identified that three of the core attributes of successful social entrepreneurs are fantastic networking skills, an exceptional aptitude for learning, and a realistic assessment of their own abilities.

This couldn't be more true. You've got to be able to build networks of support around you to sustain you, amplify your influence and promote what you are doing. Word of mouth is one of the strongest forms of marketing your offer.

Learn whatever you can from everyone you meet and every organisation that strikes you as a success.

And, perhaps most vital of all, you need the right people. Know your own strengths and weaknesses. Utitlise your strengths, and grow a balanced team you can trust around you. Ones who excel in the areas that you lack. Only then can you develop something truly sustainable.

Good luck!

Craig Dearden-Phillips is the CEO of Speaking Up, an advocacy charity that supports people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and physical disabilities to find their voices, take action, and create positive change. He is also a Social Enterprise Ambassador.