Paying It Forward: How to Be A Social Entrepreneur

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'Josh Littlejohn is a rockstar of social impact. Paying It Forward is a much-needed reminder about what is really important.' - Irvine Welsh

When Josh Littlejohn started a small sandwich shop in his home city of Edinburgh, he would never have thought that, within ten years' time, it would be frequented by Hollywood megastars, that he would have opened a string of successful cafs across the UK, and that he would be honoured with an MBE by the Queen. Not to mention raising over 25 million to combat homelessness around the world. And all set in motion by a rough sleeper, named Pete, walking into his caf one day and sheepishly asking for a job.

Paying It Forward is part memoir, part manifesto for social entrepreneurship, and part manual for putting purpose ahead of profit. It reveals what social entrepreneurship is and how it can make a difference. How if only 20% of entrepreneurs became social entrepreneurs our world would be in a much better state. How we can 'Calculate Risks', why we should 'Help Just One Person' every day, and that 'If You Don't Ask, You Don't Get'.

The path to being social entrepreneur is never a smooth one: Paying it Forward is the compass for finding your own path and making a difference in the world.

Reviews

''Josh Littlejohn is a remarkable man - who has achieved extraordinary things in a really short time. PAYING IT FORWARD is his inspirational manifesto for social change and an important practical manual for living a life filled with purpose. Josh reveals what it takes to be a social entrepreneur and how we can all use our skills and energy to change lives rather than just chase profits. Full of heart, honesty, humour, and genuinely helpful advice, PAYING IT FORWARD is an essential read for our times.'' - Richard Curtis CBE

''PAYING IT FORWARD wonderfully distils the passion and determination that it takes to be a social entrepreneur. Filled with remarkable people and illuminating stories, Josh "pays it forward" by revealing how we can all make a difference to our world and our fellow human beings.'' - Dame Helen Mirren

''Josh Littlejohn is a rockstar of social impact. From opening a local coffee shop in Edinburgh to staging The World's Big Sleepout in New York, he has helped countless people. In an era where businesses put profit over people, and politicians offer platitudes but no real change to this system, PAYING IT FORWARD is a much-needed reminder about what is really important. Much more than an appeal to truly value each other - it's a manifesto for practical steps we need to take to enable this to happen.'' - Irvine Welsh

''Josh Littlejohn is a brilliant entrepreneur who has poured his heart, soul and energy into helping others - with remarkable results. I have personally slept out for four years running as part of Josh's Big Sleep Out campaigns and in doing so got a tiny glimpse into the harsh realities of homelessness. PAYING IT FORWARD is a fantastic, must-read book for anyone who wants to learn how they can also channel their ambition into changing society for the better.'' - Sir Chris Hoy

Author Bio

Josh Littlejohn MBE is a leading social entrepreneur, philanthropist and campaigner who is tackling homelessness and displacement around the world. Josh began working on the homelessness issue when he co-founded Social Bite, a social enterprise in Scotland, UK, with a mission to eradicate homelessness. In 2018, Josh and his team launched the Social Bite Village, offering homes to thousands of vulnerable people. In 2019, Josh launched 'The World's Big Sleepout', with events in over 52 cities around the globe, and 60,000 people sleeping out in the world's largest ever display of solidarity for homeless and displaced people.

Josh has so far raised over 25 million for charitable and homelessness causes, and received an MBE from the Queen. He has received a Pride of Britain Award, a Robert Burns Humanitarian Award, 5 honorary doctorates and he also been included in Debrett's list most influential people in the UK.