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Rod Schwartz (of ClearlySo) led an online discussion in May, 2011, for Social Edge -- a program of the Skoll Foundation -- questioning the efficacy of an industry built on a business model requiring grants and gifts to make an impact.

This is a view I share for many reasons, not the least of which is that entrepreneurs depending on SBEI grants/gifts often end up putting more attention on begging for dollars than actually performing the work they feel called to do.

We at MissionLaunch think missions must be sustainable -- that is, they generate through their service activities the means to carry out the mission, as well as adequately support those involved in it.

And by adequate, we don't mean subsistence. We mean enough to sustain your families and the lifestyles reasonably needed to live in this world with peace and ease. With enough left over to sock away for a rainy day and retirement.

You know. Profit for a purpose.

You've embarked on a mission to share something you have with others. If you're like many mission entrepreneurs, it's a labor of love -- especially for yourself, honoring the gifts and inspiration that flow to and through you.

But once the newness of what you're doing wears off, it's easy to get caught up in the struggle of making it happen. That day to day grind of finding resources, delivering goods or services, and lest we forget, dealing with administrative matters can be a drag on even the most enthusiastic server.

Some say that leaders are born. Certainly some people are innately gifted with many of the qualities needed by good leaders.

But I think that the attributes of leadership are within reach of all, especially those who are working to make a difference in our world.

One such characteristic is the ability to balance the complex energies that flow within the group and amongst the many individualities within it. And then to achieve a secondary balance between those group energies and their own.

While missions ostensibly are formed to add some contribution or service to a place of need, often they take on a life of their own quite independent of our intentions for our lives.

For instance, we can set off to follow some inner inspiration that may be leading us to create something that will bring light or joy to others. And we can plan and plan to do so in a way that can bring us money in return, perhaps even sufficient for us to support ourselves and provide for our families.

We don't live in a vacuum. The stuff going on in the world affects us whether we like it or not. Politics. Economy. War. It all seeps into our consciousness, affecting how we see our world and live our lives.

Some say we should disconnect from those dramas. To an extent I agree, since getting caught up in them can exacerbate the fear and distrust that's bubbling to the surface, or distract us from what we're trying to do.

Yet some are so infused into our lives that it can be mighty hard to ignore them.