Describe what is really meant by the term "Ask for forgiveness and not for permission" for the social entrepreneur. Give an example of how a social entrepreneur might use this term. Due Wednesday, Sept. 29
“It may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but this way of thinking has met with success at Coffee With A Conscience” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 57). In our text, Succeeding at Social Enterprise, Wendy Baumann and Julann Jatczak describe what the term “ask for forgiveness and not for permission” has meant to them and their social business venture, Coffee With A Conscience. This phrase represents a method of doing business in which the entrepreneur takes the initiative to go for an opportunity or expand on a venture before getting the consent of board or staff members. Baumann and Jatczak describe it as simply “going for it” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 47). To “go for it,” as a social entrepreneur, means to do what you think is correct and necessary now. In doing so, this “go for it” attitude should still benefit the community along with your organization to create the best social value possible. Sometimes, in a social enterprise, there is no time to consult with board or staff members; the entrepreneur must take a risk before an opportunity passes by. Social entrepreneurs are by virtue efficient and innovative as well as quick to respond to an opportunity or idea when it presents itself. Baumann and Jatczak tell of their personal experience with this concept, stating, “There are times when a decision had to be made, and a committee structure would have surely killed it. We aren’t always right, but we’ve earned the respect of our board and staff as our organization’s guide toward self-sufficiency” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 48).
Permission from the board or staff members of a social entrepreneur may take longer than necessary to implement the social need or value itself and can cause the need to be completely overlooked. Therefore, if a social need presents itself and its creation will coincide with the mission of the organization the social entrepreneur should continue on with the implementation and then ask for the forgiveness of the board or staff members of its organization (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010). Baumann and Jatczak state at the end of this text, “People will understand that you came from a place of goodness, not exploitation” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg.64).
References: Alliance, Social Enterprise. (2010). Succeeding at Social Enterprise: Hard-Won Lessons for Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurs. Wiley.
When analyzing the meaning of “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” it is easy to think this statement is reversed. We generally think that asking for permission in the beginning will give us the big thumbs up, but “it is often a bureaucratic road block that allows perfect opportunities to slip away” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 47). When developing opportunities for your social enterprise it is important to “run with an idea” rather than wait and get permission. Executing the idea will not always get the approval from everyone, but going full force into creating value among the “board/staff –led organization” is a must (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 56). Providing “tangible resources to sell the idea” will influence and give the organization a hands on experience that can further their decisions for permission (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 57). Having said this, we find that the true meaning of “Ask for forgiveness and not for permission” is a strategy used to go directly into marketing a new idea to an organization in hopes of creating value and success to the social enterprise and society. A social entrepreneur may use the term “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” when they are attempting to resolve a social issue. When attempting to do good things, steps that are taken still require others permission. For a social entrepreneur asking for permission is a step that should be skipped for the majority but sometimes isn’t. A social entrepreneur’s actions are to help others, which should be dealt with first and explained later. When helping people, we as a society need to act when we can and instead of asking to do so, this is why a social entrepreneur may use this term.
“Succeeding at Social Enterprise” outlines the concept of asking forgiveness rather than permission through their concept Coffee With a Conscience. While a strong board-staff relationship is important in any enterprise it is also important to take risks, especially within social enterprise. This idea of asking forgiveness rather than permission is basically making smart investments and business ventures without asking permission from the board or staff members. Once the business venture has taken place and succeeded or failed you must then ask for forgiveness. However, there are several preexisting factors and certain criteria that you must follow. “You must work hard to earn the trust and confidence of your board and staff” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 57). Also, the timing must be right for the board in order for them to contentedly accept your venture. When presenting your idea you must help the board and staff touch and feel the opportunity. Lastly, you must be prepared for objections and cynicism to your opportunity. As a social entrepreneur, businesses are created based on risks and you must remember sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. A good example of this forgiveness over permission method can be seen with Tom’s Shoes. Blake Mycoskie, the founder of the company, had no idea if his shoes would be successful, especially considering his unique shoe design. He set up and started the company anyways though, without guarantee of success and any board of directors, and took a chance which paid off. Of course any risk is calculated and mostly the program was to shoe the children of a village he visited in Argentina, but still he could have lost considerable money and financial damage personally had the company failed. The success of his venture made asking for forgiveness pointless but the point is his plan could have backfired but he took the chance anyways, with the only people he needed forgiveness from being the children he may have promised shoes for.
