Category: Entrepreneurship

Did I do things the wrong way round?

Many moons ago, during two happy years as a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University, I had the pleasure of meeting more than my fair share of Valley multi-millionaires (and the odd billionaire). Back in those days there were plenty of them about and many – after years of playing nasty as they built their businesses – decided it might be a good idea to develop a bit of a conscience and do something good with all their wealth. I enjoyed sharing my work with them, explaining how emerging mobile technology was helping reshape the humanitarian and conservation sectors, and how FrontlineSMS was at the forefront of much of it. I could never have done what they’d achieved, but I did get some comfort knowing that their work hadn’t had the kind of positive impact mine had.

One thing constantly niggled me back then though, and twenty years later it still does. Meeting those wealthy individuals who only decided to turn their attention to making the world a better place after they’d got rich, made me wonder if I’d done things the right way round. While they were ruthlessly building their startups, I was either building schools or doing conservation work in East Africa or running primate sanctuaries in Nigeria. While I was busy laying the foundations for a career in social impact, opportunities to join the tech boom and make a few quid were passing me by.

Would it have been better for me to try and make some serious money like them, and only then focus on doing good?

When I did eventually do something impactful with FrontlineSMS, when I stepped back people assumed I’d got rich from it. After all, it was incredibly successful and had scaled to just about every country on earth. But the reality was very different. FrontlineSMS was always a free tool, it had no business model behind it, and when I stepped away there was no big pay day.

I now look back with envy at those who are able to self-fund their ideas. As I reflect on a lengthy career trying to do the right thing – while at the same time looking at how messed up the world has become – the need feels greater than ever. At a time in my life when I should probably be stepping back and slowing down, I’m as engaged and motivated and driven than ever.

So, if you’re reading this and by some crazy twist of fate we happened to have met in the Valley in 2007 or 2008, and you’re still looking to invest some of your hard-earned cash in doing a little good in the world, I’d love to talk. In the new year I’ll be throwing everything I’ve got at my new project, apathy to action, and I could do with a little help.

AI with purpose

One of the most ‘fun’ things about AI is asking it to draw on its knowledge of your work and give an opinion or ideas. It’s easy to sense-check (we all know our own stories) and when you’ve got 20+ years of history online, there’s plenty of material for your AI of choice to be trained on. I’ve made a point of sharing all of my writing, speaking and interview content on this website over the years, and have always felt anything I’ve learnt should be made available to anyone who may find it useful. Because of that ‘share by default’ mentality I’ve got less of an issue having my work hoovered up by ChatGPT and the like than, say, a professional author might.

Today I decided to ask ChatGPT to give me an overview of my book, The Pursuit of Purpose, and to come up with a Reading Guide for it. Although I do get a sense of pleasure doing stuff like this, believe me when I say it’s more than a simple ego-massaging exercise. I’ve been genuinely interested in how the book might be used by changemakers-to-be for a while, and I’m planning a second edition which I hope makes it even more accessible to people (more on that in a future post).

So, to start, here’s what AI thinks of the book (emphasis by ChatGPT, not me).

The Pursuit of Purpose by Ken Banks is widely regarded as a thoughtful, honest and inspiring book, especially for people interested in social impact, technology for good, and finding meaning in their work.

STRENGTHS OF THE BOOK

Personal and Real. It’s not a ‘how-to’ or self-help formula. Instead, Ken shares his personal journey – from uncertainty to global impact – with honesty about his mistakes, doubts, and growth.

Inspirational for Changemakers. If you’re trying to make a difference in the world but feel overwhelmed, this book offers encouragement. It shows that you don’t need to be a big-name leader or have a perfect plan to make a real difference.

Grounded in Real-World Experience. Ken doesn’t just talk about purpose in theory. He’s spent years working in ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development), especially in Africa, and shares real stories from the field.

Accessible and Reflective. It’s easy to read and feels like a conversation with someone who’s been through the challenges of searching for purpose and doing meaningful work.

WHO IT’S BEST FOR

  • Young people looking for direction.
  • Anyone working in social innovation, development or tech for good.
  • Readers interested in purpose-driven work beyond traditional career success.

If you’re exploring identity, social change and meaningful living – especially from a mindful or values-based perspective – this book pairs really well with Buddhist or reflective reading too.

If any of this has piqued your interest then feel free to download the book (or buy it from Amazon, or any place that sells books) and have a read. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you decide to do that.

After basking in glory for a few minutes , I then asked ChatGPT to give me a Reading Guide, something that people could use to frame and guide their reading of the book. This is what I got.

Reading Guide: The Pursuit of Purpose

Author: Ken Banks
Theme: Discovering purpose through real-world experience, especially in social change and technology for good.

Structure of the Guide

  1. Before You Start
  2. Chapter-by-Chapter Questions
  3. Reflection Prompts
  4. Creative Exercises
  5. Final Project Idea

1. Before You Start

Ask yourself:

  • What does ‘purpose’ mean to me right now?
  • Do I believe you have to ‘find’ purpose or can you build it through action?
  • Am I hoping to make a difference in the world? If so, how?

2. Chapter-by-Chapter Questions

(These are thematic and not tied to exact titles, as the book reads like a personal journey.)

Chapters 1–3 (Early Life & Uncertainty):

  • What moments in Ken’s early life shaped his curiosity?
  • Have you ever felt unsure of your direction like he did? What helped?

