The eJustice Network

One of the things that faces every new idea is the job of bringing it into reality, a place where I find myself now.

My focus in recent times has been on changing our world, not fighting its battles but addressing the causal factors working beneath the surface.

Sure, I know people don't want to change. Or if they do, maybe they don't know how. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try, or at least lay down what I've found in order that future generations might use it if they choose.

I just watched "The Kingdom." It's a story about a terrorist attack at an American compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and an FBI team that went to try to solve the crime.

Without ruining the story, it's graphic and bloody violence paints a grim picture of what we're up against when trying to create a better world. It takes place in a country of vast wealth where an extensive royal family live in opulent palaces in the midst of rampant poverty while desperate terrorists wage war in the name of Allah.

Perhaps I should start with the question, "Where are we going?" But I think that's putting the cart before the horse. In building a better tomorrow, whether only for ourselves or our world, the issue we face every step along the way is, "Does the end really justify the means?"

So many have said that it does, and structured their lives accordingly. When push came to shove, they chose the one that clearly led to where they wanted to go -- even if it meant selling their souls in the process.

My focus in recent years has been on enhancing the success of a special group of people that I call "awakening servers." What's that mean?

These are people who are awakening to an inner call to make a difference in our world. That difference may be simply extending kindness or a helping hand to the people they encounter in their everyday affairs. Or it may be engaging in some mission of service to their fellow man in one way or another.

I stopped off at Starbucks for coffee this morning and ran into some friends. An interesting discussion ensued.

One observed that 90% of all wars were over religion. It was a conclusion I didn't share, but there was no need to argue the point. It served a greater purpose.

So I asked him a simple question.

If I would give up my beliefs, would he give up his? After all, his premise was that religion was at the root of all war. Therefore without those beliefs we would have no reason to fight.

Have you ever heard kids talking about a situation that doesn't work out the way they want? "It's not fair!" they scream.

Inevitably parents shout back, "Life's not fair!" Well, I beg to differ. I think it's a whole lot more fair than most of us dream.

So many people think that justice is all about getting their way. And when they don't, they cry foul. Injustice. Lack of fairness. Bias. Or whatever.

It's easy to start off on a mission to make your contribution to the world. The energies of enthusiasm are high, untempered by struggles to make cash flow in sufficient quantities to keep things running smoothly.

How do you keep the faith when it doesn't? When struggles hit, when is it time to duck and run for cover?

We all know the story of Vincent Van Gogh, the Dutch painter who never sold even one of his paintings during his lifetime. He was supported by periodic contributions by his brother and others, but apparently those were not enough to stop the madness from overtaking him.

Once upon a time I wanted to live on Easy Street, but a funny thing happened along the way. Whenever I had the chance to go there, I didn’t do it. Something inside stopped me.

Sure, I felt the allure of all the things it offered. Big house. Fat bank account. The best that money could buy.

It was the in-place where all the cool people hung out and so many others aspired to be. Even me, I guess. At least for a time.

Where's your sense of humor, gang? You're all taking this Seedco stuff sooo seriously!

Notwithstanding the elequent SEA responses, the Seedco report did us all a great service busting the myth that non-profits can just throw their hat in the ring and establish a viable, profit-making enterprise with little risk, effort, or acquired skills.

Sure, for-profit enterprises hold great hope for the charitable sector's ability to sustain and expand its efforts. But let's face it -- with limited exceptions this is a new sector that hasn't worked out the kinks yet. Why should its efforts to generate income be any more successful than those of the majority of profit-seeking businesses that fall flat on their own faces?

Social enterprise -- a non-profit operating a for-profit venture to fund its operations or carry out a charitable purpose -- may not be all its cracked up to be.

A recent study shows that the vast majority of social enterprises fail to achieve profitability, and in fact act as a drain on resource that could better be devoted elsewhere.

Here's the report. You decide if you're still willing to go it alone. If not, I recommend you get expert guidance on the ins and outs of profitable service that makes a difference.