Two social entrepreneurs draw on their own extensive experiences and those of20 other enterprise leaders to focus on the fundamental blocking and tacklingtactics that make the difference between success and failure.
Mission, Inc. (0)
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Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
Praise for Mission, Inc.
"Read this book and keep it nearby. It is jam-packed with useful and relevant information not only for the aspiring social entrepreneur but for the experienced one as well. I learned a lot that will help me in my own business."
--Michael Hannigan, President and cofounder, Give Something Back, Inc.
"Kevin Lynch and Julius Walls have written the most accessible, practical approach to social enterprise in years! Newbies and veterans alike can mine their work over and over again and never come away empty."
--Jerr Boschee, founder and Executive Director, The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs, and Visiting Professor of the Practice in Social Enterprise, Carnegie Mellon University
"Like the social enterprises it celebrates, Mission Inc. successfully juggles a `double bottom line,' integrating a bold vision for business as a vehicle for social impact with exceptional practical advice for the organizations and people that increasingly pursue an idea whose time has come."
--Jim Schorr, Professor, Vanderbilt University, and former CEO, Juma Ventures
About the Author
Julius Walls JR. is senior vice president business and real estate of the Greyston Foundation and CEO of the Greyston Bakery. Greyston Foundation is a values-driven network of nonprofit and for-profit organizations founded to help transform the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Greyston is located in and focuses the large majority of its community development and social service work in the southwest section of Yonkers, New York. Kevin Lynch is President of Rebuild Resources, a non-profit, social purpose enterprise that helps chronic addicts and alcoholics find a path to sobriety and self-sufficiency through employment and spiritual recovery. Rebuild has multiple business operations, including sportswear imprinting and embroidery, manufacturing and light assembly, and steel sawing, which provide a recovery environment for its student-employees while creating the earned income streams to support the organization. Prior to Rebuild, Kevin was founder and principle of Lynch Jarvis Jones, an advertising agency dedicated to creating positive social change through the power of advertising and marketing.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this book, you are able to get the ideas, suggestions and advice from 20 successful social enterprise entreprenuirs in one place. It condenses their years of learning into digestable tidbits that you can grasp and use well beyond the social enterprise world that is the source of the information. It combines the mechanical, must-do, analytical requirements with the affection, desire and vision drivers that make these people a success. Thanks for sharing these stories.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I just started my own non profit organization, [...]. I was a Corporate Sales and Marketing Professional for 25 years, and became ill with a condition called Systemic Candida, and decided to form an organization to raise awareness about this debilitating condition caused by prolonged use of antibiotics. I struggled for weeks trying to determine the best structure for my new organization. I talked with attorneys, accountants, and support organizations, and not a single person could tell me all that I needed to know. I was in a hurry, and saw this book, so I picked up the phone and called this very approachable and kind author--Kevin Lynch. He called me back within 24 hours, and emailed me, and suggested I jump right into Chapter 3 to answer my question. And, he followed through with a follow up call to make sure I got what I needed. Let me tell you something. I feel like I just got an education from the Wharton School of Business on Social Enterprise. That is a million dollar chapter!!
I am now on my way to finish the book, but it answered my question all right. For my organization, I need non profit, 501 (c)(3). If you are struggling with how to set up your new organization and want to learn about social enterprise as well as other set ups--Kevin Lynch is the man. I will write my full book review once I am done. FIVE STARS!
I am now on my way to finish the book, but it answered my question all right. For my organization, I need non profit, 501 (c)(3). If you are struggling with how to set up your new organization and want to learn about social enterprise as well as other set ups--Kevin Lynch is the man. I will write my full book review once I am done. FIVE STARS!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I thought it would be a dry book about the dry subject of operations, but the tone of the writing makes it feel like the authors are having a conversation with you in your living room. As for the subject, it packs precise punches at the most critical things to keep in mind as you deal with daily operational challenges in a social enterpise. Easy and enjoyable to read, and very worthwhile advice from experienced practitioners.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring and Practical - for starting or growing your social enterprise
January 25, 2009
By Marc Lesser
Format:Paperback
Like an experienced consultant, coach, or good friend, Mission, Inc. tells it like it is -- in the trenches, difficult, and, at the same time -- what could be more worthwhile then to make a difference, doing what you love, and what is most needed. By addressing the paradoxes of business, and of life, Lynch and Walls integrate brutal honesty with a "can-do/must do" spirit that is rare, and I believe essential! Practical and poetic, inspiring and grounded.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Social work is something close to my heart and I'm a business consultant/entrepreneur by profession. The balance between depth, breadth and quality is excellent. The book doesn't waste any real estate and on top of it identifies practical tips, which are more than tips. They very solid principles of doing business, equally applicable in social enterprise (SE)and a corporation, and must for SE.
If you need a no BS guide to managing a small business, general management principles and specifically a social enterprise this book is a must read.
If you a social bent of mind and don't have formal education/experience in business management, it becomes even more important, read it and you won't regret.
Sunil Sheoran
Author of Mylife Framework: A Model For A Successful Life Based On The Yoga Principles
If you need a no BS guide to managing a small business, general management principles and specifically a social enterprise this book is a must read.
If you a social bent of mind and don't have formal education/experience in business management, it becomes even more important, read it and you won't regret.