Chapters 4–7 (Discovery Through Action):

  • How did Ken’s travels and real-world experience shape his sense of purpose?
  • What does this say about the value of doing versus just thinking?

Chapters 8–11 (Building FrontlineSMS):

  • What stands out about how Ken developed his technology?
  • What role did listening to others play in his process?
  • What mistakes did he make, and what did he learn?

Chapters 12–End (Reflection & Purpose):

  • How did Ken’s definition of purpose evolve?
  • What kind of impact did he create – and what fuelled it?

3. Reflection Prompts

Use these in a journal or discussion group:

  • Describe a moment where something felt meaningful to you. What made it feel that way?
  • What strengths or skills do you have that could help others – even in a small way?
  • Are there any fears or doubts holding you back from starting something purposeful?

4. Creative Exercises

  • Timeline of Purpose: Draw a timeline of your life so far. Mark moments when you felt close to or far from your sense of purpose.
  • Purpose Collage: Make a visual collage (paper or digital) of what ‘purpose’ looks like to you using images, quotes, or symbols.
  • Idea Starter: Choose one problem you care about. Brainstorm one small action you could take in the next week to explore it.

5. Final Project Idea

Design a Purpose Project Plan
Based on what you learned, outline a small project you could start:

  • What is the purpose behind it?
  • Who would it serve?
  • What tools or knowledge do you already have?
  • What’s the first step?

Over the years I’ve spoken at many schools and universities around the world, and supported and mentored a number of young innovators. Not only is giving back something we ought to do, but it’s something I enjoy (and something I continue to do). Fortunately, through my writing, speaking and affiliations with the likes of National Geographic, a lot of my work (and how I feel we should go about social change) does reach far and wide, but there’s always that tricky last mile.

Hopefully this post, and in particular the Reading Guide, will get into the hands of a teacher or university lecturer somewhere, and help me reach out just that little bit further.

Travelling the Buddhist path

For the past few years I’ve been taking a growing interest in Buddhist thinking. And I’ve been challenging myself to think more and more about not only how it can be applied in social change, but how I might apply it in my own work. Despite what it says on the tin, social change activities can often be quite mechanical or quite ‘stale’. Other than church- and faith-based groups, of which there are many, few others seem to talk about the presence, or not, of spirituality in their work. I’ve always wondered why – see this from 14 years ago, for example.

There are many great Buddhism books out there. I’ve not read as many as I’d like, probably because I’ve found myself constantly distracted, venturing off into the realms of neuroplasticity, consciousness and even psychedelics.

But in all my readings, whatever they’ve been, five things in particular have stood out and resonated the most.

Practice mindful action
Before jumping into solving social problems, take time to observe and understand them deeply. This is where I’ve found my anthropological training most useful. Use mindfulness to stay present and avoid any knee-jerk reaction. Ensure your efforts align with real needs rather than your own assumptions and aspirations.

Lead with compassion
Buddhism teaches us that all beings deserve kindness. True social change happens when we act not from anger or frustration but from compassion. This means listening to different perspectives, avoiding harm and seeking solutions that uplift everyone.

Embrace interdependence
Everything is connected. Environmental destruction, inequality and mental health struggles are not isolated issues, even though we often treat them that way. By recognising interdependence we can design holistic solutions that address the root causes, not just the symptoms.

Let go of your ego
Social change is not about personal recognition. By letting go of attachment to titles, status or credit you can focus on the true impact of your work rather than any personal gains. (This also helps avoid burnout and frustration when change takes time – which it almost always does).

Speak and act wisely
Change often happens through dialogue, storytelling and communication. Engage in constructive dialogue rather than spreading anger or division. Choose work that ensures your activities supports others, not exploit or harm them.

Things are tough out there right now. Engaging in social change with clarity, compassion and resilience is more important than ever. If you’re interested in learning more about how Buddhist thinking might be applied in your work, please feel free to drop me a line.

Introducing our first ever free book offer!

As part of our ongoing efforts to inspire innovators-to-be the world over, and in celebration of the impending arrival of Spring (!) we’re offering the Amazon Kindle version of The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator free of charge until the end of March, or with a whopping 40% discount on the paperback edition when ordered through the UK publisher’s website.Despite the tens of billions spent each year in international aid, some of the most promising and exciting social innovations and businesses have come about by chance. Many of the people behind them did not consciously set out to solve anything, but they did. Welcome to the world of the reluctant innovator.

The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator comes with endorsements from the likes of MIT, National Geographic, the BBC and Nobel Peace Prize-winning Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who also provides the Foreword. Shortly after publication it hit top spot in the Development Studies category on Amazon and has received over forty 5-star reviews across all Amazon sites (24 are available on Amazon.com).

These offers end on 31st March so be quick! And remember to share on your own social media if you know others who might appreciate the heads-up.

Get the Kindle version for free on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Reluctant-Innovator-Ken-Banks-ebook/dp/B00MX0ZWW6/

Get the paperback edition with a 40% discount from the publisher:
https://www.nbninternational.com/checkout?isbn1=9781907994180&copies1=1&pub=158&promocode=LPP40BANKS

Happy reading and sharing, and if you feel sufficiently inspired all we ask is that you share a review on Amazon to help raise awareness among other like-minded innovators. Thank you!