Defining the constituencies a social venture supports seems like one of the simplest questions a social entrepreneur faces — after all bigger is better, right? In reality, it’s one of the most difficult and important questions to ask as you begin your journey as a changemaker — and it takes a lot of thought and hard choices to get it right.  So before you get started, read on for tips on how to clearly identify who is — and who is not — in your target group.

If you pick a stranger off the street and tell them your vision statement, the best question they can ask afterwards (okay, besides, ‘can I invest in you?’) is: how? (e.g., how do you do that?).  This means that you have them hooked and can now explain your practical path to achieve your vision.  The worst question they can ask is ‘But, why do you do that?’  If you’ve failed to sell them on the ‘why,’ then nothing else matters.  

I know, I know.  Your schedule is filled from morning to night, every square on your google calendar colored in with pitches to partners, deep-dive synergizing strategy sessions, and lots of caffeine-fueled coffee meetings.  There’s no way you can find the time to sit down and read, right?  Think again — it can be one of the best investments you make in yourself both as a leader and for your organization.

Read on for 5 books every changemaker should read, and some of the lessons they have in store for you.