“Doing Good is Good Business.”

One of the most impactful things everyone can do to enhance their lives and their personal safety is work to improve the world around them.  If you want to set the stage for a better year for yourself in 2011, look to what you can do for your community first.  For those who own small, or even better large, businesses in Indianapolis, the best thing you can focus on in the coming year is the idea of social entrepreneurship.  Practicing social entrepreneurship is normally associated with non-profits and charitable organizations, but the core principle can be an incredible driving force from which to build a profitable and socially aware business.  A great example of socially aware entrepreneurship driving successful business can be found in the Martial Arts, if you know where to look, right here in our own city.

A friend of mine posted that he was “Exploring the concept of social entrepreneurship in the realms of public health and education. Looking for examples to model from” on facebook this morning.  My friend, Mr. Craig Reed, works in the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean's Office as Primary writer for Communique magazine and primary webmaster for MSUCOM's website.  He is heavily involved in training caregivers all over the world.  From hearing of his travels and efforts it is obvious that he has made social awareness and “doing good” a major part of whom he is and what he does on a daily basis.  When he posted he was looking for examples of social entrepreneurship to model from, well it made me stop and think. 

As I thought more about Mr. Reed’s quest I realized that I have been witness to Social Entrepreneurship in action, being used as the driving principle behind some of the most successful martial art organizations in the world.  The title of this article comes from one of the guiding principles that motivates the members and Instructors of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA).  The membership of the ATA are well known for their charity work, their support and leadership of community building projects, in short, their efforts to build a better world.  The One Hundred, an organization of martial arts Instructors founded by Master Tom Callos, AKA Coach Callos, also believes in the idea of social entrepreneurship.  Their ideals are summed in the way they introduce themselves…

A Martial Arts Business Association For Teachers Who Believe Their "Business" Is To Make A Difference In The World.

Master Callos’ group is known for “good works” of all shapes and sizes, from gathering shoes for those who have none, to building houses in an effort to house those who have no safe place to rest their heads. 

You may ask what all these things have to do with the idea of social entrepreneurialism.   Where is the “entrepreneurial” part of these efforts? If you look closely you will find no money exchanging hands and the Instructors are not signing up new students as a part of these "acts of kidness" and social awareness.  Those who participate in these types of activities realize that an important part of teaching the martial arts and self-defense is teaching others that the martial arts are rooted in being human and acting from an understanding of our true role in our world.  These organizations help guide and develop some of the most successful martial arts businesses in the world, the Instructors and Entrepreneurs under their guidance are running incredible schools.  What makes them even more successful is the positive impact they are having on their communities and our world.  These Instructors and Business Owners have discovered that their success comes directly from focusing on being a source of good in their communities.  They are practicing social awareness and are successful entrepreneurs because of this practice.

What can you do to support these efforts?  Join a local school as a student!  Learn to think like these “social entrepreneurs”, learn to behave like these community leaders, let them lead you to live a life of social awareness.  Students and the families that make up local martial arts schools are the arms and legs of the school.  Your local martial arts Instructors are doing their best to build a stronger, healthier Indianapolis, but they cannot do it alone.

Get Involved. Get Committed. Build a better Life.