Are you there, Aisle community? It’s me, Madeleine. You haven’t heard much from me in the past few years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you were even like “Madeleine who?”
For those of you who I’m having the pleasure of meeting for the first time, I’m the original creator of Lunapads, the brand that preceded Aisle. I know that while Aisle looks like a contemporary brand, its origins actually go back to a wild moment of inspiration in 1993 and a pool table that I converted into a sewing studio in my parents’ basement.
The story behind those early days is coming up in a subsequent blog post, but for now let’s just say that reusable menstrual products changed my life in more ways than just having better periods. As one of the earliest innovators in the natural menstrual space, I don’t think that it’s much of a stretch to say that Lunapads created an entirely new industry, one that is now flourishing.
Most people don’t know that while Lunapads may have been my first venture, I have also founded 3 others, adding up to going on 30 years as a social entrepreneur. Having mused off and on about writing a book over the years, when Covid hit, I had one of those “If not now, when? If not you, who?” moments and decided to go for it.
The Greater Good: Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World is a call to action for ‘everyday people’ – particularly women, trans and non-binary folk, Indigenous and People of Colour or others who may feel excluded from the traditional entrepreneurial stereotype of white cis male, tech-based, scale-driven individuals – to build businesses and initiatives that make a difference.
In the book I dispel the myth that you need a business degree or a blockbuster tech idea to start a successful enterprise, arguing that passion, a willingness to step into one’s personal power, and strong relationships are what propel social entrepreneurs forward.
In telling my story and those of other everyday leaders, I sought to paint a compelling portrait of an emerging group of changemakers: mostly female, diverse, and social-impact focused. This cohort is the future of entrepreneurship, I believe: people who are motivated by the desire to fix problems and make the world a better place, not just making a monetary profit.
Most books on entrepreneurship focus on scaling fast and achieving celebrity status. In contrast, The Greater Good takes a more personal look at how people can tap into their sense of purpose to change the world, uncovering the emotional drive within each of us to fulfill our dreams.
The Greater Good is both a source of inspiration and encouragement, and a practical resource for starting and running a successful project, business or nonprofit organization. Written in language that resonates with equity-seeking individuals who may not relate to the growth-at-all-costs tone of traditional business books, the book teaches readers how to:
- Understand how social entrepreneurship can create much-needed change in the world
- Mine lived experience and personal history to discover their own vision for change
- Hone and iterate their idea, whether for a business, a nonprofit organization, or a movement
- Create an actionable plan for moving their project forward
- Build relationships and community to support their venture
- Effectively pitch their idea
- Build a prototype for their product or service
- Find funding for their venture
- Understand the rewards and pitfalls of the social impact space
Many thanks for your interest in creative ways to make the world a better place. If you do pick up the book, please be sure to let me know your thoughts! hello@greatergood.work
The online launch is happening on Tuesday October 5th at 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST. Register here if you want to join the celebration.
Social media:
Instagram: @greatergoodbook | @ohmadeleine
Twitter: @greatergoodread | @gg_madeleine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greater-good-book
