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Start Something Good: Stories of Ordinary People Becoming Leaders Through Failure and Perseverance
“Sharing a personal journey while conveying deep and practical lessons is a tall task, one which Bart tackles masterfully. A must-read for new entrants to social entrepreneurship.” - Saul Garlick, CEO and Founder of Unleesh, ThinkImpact.
The surprising breakthrough in Start Something Good is that anyone can find their purpose in life and give back to the world. This personal tale of transformation and redemption details how an immigrant stumbled his way towards a calling of improving people’s wellbeing globally. In 2007, Bartlomiej (Bart) Skorupa quit a promising career in management consulting and bought a one way ticket to Africa.
After a medical emergency in Madagascar transformed his vision, he started a nonprofit that empowered people from all walks of life to raise millions of dollars for social entrepreneurs creating a better world. Driven by stories of miserable failures and wild success, Bart outlines actionable insights that inspire you to craft a life of purpose, meaning, and selfless giving. No matter what kind of change you are considering, Start Something Good proves that every tool you need to act is already within your grasp.
* All proceeds from this book will support the Start Something Good Foundation
The surprising breakthrough in Start Something Good is that anyone can find their purpose in life and give back to the world. This personal tale of transformation and redemption details how an immigrant stumbled his way towards a calling of improving people’s wellbeing globally. In 2007, Bartlomiej (Bart) Skorupa quit a promising career in management consulting and bought a one way ticket to Africa.
After a medical emergency in Madagascar transformed his vision, he started a nonprofit that empowered people from all walks of life to raise millions of dollars for social entrepreneurs creating a better world. Driven by stories of miserable failures and wild success, Bart outlines actionable insights that inspire you to craft a life of purpose, meaning, and selfless giving. No matter what kind of change you are considering, Start Something Good proves that every tool you need to act is already within your grasp.
* All proceeds from this book will support the Start Something Good Foundation
296 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2019
About the author
Bart Skorupa
1 book1 followerBartlomiej (Bart) Skorupa is a serial social entrepreneur and best-selling author who dedicates his life to inspiring leadership on a global scale. He's passionate about launching and growing mission-driven organizations at the intersection of technology, philanthropy, and disruptive leadership.
Bart is a frequent panelist, speaker, and workshop facilitator at a variety of forums that focus on organizational and personal development. His work has been featured on NPR, Men’s Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, Bravo Network, and Bloomberg Businessweek. In 2014, Dell honored him as one of the 25 World Change-makers alongside Lauren Bush, Edward Norton, and Adam Braun.
He is also a proud member of the Full Circle Fund, SOCAP, Opportunity Collaboration, Salesforce Ohana, and Summit Series families.
When not working with tomorrow’s change-makers today, Bart finds inspiration and gratitude by reflecting on the joy of just being, right here, right now.
Bart is a frequent panelist, speaker, and workshop facilitator at a variety of forums that focus on organizational and personal development. His work has been featured on NPR, Men’s Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, Bravo Network, and Bloomberg Businessweek. In 2014, Dell honored him as one of the 25 World Change-makers alongside Lauren Bush, Edward Norton, and Adam Braun.
He is also a proud member of the Full Circle Fund, SOCAP, Opportunity Collaboration, Salesforce Ohana, and Summit Series families.
When not working with tomorrow’s change-makers today, Bart finds inspiration and gratitude by reflecting on the joy of just being, right here, right now.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 14, 2022
I felt inspired by a few parts of this book, I enjoyed some thrilling parts to the story, I identified with the author in a few steps in his journey, but then other times I wasn't sure how I felt about things. Ultimately I recommend this book for anyone looking to renew their inspiration for activism or improve their approach to starting, running or working in/with a non-profit. For example, I ear-marked his tips for how to improve an elevator pitch for your cause, and how to get over the awkwardness of "the ask", and I'm eager to put these into practice.
But for an example of the things I felt mixed feelings about, I got a little queasy with some of the verbiage the author used like how he "booked a one way ticket to Africa" after burning out in management consulting and wanting to make a difference in the world - this kinda felt like white saviorism/post colonialism. But I was really refreshed that that wasn't the direction this story went. Regardless of initial intentions for going to Africa, his very unique path to starting Groundworks Opportunities ended up implementing an approach to alleviating poverty that I firmly agree with: elevating, trusting, and supporting local leaders who are building sustainable models for development. (In fact I've been involved for 14 years with one of the organizations mentioned in the book - the KGSA Foundation started by Abdul Kassim in Kenya, shameless plug for reading Ellie Roscher's "Play Like a Girl" for the story of that amazing organization). I also felt a little skeptical of how everything about GO fell apart so suddenly and if there is another perspective to the story that we're obviously not getting in this biographical account. That said, I appreciate the bravery, honesty, and self-awareness it took to admit some of the honest mis-steps that lead to this unraveling and I am so thankful for all the positive impact this organization made on the world up until that point.
But for an example of the things I felt mixed feelings about, I got a little queasy with some of the verbiage the author used like how he "booked a one way ticket to Africa" after burning out in management consulting and wanting to make a difference in the world - this kinda felt like white saviorism/post colonialism. But I was really refreshed that that wasn't the direction this story went. Regardless of initial intentions for going to Africa, his very unique path to starting Groundworks Opportunities ended up implementing an approach to alleviating poverty that I firmly agree with: elevating, trusting, and supporting local leaders who are building sustainable models for development. (In fact I've been involved for 14 years with one of the organizations mentioned in the book - the KGSA Foundation started by Abdul Kassim in Kenya, shameless plug for reading Ellie Roscher's "Play Like a Girl" for the story of that amazing organization). I also felt a little skeptical of how everything about GO fell apart so suddenly and if there is another perspective to the story that we're obviously not getting in this biographical account. That said, I appreciate the bravery, honesty, and self-awareness it took to admit some of the honest mis-steps that lead to this unraveling and I am so thankful for all the positive impact this organization made on the world up until that point.
June 19, 2019
How ironic that Bart mentions in his book that he is not a good story teller. Start Something Good is not only a fruitful endeavor in the revelation of an amazing story, but one I found compelling, entertaining, inspiring, motivating, captivating, adventuresome, unbelievable at times, engaging at all times, and one that made me proud to be a part of the Groundwork Opportunities fabric and family. Bart's vision, whether in industry, volunteerism (voluntourisim), or life should be an example to all of us who struggle with real life while wanting to make a difference. I have no doubts that Bart will be successful wherever he chooses to direct his energies but the impact he has made on those lives he has touched is undeniable and long-lasting...
April 29, 2019
An inspiring story of triumph over failures
While most of us dwell in our personal failures, the author publicly recounts his own failures as an opportunity to show others how the experience of failure can be the best teacher in life. Through his adventures, he recounts how challenges pushed him beyond his comfort zone, and in turn, opened his heart and mind to new heights of experience and growth. A must read for anyone with a passion to change the world and the guts to take action.
While most of us dwell in our personal failures, the author publicly recounts his own failures as an opportunity to show others how the experience of failure can be the best teacher in life. Through his adventures, he recounts how challenges pushed him beyond his comfort zone, and in turn, opened his heart and mind to new heights of experience and growth. A must read for anyone with a passion to change the world and the guts to take action.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews