Intelligence & Compassion in Action - 2023 Edition

A Proven Path to Smart, Compassionate Social Entrepreneurship

A tool to empower the aspiring social entrepreneur, with real guidance as to how, and why, social entrepreneurship really works. Written by the founder of The Elfenworks Foundation, Dr. Lauren Speeth, who lives the lessons she teaches in this book daily, the book offers insights from Speeth's years of experience in technology, management, and the nonprofit world. It offers a framework inspired by the wisdom of former President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, and insights from extraordinary social entrepreneurs, along with a worksheet you can put to use right away. With this roadmap, you'll recognize your vision, play to your strengths, find your niche, capitalize on partnerships, generously share credit, gather feedback effectively, and tap into your staying-power. As an added bonus, you'll find supplemental essays on how great teachings intersect with the framework. Whatever your circumstance, you will find in these pages both a source of true inspiration and a workable plan for moving forward that you'll find is a pathway to joy itself, which Speeth explains is "the intersection, where your skills and affinities meet with the world's needs."

Paperback, 224pp, 6x9, © 2023, 2012 by Elfenworks Productions, LLC, $17.95 / $9.99 eBook

Raves & Reviews

"A plan of action that is both practical and idealistic. I believe that Speeth's book can be a guide for entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place."

- Former President Jimmy Carter

"The author has organized her guidebook well...Those contemplating start-up of projects designed to help others will be heartened by Speeth's manual."

- Barbara Barbara Bamberger Scott - The U.S. Review of Books (Recommended by the US Review of Books! )

"Is there a distinctively American approach to taking on poverty and other social problems? Indeed there is: We've long been skeptical of government solutions and have looked to philanthropy and social entrepreneurship as a main line of defense against social problems of all kinds. If social entrepreneurship is the grand American bet, then much rests on ensuring that our bet pays off. We need a book that tells us what works, what doesn't work, and what can be done to ensure that entrepreneurship delivers on its grand promise. This is precisely that book."

- David B. Grusky, Director, Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality

"Poverty is America's elephant in the drawing room. Dr. Speeth's book is that of a most rare species of philanthropic activists, one who approaches a seemingly monolithic and intractable reality, with compassion and generosity of spirit, yes, but most importantly, with entrepreneurial innovation and a concrete, action-by-action road map for transformative change."

- Drucilla Ramey, Esq., Dean, Golden Gate University School of Law

"As a social entrepreneur and the CEO of an impact investment company, these seven pillars resonate with the daily challenges that we face. The right balance of social impact and commercial sustainability is comparable to riding a bike, and the seven pillars will help keep you moving forward to maintain balance and momentum. I would recommend that anyone considering investing in a social entrepreneur should incorporate these seven pillars into their due diligence process."

- Gil Crawford, CEO, MicroVest Capital Funds

"A helpful and realistic guide to social entrepreneurship by a caring and committed practitioner."

- Phil Wise, Vice President of Operations, The Carter Center

Other Reviews for This Author

"Tracks of Hope is replete with important and useful information… I especially liked the way this book is organized, beginning each section with some common beliefs about poverty, followed by clear information that convincingly undermines such beliefs."

- Prof. William Julius Wilson of Harvard University, about Tracks of Hope; The Forgotten Story of America's Runaway Train and How We Can Change its Course