Paul Brady, Whitney Buchanan, Dennis Andrews, Chris Ruffin
In order to get some things going at a speed that works, one must, at times, just do it. At times, bureaucratic steps force the death of some very good and worthwhile ideas. The statement “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” refers to this concept. First go and peruse that great idea and later, apologize for disobeying procedural boundaries. “Ask for forgiveness and not for permission”, from the social entrepreneur perspective is more like a strategy rather than a saying. When the opportunities or ideas arise, it is better to take the initiative to go for it, because sometimes in a social enterprise the process of getting a granted permission is not easily accepted. In theory a social entrepreneur will attempt to take on the opportunity without asking for permission first, and then later ask for forgiveness if necessary.
For a social entrepreneur, the term "ask for forgiveness and not for permission" can be interpreted as going out and physically making a change when you see a need for it instead of waiting for someone to give you the okay to do it. In the non- profit world, or if you are just trying to change something for the better and there is some idea you want to try out, it makes more sense to test it now and then apologize later if someone has a problem with you doing that. This is in preference to asking whether you can try out an idea and then getting rejected right away. It's easy to say no to something when you do not know what it is you are being asked. Also, when other people recognize this need they will be able to "forgive" any extra sacrifice that they may make for going an extra mile to help the cause. An example of how an entrepreneur might use this term is the nonprofit organization Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS). EARS deals with emergency rescue of animals in need in extreme situations, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. EARS has a entrepreneurial spirit because they saw a need that needed to filled. The members of this organization are having to go out in emergency situations, take things into their own hands, and make decisions without asking permission to do so. They often have to live in the moment and do what they think is best for the animal and others that make come in contact with it.
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ReplyDelete“It may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but this way of thinking has met with success at Coffee With A Conscience” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 57). In our text, Succeeding at Social Enterprise, Wendy Baumann and Julann Jatczak describe what the term “ask for forgiveness and not for permission” has meant to them and their social business venture, Coffee With A Conscience. This phrase represents a method of doing business in which the entrepreneur takes the initiative to go for an opportunity or expand on a venture before getting the consent of board or staff members. Baumann and Jatczak describe it as simply “going for it” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 47). To “go for it,” as a social entrepreneur, means to do what you think is correct and necessary now. In doing so, this “go for it” attitude should still benefit the community along with your organization to create the best social value possible. Sometimes, in a social enterprise, there is no time to consult with board or staff members; the entrepreneur must take a risk before an opportunity passes by. Social entrepreneurs are by virtue efficient and innovative as well as quick to respond to an opportunity or idea when it presents itself. Baumann and Jatczak tell of their personal experience with this concept, stating, “There are times when a decision had to be made, and a committee structure would have surely killed it. We aren’t always right, but we’ve earned the respect of our board and staff as our organization’s guide toward self-sufficiency” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 48).
ReplyDeletePermission from the board or staff members of a social entrepreneur may take longer than necessary to implement the social need or value itself and can cause the need to be completely overlooked. Therefore, if a social need presents itself and its creation will coincide with the mission of the organization the social entrepreneur should continue on with the implementation and then ask for the forgiveness of the board or staff members of its organization (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010). Baumann and Jatczak state at the end of this text, “People will understand that you came from a place of goodness, not exploitation” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg.64).
References:
Alliance, Social Enterprise. (2010). Succeeding at Social Enterprise: Hard-Won Lessons for Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurs. Wiley.
Posted by: Catherine Langley and Morgan Vickers
When analyzing the meaning of “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” it is easy to think this statement is reversed. We generally think that asking for permission in the beginning will give us the big thumbs up, but “it is often a bureaucratic road block that allows perfect opportunities to slip away” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 47). When developing opportunities for your social enterprise it is important to “run with an idea” rather than wait and get permission. Executing the idea will not always get the approval from everyone, but going full force into creating value among the “board/staff –led organization” is a must (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 56). Providing “tangible resources to sell the idea” will influence and give the organization a hands on experience that can further their decisions for permission (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg 57). Having said this, we find that the true meaning of “Ask for forgiveness and not for permission” is a strategy used to go directly into marketing a new idea to an organization in hopes of creating value and success to the social enterprise and society.