Sunil Sheoran
Author of Mylife Framework: A Model For A Successful Life Based On The Yoga Principles
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Reading this book was like having a privileged front row seat to view the heart and soul of actual social enterprises. There were many examples of real businesses dealing with real time issues - sage insights placed right where you hoped for more information. There was nothing dry about reading this book and in fact, I came away inspired by what business can do. Why aren't all businesses this way? You will find more than the practical advice you're looking for - you'll find your passion for this work and how to let it keep leading you. A very important read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Tony Deifell
Format:Paperback
This book is very helpful for leaders and managers who want to the tackle the dual purpose of growing a business and having an impact in the world -- regardless of whether you're organized as a not-for-profit such as "KaBOOM!" or or a for-profit business such as Ben & Jerry's (both of which are examples in the book).
It starts out with the two authors' stories, which gives it such credibility. You know that you can trust the advice that follows like you can trust a well-trodden path in the woods.
At one point, they warn "Never give or take 'expert advice' too seriously," so they are aware that their aphorisms are to be taken with a grain of salt -- as interesting as they are. For example, one I liked was, "Most daily decisions aren't made in perfect mission-margin balance. They will tip in one direction."
They don't leave their advice at pithy statements, they go on to give lists (for example, a sample table of contents for a social enterprise business plan) and in-the-trenches stories from current social enterprisers, which I found most interesting.
One story emphasizes the importance of measuring your impact, but cautions the reader on the drawbacks of overshooting what an organization can measure:
"... if we were constantly trying to measure outcomes, it would take seven to ten years for us to be looking at what those outcomes are..." said KaBOOM! CEO Darell Hammond referring to the outcome of reducing childhood obesity. (KaBOOM! is the market leader for community-built playgrounds.) He points out that,"by the time we tried to have process improvement, . . . it would be five years into a cycle."
This isn't a dense manual for how to run a social enterprise, but that is what is appealing about it.... Read more ›
It starts out with the two authors' stories, which gives it such credibility. You know that you can trust the advice that follows like you can trust a well-trodden path in the woods.
At one point, they warn "Never give or take 'expert advice' too seriously," so they are aware that their aphorisms are to be taken with a grain of salt -- as interesting as they are. For example, one I liked was, "Most daily decisions aren't made in perfect mission-margin balance. They will tip in one direction."
They don't leave their advice at pithy statements, they go on to give lists (for example, a sample table of contents for a social enterprise business plan) and in-the-trenches stories from current social enterprisers, which I found most interesting.
One story emphasizes the importance of measuring your impact, but cautions the reader on the drawbacks of overshooting what an organization can measure:
"... if we were constantly trying to measure outcomes, it would take seven to ten years for us to be looking at what those outcomes are..." said KaBOOM! CEO Darell Hammond referring to the outcome of reducing childhood obesity. (KaBOOM! is the market leader for community-built playgrounds.) He points out that,"by the time we tried to have process improvement, . . . it would be five years into a cycle."
This isn't a dense manual for how to run a social enterprise, but that is what is appealing about it.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very easy to read
Easy to read. Good information. Valuable for anyone considering a social enterprise. Some information might be a bit elementray to a seasoned business person - but hey - always... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sage9
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical... Ready to use
A must for anyone interested in common good initiatives. Leveraging on the bussiness rate of success and merging the social objectives, you harness the best of both for the... Read more
Published on October 31, 2010 by Fernando J. Amarante
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well-worn and regularly recommended
Since first purchasing Mission, Inc., I have not only used it as a reference in my own work (a social purpose, for-profit business), but regularly share and recommend Mission, Inc. Read more
Published on May 4, 2010 by Caryn Capriccioso
4.0 out of 5 stars
Social Enterprise review
Mission, Inc is an easy read, helpful and useful for non-profits considering
the social enterprise route for generating new income.
the social enterprise route for generating new income.
Published on December 8, 2009 by Michael Hess
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best kind of practioner's Guide
Lunch and Walls have found the right balance of lessons learned from their own experiences, those learned by other social entrepreneurs interviewed, and reminders of basic... Read more
Published on October 26, 2009 by J. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book. Very helpful for both my personal and professional...
This book has it all! It's both a resource and a tool. Some people spent more money attending seminars and workshops to learn about social enterprise than what this book cost and... Read more
Published on June 14, 2009 by Yupeng Xiong
5.0 out of 5 stars
These guys are the real deal!!!
These guys really know what they are talking about. Instead of offering more theoretical thinking on social enterprise they dig deep into their respective hands-on experience and... Read more
Published on April 29, 2009 by Paul J. Lamb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real world advice for social enterprisers!
I very much enjoyed this book. Rather than taking the typical academic/analytical approach to social entrepreneurship, this is from the trenches (successful trenches) of how to... Read more
Published on March 18, 2009 by James Fruchterman
4.0 out of 5 stars
clear and informative
[[ASIN:1576754790 Mission, Inc.: The Practitioners Guide to Social Enterprise (Social Venture Network)]
This book is an easy read packed with wonderful information about... Read more
This book is an easy read packed with wonderful information about... Read more
Published on February 28, 2009 by Joan Pikas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mission, Inc.
This is an excellent book for any professional manager in the for profit or non-profit sector that outlines the fundamental keys to successfully running an enterprise. Read more
Published on February 23, 2009 by Mark B. Faris
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