Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Busier Than a One-Armed Paper Hanger

Monday, October 17, 2011
Rich Tapestry of Current Learners, Graduates, Visitors, and Visiting Execs

I was a bit worried when at 6:05 the visitors outnumbered the learners in the class. Eventually, a good number of the class arrived. They heard encouraging words from Jacques and Hamim (Cohort 2 Football Academy) about life after graduation. Then Sandrali (Cohort 2) told them that the program changed him from a technician working “in” his business (he is a famous architect in Rwanda) to an entrepreneur working “on” his business. The class was encouraged to hear that the idea works, since it is what Jason and I have been telling them for weeks. They were also honored to be able to share the BDC affiliation with someone whom they respected so highly.

Ntense, a Nigerian businessman who is ICCC director for Africa, happened to be in town. He gave an impassioned charge to the class to rise up and be the leaders who develop Africa.

Robert, Executive Director of Churches Together and soon-to-be BDC licensee, shared his heart about how God called him to work in Africa as a result of a visit to an orphanage with AIDS-infected children in S. Africa. He preached a great mini-sermon.

Ntense and Robert are only here for one night, so I allocated them more time than the Chick Fil-A operators who are here all week. Mark and Brandon gave short introductions that will lead to further one-on-one consulting meetings.

Sunday, October 16, 2011
Busier Than a One-Armed Paper Hanger

Expecting to eat breakfast by myself, imagine my shock to hear Brandon call my name. I was planning to meet Mark & Brandon (Chick Fil-A Operators) at the airport tonight. I had the day wrong, and they had to get a taxi to Solace. Not a good first impression. Fortunately, Mark had been here before. I arranged for Bernard (taxi man) to take them to the Genocide Memorial and a tour of town.

The afternoon schedule felt like something you would see on a sit-com. Pascal (Cohort 2) stopped by to introduce me to his fiancé. We had a very nice visit. Then Jean Pierre (Cohort 3) came to discuss his insurance company project. As we were talking, Dale Fenwick (Regent MBA and visiting exec to Rwanda) called on Skype. That was providential timing since Dale, an insurance expert who was here a few weeks ago, is researching some international connections for the project.

As I was praying with Jean Pierre about a difficult issue in the project, Patrice (Cohort 1) called to say that he was waiting in the dining room of Solace. Patrice came to sell me on giving a BDC scholarship to the winner of his Africa Innovation Prize for high school entrepreneurs. I thought they would be too young, but he said they would be 19-20, so I agreed. Seemed like a win-win-win. We support one of our graduates, we help a young Rwandan entrepreneur, and the BDC gets some publicity.

Before I finished with Patrice, Alphonse (Cohort 3) arrived for help with the financial calculations for the business he is working on in the program. I asked him to gather his thoughts while I greeted Jacques and Hamim (Cohort 2) who were there for help with their Football (soccer) Academy.

Now I was overwhelmed. Fortunately, the Chick Fil-A guys had returned from their touring. I rushed up to their rooms and asked them to work with Alphonse on his Profit and Loss Statement. They jumped right in and did a great job. They really know how to do P & L’s. And it was a chicken business! Imagine that.

I sat down for a soda with Jacques and Hamim. They have registered their football academy as a non-profit and they are looking for help in many areas—funds, equipment, and a character curriculum so they can build winners in football and winners in life. I connected them to Oscar Benitez (Regent MBA in Guatemala) who is running a national program to develop character in youth through soccer. He is glad to help. I also volunteered to bring an extra suitcase with soccer jerseys that a Canadian has collected for them. Shipping to the U.S. is far cheaper than to Rwanda. We had a good discussion about long-term strategy.

Quick dinner and then off to pick up Robert, head of a non-profit that is considering licensing the BDC concept in Uganda or South Africa. Fortunately, it was the correct day, and we picked him up with no trouble.

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