The end of the road for social enterprise?

Recently I've found myself letting out an involuntary sigh whenever anyone says the words "social enterprise".

The fact that I keep sighing is a bit of a problem, as I aim to make a living out of social enterprise. 

I like terms that say exactly what they do on the tin.  The term social enterprise doesn't do that.  I can't help but think that social enterprise is a term that has its roots in the days when we were all a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being in business, even if it was for a social purpose. 

Social enterprise always makes me think of Starship Enterprise - people with funny shaped ears boldly going where no man has gone before.  Which, in many cases, probably isn't a bad description of a social entrepreneur (the funny-shaped ears come from too many years of swimming against the tide). 

But having a weird name can give the impression that what we do is somehow weird.  Try explaining social enterprise to someone who's never heard of it.  Then try explaining social business.  I promise, 9 times out 10, you'll have more success explaining social business to a novice than you will social enterprise.  Because we all, to some extent or other, understand what business is.  So social business is business that is social. 

So join with me and embrace social business.  Stand proud as social business men and women.  Mingle uncomfortably with a bacon sandwich in your hand at social business networking breakfasts.  Write detailed social business plans and never look at them again. 

After all, if social business is good enough for Muhammad Yunus, it's got to be good enough for the rest of us.