Enterprising People Have Various "Tags"

May 25, 2009 by David Eggleton

I spent last Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the annual BALLE conference in Denver, among peers and guides from communities urban, rural and in between.  All are passionately exploring and discovering in order to arrange for more local capacity to retain and create value.  It was confirming, affirming and energizing, to be sure.  While not a BALLE member, woburnite.com is allied, if only because I'm a member of the local chapter (Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston).
 
As it was a gathering of (mostly) business people, there were many mentions of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.  Like most of them, I, too, believe more in business creation than in job creation.  Nevertheless, I departed hoping we'll think in/with more inclusive terms, at least during the necessary transition.  Present and conceivable crises necessitate steady identification, connection and engagement of everyone with imagination and ability to initiate and arrange locally.  People with those strengths can also attract, guide and support the next wave of enterprising people.  Much of that they can do by simply being themselves.  None should have to begin by (imagining themselves) starting a business, though many may ultimately do so.
 
We need what are variously called local living economies, healthy communities and whole communities.  All the proponents and doers must identify and arrange themselves such that they will sooner, rather than later, recognize and complement each other for the benefit of all.