“HOW WE RISE: How social networks in Charlotte impact economic mobility”
September 26, 2024
Originally posted in our September 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. This Brookings Institute summary highlights the critical role of social networks in enhancing economic mobility. By analyzing economic disparity and the influence of these networks, we clearly see how the people around us influence our lives. Community entrepreneurship is an effective method for increasing equitable economic opportunities. Key to developing entrepreneurial social networks is finding community champions who leverage their understanding of local culture to foster…
Read more“The Discipline of Innovation”
Originally posted in our September 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. The HBR article “The Discipline of Innovation” underscores the need for structured approaches to foster sustainable, innovative growth. In it, Peter Drucker identifies key sources of innovation, such as unexpected occurrences, incongruities, and industry changes. Applying these principles to community entrepreneurship is vital to enhancing local economic development. By systematically exploring opportunities and leveraging local resources, community entrepreneurs can drive impactful, culturally relevant innovation, ultimately creating…
Read more“Why entrepreneurship education fails in impoverished regions”
August 29, 2024
Originally posted in our August 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. This piece from the University of Michigan references and expands on a study that found entrepreneurship programs in impoverished regions are more successful when they showcase domestic or culturally relevant innovations rather than highlighting the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. This aligns perfectly with ELI’s belief that unlocking entrepreneurial potential is best achieved by providing relatable social models to those we aim to help. If the examples…
Read more“As a Man Thinketh”
Originally posted in our August 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. Recently, we’ve been inspired by the wisdom in James Allen’s classic text “As a Man Thinketh.” This insightful volume likens a person’s mind to a garden, emphasizing that our thoughts and actions are profoundly shaped by how we “tend” to them. This metaphorical framing helps us ask important questions of ourselves. Are we letting our thoughts run wild? Or are we cultivating “right and useful” thoughts?…
Read more“New Business Building: A Winning Strategy in Uncertain Times”
July 29, 2024
Originally posted in our July 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. McKinsey’s exploration of developing new businesses during times of economic instability, which in turn can lead to thriving amidst uncertainty, emphasizes the importance of agility and innovation—key tenets of the entrepreneurial mindset. In this thought-provoking article, we learn about five archetypes McKinsey has identified from newly emerging successful businesses. Things like leveraging automation and service-minded value creation are cornerstones of the article’s point, but also of…
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