Week 5

Summary:

This week I learned about the Theory of Change and how its end results come through our outputs that lead to outcomes and impacts.  I also learned how to measure and improve my social impacts by considering the path of action I take before jumping right in.  Lastly, I learned the importance of having a mission statement to work by and to have it centered around a verb and a target that leads to a desired outcome. 

Response to reading:

One of the readings this week got my attention as it pointed back to past readings.  The “Measuring and Improving Social Impacts: A Guide for Nonprofits, Companies, and Impact Investors” provided a Social Impact Creation Cycle that asks questions that lead to maximizing social impact.  The first 2 questions reminded me of what I learned in week 2 in our readings.  The first question in the cycle, “What will you invest?” brought up the suggestion that you use your “expertise.”  In week 2 we read, “What Is Your Calling in Life?” and in it we learned the importance of your “expertise” being your spiritual gifts.  The second question in the cycle, “What will you invest?” brought up what resources you are willing to invest to make social change happen.  In week 2 we read, “Not Everyone Should Be a Social Entrepreneur” and in it they posed the question that if we all were to start a new organization, then who would do all the work?  Pointing out the importance of those who make the organization run which make me think that I will invest what I am able to in whatever stage of life I am in at the time, whether it be my time and efforts or that of money. 

Weekly prompt:  Reflect on the article “Starfish Hurling and Community Service” and how you set goals. 

I don’t feel this article will help me significantly with my goals because I didn’t agree with most of it.  I felt the author was way too sensitive about the story that told a tale about a person saving starfish stuck on a beach.  Sure he made some good points about there being more to the story in that it could have portrayed the need to make sure we consider ecosystems in our actions, not letting our emotions cloud our reasonings, and involving others.  And in that sense, I could use that advice in incorporating them into my goals.  But he was dramatic in calling the story “mis-educative” as the whole point of the tale is to make the person hearing it think about helping others…not necessarily starfish or that exact situation.  If we always did what he suggested the story should have done in emergency situations people would die or seriously be injured as we thought every single possibility through.  It’s silly to think that if we came up on a drowning victim and stopped ourselves to think it through.  No, you pull the victim out of the water, perform CPR, and worry about the consequences later.  Like I wrote earlier, yes, there are some good points he made but the story is not about our efforts being perfect when it comes to helping others.  Its about getting ourselves to take action in times of need.  There is plenty of time to think about perfecting it later.  Do your best and if you have time to research it out to make better choices in starting your efforts, then that is great too.  Just don’t bash on someone doing their best in the heat of the moment or even if they don’t know any better.