ReplyDeleteA social entrepreneur may use the term “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” when they are attempting to resolve a social issue. When attempting to do good things, steps that are taken still require others permission. For a social entrepreneur asking for permission is a step that should be skipped for the majority but sometimes isn’t. A social entrepreneur’s actions are to help others, which should be dealt with first and explained later. When helping people, we as a society need to act when we can and instead of asking to do so, this is why a social entrepreneur may use this term.
Craig, Becky, Megan,and Erich
“Succeeding at Social Enterprise” outlines the concept of asking forgiveness rather than permission through their concept Coffee With a Conscience. While a strong board-staff relationship is important in any enterprise it is also important to take risks, especially within social enterprise. This idea of asking forgiveness rather than permission is basically making smart investments and business ventures without asking permission from the board or staff members. Once the business venture has taken place and succeeded or failed you must then ask for forgiveness. However, there are several preexisting factors and certain criteria that you must follow. “You must work hard to earn the trust and confidence of your board and staff” (Social Enterprise Alliance, 2010, pg. 57). Also, the timing must be right for the board in order for them to contentedly accept your venture. When presenting your idea you must help the board and staff touch and feel the opportunity. Lastly, you must be prepared for objections and cynicism to your opportunity. As a social entrepreneur, businesses are created based on risks and you must remember sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
ReplyDeleteA good example of this forgiveness over permission method can be seen with Tom’s Shoes. Blake Mycoskie, the founder of the company, had no idea if his shoes would be successful, especially considering his unique shoe design. He set up and started the company anyways though, without guarantee of success and any board of directors, and took a chance which paid off. Of course any risk is calculated and mostly the program was to shoe the children of a village he visited in Argentina, but still he could have lost considerable money and financial damage personally had the company failed. The success of his venture made asking for forgiveness pointless but the point is his plan could have backfired but he took the chance anyways, with the only people he needed forgiveness from being the children he may have promised shoes for.
Paul Brady, Whitney Buchanan, Dennis Andrews, Chris Ruffin
In order to get some things going at a speed that works, one must, at times, just do it. At times, bureaucratic steps force the death of some very good and worthwhile ideas. The statement “Ask for forgiveness and not permission” refers to this concept. First go and peruse that great idea and later, apologize for disobeying procedural boundaries. “Ask for forgiveness and not for permission”, from the social entrepreneur perspective is more like a strategy rather than a saying. When the opportunities or ideas arise, it is better to take the initiative to go for it, because sometimes in a social enterprise the process of getting a granted permission is not easily accepted. In theory a social entrepreneur will attempt to take on the opportunity without asking for permission first, and then later ask for forgiveness if necessary.
ReplyDeleteTeam: Johanson Urkle Grou
Itai, Tran
Emilie, Audrey, Myshaina
For a social entrepreneur, the term "ask for forgiveness and not for permission" can be interpreted as going out and physically making a change when you see a need for it instead of waiting for someone to give you the okay to do it. In the non- profit world, or if you are just trying to change something for the better and there is some idea you want to try out, it makes more sense to test it now and then apologize later if someone has a problem with you doing that. This is in preference to asking whether you can try out an idea and then getting rejected right away. It's easy to say no to something when you do not know what it is you are being asked. Also, when other people recognize this need they will be able to "forgive" any extra sacrifice that they may make for going an extra mile to help the cause.
ReplyDeleteAn example of how an entrepreneur might use this term is the nonprofit organization Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS). EARS deals with emergency rescue of animals in need in extreme situations, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. EARS has a entrepreneurial spirit because they saw a need that needed to filled. The members of this organization are having to go out in emergency situations, take things into their own hands, and make decisions without asking permission to do so. They often have to live in the moment and do what they think is best for the animal and others that make come in contact with it.
amanda, matt, and koula