Week Two Reflection

In week two, the class focused on becoming the change we wish to see. I thought it was a very enlightening subject. I read through various articles and contemplated their meanings. Jeffery A. Thompson wrote an article about "What Is Your Calling In Life?",  HELP International made an incredible short video I would like to encourage others to check out sometime, and I even read an article about how not everyone should be a social entrepreneur and that is just fine. It helped reassure me that even if I can't do what a social entrepreneur can do, I can still contribute in other ways such as through volunteer work.

I spent a great deal of time reading Chapter Three from How to Change the World Second Edition. There is this incredible story about a man named Fábio Rosa who helped improve the rural lands of Brazil in the 1980's and 1990's through some of his version of social entrepreneurship. He improved the farmlands through cheaper and more efficient means. This chapter gave me hope and inspiration in the fact we can achieve anything through baby steps. This chapter also taught me when there is a will, there is always a way. One just has to be determined to find those alternative ways.

Now, back to Jeffery Thompson's article, he discussed five different Heresy's. These five are if you're lucky, the one true calling, bliss awaits, the praise of the world, and work gives life meaning. First of all, luck has little to nothing to do with our calling in life. If you want something done, you have to at least put a little bit of effort into it. There is no such thing as just one true calling. A person may have various callings throughout their life. An individual could start out as a volleyball champion in high school, a line cook for the Navy, and a friendly neighborhood mechanic well into retirement. A person doesn't have to work towards bliss, they could have bliss now if they truly desire it. One could find joy in the calling they wish to be a part of. To participate in a calling, one doesn't have to be the praise of the world. Most callings end up being a humble responsibility and that is just fine. Work could give life meaning, but there is so much more to life than just work itself. There is also family, friends, and so many other joys found in this world. Thompson's article can easily be tied into the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the fact that everyone has a purpose here on Earth. We all have callings. When we need help with something, the Lord will assist us as long as we put a little bit of effort in as well. Social innovation can be tied into the gospel and Thompson's article in the fact that social innovation requires some effort on our part, some people are called to come up with ways to improve society in some way, shape, or form, and Jesus Christ can inspire people to do the work of the Lord.

Week One Reflection

This has been an incredible first week of the semester in my Innovation class. I have learned so much in so little time. I have pored over various videos and articles such as Making a change through social entrepreneurship, Ambition, What is Social Innovation, Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship, Rediscovering Social Innovation, and a video about the Ballard Center. First of all, I have learned about the definition of what innovation truly means. Next, I have learned about a couple of examples of innovation. Finally, there is a reason why social innovation is more prevalent today than ever before and I'll get to that point at the end.

Innovation is what happens when people get together and try to make a huge, positive impact in society by addressing issues starting at the roots. It can also mean it is a form of a process, product, or program that can truly provide a transformation in any system such as in a place as small as a family or as large as the planet, or somewhere in between like a city. One example of innovation include Ecoscraps, a program that takes scraps from places such as Walmart and Costco to create rich and nutritious potting soil for plants. Another example would be Tilapiana, a fish farming company that helps create fish farms in places where there are food shortages such as in Ghana.

What intrigued me most from my studies would have to be when I learned what Social Entrepreneurship really means. There are several factors and they are adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value), recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission, engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning, acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand. and exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created. This intrigued me because I honestly did not really think much about entrepreneurship until recently. Entrepreneurs really do constantly pursue new opportunities. I wish I had the motivation and being healthy enough to start certain things such as bringing back a camp program I grew up attending, but it is no longer in operation due to lack of funds, but I really do not know how to restart the program and I have some personal trials I have to overcome first. But you know what, that is okay. Maybe I will eventually come up with some way to bring it back some day, with more friends to help out. I have noticed in this day social innovation is much more prevalent. That reason could possibly be there are more people with a desire to change the world, change today's society, so we can have a brighter future. With today's technology and how we can communicate with each other halfway around the world, I feel that social innovation is made more possible today than even thirty years ago.

Purpose of this blog

 

Welcome to my blog!

I have initially created this blog for a course I am taking through Brigham Young University Idaho's online program called Social Innovation. I am currently working towards a Bachelor's degree in Marriage and Family Studies. Another reason is to simply have a place to put my organized thoughts, opinions, and insight from my recent studies pertaining to this major.

I hope this blog will benefit people in some way. Enjoy!