Choosing Between Trade-offs
For those of you who read my last post on The Changebase, you know that I recently signed up to go to Brazil in January. The trip, organized by the Boston University Sch
ool of Management, focuses on issues of sustainability, CSR, and social enterprise in the developing country. It sounds like an incredible journey and an amazing way to experience Brazilian life and culture firsthand.
How does that saying go, something about the best laid plans? I’m sad to say that no sooner had I hit the ‘submit’ button on that blog post, announcing my exciting plans for Brazil, the financial realities of this trip set in.
As a former “nonprofiteer” interested in pursuing change through social innovation and CSR, I have never really been focused on making a lot of money. The mission has been what mattered (at least mostly – I mean, let’s be honest: the paycheck was nice!). But now, as an MBA set to graduate in May with a boatload of debt, my financial situation (and more specifically, my earning potential) is certainly top of mind.
I’ve often asked myself: how do I strike a balance between doing good in the world while also making enough money to live comfortably and provide for my family?
The mission-driven side of me says money shouldn’t matter. But the MBA side says, go for the paycheck.
Finding that balance is tricky, and the Brazil trip is just my own most recent example of the tradeoffs that every committed social entrepreneur and changemaker must make in their quest to do good and do well.
While I’m certainly not complaining – after all, figuring out whether I can afford to go to on this trip is what my family calls a “good problem to have” – it got me thinking about all of the talented and motivated people out there whose innovative ideas never got off the ground because of money. How many people with truly world-changing, yet unproven ideas never saw these ideas go anywhere because they lacked the financial resources to make them a reality?
Coincidentally, this week I had a great conversation with someone I met at The Feast who works at Echoing Green. For those of you who don’t know it, Echoing Green is a 22 year-old organization that provides start-up funding – and a support network – to social entrepreneurs in need of resources and guidance.
In essence, Echoing Green is working to ensure that social entrepreneurs with incredible ideas don’t lose out in the battle of trade-offs.
Here’s a little bit of background on the social entrepreneurs that Echoing Green is supporting through their innovative funding and support network:
While I’m certainly not putting myself and my money woes on the same level as someone looking to cure disease, bring clean water to villages or improve our educational system, the essential decision-making process seems similar. If money were no object, I’d be on that plane to Brazil in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, money plays heavily in all of my decisions these days – which means this trip isn’t going to happen for me.
As disappointed as I am, this experience has been an important first lesson in what inevitably will be a long string of choosing between tradeoffs.
Is it possible to make money doing what I love? Can I find a job that allows me to make a positive impact, yet one that also provides the financial security I’m looking for? I know I’m not alone in asking these questions, and I guess only time will tell what the answer is.
In the end, I’m left wondering only one thing: Who’s hiring?!
Wow, I couldn’t relate more. I have been struggling so much lately and I almost feel like giving up. For the past 7 years I have been volunteering in all areas, helping people, animals, and the environment (four of those years while working toward my Zoology degree). Every experience brought so much happiness to my life, but put me further and further in debt. For awhile it was manageable.
I graduated in 2007 and found an exciting position that fit what I was looking for, however it was through AmeriCorps, and the monthly stipend was hard to live on. Then last year I drove myself (and my pets) five days across the entire country to take an internship position in Connecticut with the very same organization that I have been a part of since high school. I thought following my passion would eventually pay off, so out came the credit cards again to pay for the move and cover monthly costs of life on the East coast while earning only $8 an hour working this full time internship job. At the end of the year there was not another full time paid position available, I struggled finding something else just as enjoyable to keep me there, and so I drove back across the country. It’s been only 3 months since returning home; the reality of my financial situation has become overwhelming. I can no longer afford to volunteer in the service projects I love or donate to my favorite charities. Even with a full time job, paying just a little more than the last, I am just barely getting by each month.
In January I was trying to plan a trip to Tanzania with 2 very dear friends of mine who enjoy the same type of work. We found a place to stay and planned to dedicate our time to a local orphanage for 3 weeks. Well, unfortunately 2 weeks ago I had to call my friends and let them know that I could no longer go. It would have added another $1,000 on to credit cards, in addition to losing all that time from work, something I know would surely push me into near bankruptcy.
Your question at the end of your blog has been in my prayers for the last month while I search for something better.
Is it possible to make money doing what I love? Can I find a job that allows me to make a positive impact, yet one that also provides the financial security I’m looking for?
I know if money were no object, I’d be on a plane to East Africa in a heartbeat (or working to establish an animal sanctuary somewhere so I can actually put my Zoology degree to work).
Thanks for your blog and good luck to you in your search.
Hi Katia, thanks so much for sharing your story with me – it truly is a difficult path to navigate when you’re torn between doing what you love and paying the bills. At the end of the day, the mantra I tell myself is this: There’s no way that I can be of help to others when I am struggling myself. It’s clear you have a big heart and want to give back to the people and organizations you care about, but in my opinion until you get yourself on a steady path, you won’t be able to help others as much as you’d like. I wish you lots of success and hope that you’re able to find a way to “do good and do well”.
-Ashley