Dear fellows who live in the old Europe, I hope you enjoy your welfare state, controlled market and long holidays. After less than 2 weeks spent in rulers’ land I’m ready to move here. I know you can’t believe it. You are civilized citizens of world who refrain from competition and hope that everybody can live in peace and love one day.
Unfortunately, that day will never come and competition is knocking at your door. Your fellows from the developing countries where you have poured millions for the last 50 years have bought a plane ticket and are claiming their slice of the cake. Your cake. While you are still complaining about the aggressive Americans and the other fellows who haven’t learnt the appropriate manners suitable to the civilized Europe, I’ve got into a 4 week course training in surviving in 21st century world. It might be useuful when I come back. Actually, I might develop a leadership course based on this.
So, let’s crack on and share what I have learnt so far. My first meeting wasn’t exactly with the stereotypical New Yorker but with well-known progressive academic from New York University: Prof. Paul Light. He kindly gave a copy of his last book: The search for social entrepreneurship. don’t miss it, you can buy it on Amazon.com. I promised to publicize it. Now you must buy it otehrwise what kind of international networker am I?
Paul is the director of Robert Wagner School of Public Service and one of the best American experts in social enterprise. If you want to know more about both topics contact him. Don’t worry is American but very democratic. He won’t suggest you to dismiss the state and privatize your dear welfare. It’s likely the contrary. Actually, you can have a very open open conversation with him. However, i would alert you that in normal circumstances there are some words forbidden in the conversation:
– Welfare state. It sounds like the communists took over and your children have to learn the theory of evolution at school. instead, use public services. it sounds better
– social enterprise. some donors don’t like this expression becuase implicitly means that some business is not social and this is manifest attack to our liberal democracy. on the other hand, you can talk about social enterpreneurs meaning that some business-people put the interest of the community before their own interest. They are good Christians.
– any swear or blasphemy. If you can supress your need to insult someone else you might use a PC BS = the politically correct first letter of the foklorick expression bullshit. Wikipedia defines BS a politie use. So, go ahead!
BTW, don’t miss the WagnerSchool. The place is very cool and people nice. Highly recommended to who who has an interst in public health. It also hosts a Centre for Leadership (http://wagner.nyu.edu/).
Cosa fa VITA?
Da 30 anni VITA è la testata di riferimento dell’innovazione sociale, dell’attivismo civico e del Terzo settore. Siamo un’impresa sociale senza scopo di lucro: raccontiamo storie, promuoviamo campagne, interpelliamo le imprese, la politica e le istituzioni per promuovere i valori dell’interesse generale e del bene comune. Se riusciamo a farlo è grazie a chi decide di sostenerci.