The path of the social entrepreneur...

Is to invest where traditional business would see too much rock and infertile soil...

It is to keep projecting positive energy and kindness outward when social structures buck against you and try to tear you down....

It is to take a ray of hope and transform it into an entire economic ecosystem that empowers the marginalized where one did not previously exist...

It is to be incredibly patient because you are often working with communities that are not quite “employment ready” when you hire them...

It is to understand that there are going to be mistakes...LOTS of them...and that your job is to keep pushing for standards and empowering your team with tools even as you absorb the financial ramifications of these errors...

It is to see the diamond in the rough- or even more aptly, to see the potential for a beautiful lotus flower to emerge from the darkest mud...

It is to sometimes be so tired and lost that the only way you know where you are is because you take your face out of the mud to look upward at the stars...

It is to always be aiming to increase social good when traditional business aims mostly to increase profits...

It is to accept this and not let the pressures of competition, male bullies, harassment to get you down...

Sarah and Sangye on the road to the village of Raniban to deliver medical supplies.

Hey all, it's Sarah here. And as most of you probably know, I've been at the helm of this beautiful social enterprise since I was a wee thing of 25 years old.

These days, I have the help of our trusty admin/super shipper, Erin, to handle things in the US & my “right hand” woman, Sangye, to make sure everything is running smoothly with the studio teams. These two young women are always there to brainstorm with me and share a moment of calm when it all just seems to be too much.

Even so, when things seem to slow down, it is because I'm just one person, trying to do A LOT and a little bit of a pile has built up around me.

I want you all to know that when you don't hear from us for a bit, it means that I am working on something behind the scenes, always with you, our supporters, in mind.

This weekend we are going to be at TWO simultaneous shows- the Dundas West Fest in Toronto and the Flint Art Fair. I am very excited that $2 from every bracelet sold will be donated to the Lotus Sky Women's Scholarship Fund with the specific intention to provide full financial support to Studio Manager, Sangye's, younger sister, Dawa, as she enters her first year of college.

For those of you who run social enterprises, what advice do you have for other entrepreneurs? For those of you who do not, what questions do you have that you'd like answered?

Thank you so much – I really hope to hear from some of you in the comments!