Getting your social enterprise or community business to the first £100,000 of turnover is the hardest part of your journey.
Systems, structures, policies, products, people and partners all have to be engaged, transformed by your idea and the goods or service delivered.
It’s easy to be side tracked by new initiatives, fantastic ideas from supporters who can offer no practical help or even be delayed in your development by the nay sayers.
We like the approach of Eric Karjaluoto in his book Speak Human.
Written from a small business development perspective Speak Human has definite philosophical and entrepreneurial approaches that can help you develop your community business too.
Be yourself, be true in your engagements with others and recognise that sometimes you have to do less in order to define your message and clear identity.
Recognise that your ICT service is not best modeled on IBM, or that your catering business is not The River Cafe. Be distinctive, be true to your original ideas and be practical above all else.
Speaking Human is a great primer for any social enterprise we think.