Editor's Note: The author concludes the article with the assertion that "the psychological toughness needed to be a social entrepreneur can’t be taught. It has to be lived. Only individuals who are deeply passionate about the challenge they aim to solve combined with a personal connection to the issue itself will persevere and truly make an impact on the world." Truth. 

Editor's Note: I had the pleasure of meeting Andrew Yang at the City Club of Cleveland and found him to be a humble and down-to-earth guy. In his book, Andrew charts a course for smart and ambitious college students to pursue a path of entrepreneurship instead of money, prestige, and security, and outlines the economic and societal benefits of doing so. His Venture for America organization places high-potential recent college graduates in companies and communities, including Cleveland, to help them flourish, and create new opportunities for themselves and others in the process. Enjoy.   

Here it comes again. It’s April of 2015 and the first two presidential candidates are off and running for November of 2016.

Editor’s Note: This gospel-inspired song from my youth reminds me of the days the world’s awareness of social justice were dawning.  It was used, as so many songs of the day, as a rallying cry – who knows for what? But over time, these kinds of songs make me wonder if artists like Mayfield planted a seed in our souls for the work so many of my generation now do. When I heard it in the coffee shop the other day, I went home and downloaded it on my ITunes and played it about 30 times in a row.  

Editor's note: This article blew me away for two reasons:

Editor’s Note: If you own all or part of a business, this is a must-read. One way or another you will exit your business, as Burlingham says, even if on a stretcher. This book is an easy read for me since I got through most of what the author is teaching, primarily because it was taught to me in our peer group, Vistage. My exit was not entirely graceful and I wish my creation would have prospered more after we sold. But it was also not as difficult as it is for many others. Most of all I love the advice he gives around the idea that whether you exit or not, preparing for an exit will make you build a better business.  

At a meditation retreat several years ago, my teacher reminded us of the legend of Sisyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the King of Corinth who was punished for chronic deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action for eternity.

Editor’s Note: Heard this on my iTunes the other day while running and realize what depth of thought there is in this one. No surprise for Ms. Mitchell who woke so many of my age group up early in their lives. This is the tale of the first twenty years (perhaps that’s what she was when she wrote it) and her perception of where she was headed is stunning. Wonder what she thinks now?   

Editor's note: I wish I would have read this book before I wrote Empty Abundance. While my version of both philanthropy and book writing pales in comparison to billionaires and brilliant writers like Green and Bishop, their work would have given me so much more to ponder. The stories are enlightening and the style is easy to read. Their point that philanthropic bursts such as the one we're going through is cyclical was revealing to me and I was pleased to see the authors cover the "cons" of such a movement as well. All in all, lots of interesting insights for those following this path.

Editor's note: Living Cities' CEO, Ben Hecht, writes about Black Rock Impact, a social investing platform from mutual fund giant, Black Rock Funds. It makes me nervous and hopeful at the same time. Nervous because I've never been a "bottom of the pyramid" kind of guy. That's the theory that good money can be made off the world's poor. But the points Hecht specifically makes about urban USA areas taking advantage of these new funds to build micro-lending and such things makes me hopeful. Enjoy.