Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind: Leadership Lessons from Three Decades of Social Entrepreneurship

by Alex Counts

ome people are dreamers. They choose careers shaped by dreams of making the world a better place. When your dreams are that powerful, it’s easy to neglect yourself. Both lives and dreams can suffer the consequences.

If you’re one of the dreamers, this is the book for you. Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind is a down-to-earth guide to mission-driven leadership. Drawing on his decades as an acclaimed nonprofit leader, Alex Counts offers practical advice on such vital activities as fundraising, team-building, communications, and management. He shows you how to run an organization—and your own life—both effectively and sustainably, giving joyfully to those around you while also caring generously for yourself.

Candid, funny, insightful, and wise, it’s a book you’ll refer to throughout your career . . . wherever your dreams may lead you.

“A life of service to other and to society can be deeply fulfilling. Anyone who seeks to live a life informed by this insight will benefit from this exceptional, and highly readable, book.”--From the Foreword by Muhammad Yunus, co-recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize

Genres: Business, Leadership

296 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2016

Reviews

[Ela M · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book should be called “Alex Counts and His Experience Running The Grameen Foundation,” not “Changing The World Without Losing Your Mind.” I ordered this book because I wanted to learn about non-profit leadership (specifically in the anti-poverty sector,) but this book was very specific to Counts and HIS nonprofit, not the general realm. I found it interesting at first to hear about some of his successful meetings, projects, communications etc, but it began to feel like a resume real quick. Even the use of specific names seemed excessive - I understand you may want to give credit where credit is due, but when we don’t know most of your colleagues mentioned, it gets a little irksome. There were a lot of tributes to himself, some calling out, and I really just started to feel like this was Counts’ way of getting the last word on certain subjects.

That being said, I enjoyed reading about his approach to fundraising and how it should be a win-win for everyone involved without feelings of doubts or awkwardness. “What you are giving is worth at least as much as what you are receiving, and have the courage of your convictions and passions. Excitement about changing the world for the better can be contagious.” There were a few more nuggets of information I highlighted including:

“Activists who are atomized and uncoordinated usually lose influence and interest, but ones who are powerfully connected to a well-coordinated network can feed on each other’s wins and learnings.”

“…My belief in the power of taking the initiative to fix (rather than simply complaining about) societal problems of any size and shape.”

“Seeing a need, designing a response, and acting on it can take seconds or years, depending on the scope, but I find it to be grounding, satisfying, and even spiritual. I also think it can inspire others to get off their butts and do something they have been talking about for years. It’s a way that we can each exert a positive influence on the world around us - not necessarily through any grand gestures, but often through small efforts that encourage others to join or mimic you, or do their own thing to make society at least a little bit better.”

“Solving critical global problems is more a matter of execution and prioritization than of invention.”

“Simply being able to think on your feet and do a credible job in a stressful situation is the most important quality to demonstrate to potential donors, partners, or anyone else whose help and support you hope to attract.”

“Knowledge is power, but in a well-run nonprofit, it is not power that people hoard but rather power that they share openly for the benefit of the organization in support of the mission.”

“Effective leadership is more art than science - a collection of skills that must be learned and then wielded with enormous sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and care.”

“Figure out what you want, take pride in it, and ask for it without apology.”

“Working too long and too hard gradually saps your creativity, openness, clarity, and empathy.”

“I now understand and accept the reality that people are who they are - that this is not a problem to be fixed or an annoyance to be tolerated, but one of the joys and delights of a life well-lived.”

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advice section at the end is most worth it and most applicable to everyone. First two sections are only really useful for those working in nonprofit sector.

[Timothy Prewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written tales from social enterprises and impact finance, from a pioneer. A great read, especially for managers and those wanting a career in the space.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Despite the foreword, it really is a book detailing one man’s experiences in the international development/nonprofit space and attempting to draw parallels to others. I put the book down at the story about him going to a grocery store, looking at the workers there, and feeling fortunate that he did “work that I loved most of the time while being paid reasonably well for it.”

This book might have been helpful in a different era or when I was younger, but it came off as a lot of back patting.

[Becky Morris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly painful to read. Over half of this was just a resume, and almost all of it was about Counts running a non profit in the early 2000s. I checked the publishing date because literally all examples were from before I was in middle school and I’ve been a professional for 12 years.

I also just thought the author came off as arrogant and kind of a dick.

Would have done really well as a Forbes article with bullet points. Does terribly as a 300 page book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the tone quite patronising.

[Sharon Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time to read.