Don’t Keep Scratching!
All of us grew up hearing that from our mothers.
Whether it was a bug bite, a brush with poison oak, or a bit of road rash from a bicycle crash, we all heard those words.
Why did Mom always say that? Mothers know that scratching an itch often just makes things worse. They wisely separated the symptom from the condition.
The more I travel seeking to do good, the more I am asked for money, both directly and subtly.
I can hardly blame those in need for asking. But I have come to realize that by giving money, we may really be scratching an itch rather than dealing with the condition.
Could Mom's words actually be a universal truth?
If you have read this far and feel smoke coming out of your ears, please know that my remarks here do not ignore the amazing benefits that healthcare, education, clean water, and disaster relief provide in the developing world.
We should and must give to support these much needed programs. There are hundreds of well-run, highly efficient organizations that impact thousands of people in a positive way. Please continue to support them!
🌍 Dealing with the condition
Visiting Africa each year, I seek out groups and founders focused on creating prosperity through commerce, manufacturing, and services. I believe that by raising them up, we will see poverty become the exception rather than the rule. Past journal entries have addressed how jobs are the key to building communities of independence.
If this concept resonates with you, I would really enjoy a conversation to explore how we can expand this mission. It would be amazing to see others meet with, and eventually come alongside, groups that would benefit from your "donation" of skills and resources.
Areas of need and opportunity include:
- Basic business review
- Improvements to marketing, finance, and expense control
- Website revamp
- Introductions to establish beneficial relationships
- Challenging the methods of operation, and the people, that are holding a business back from breaking norms
- Simple encouragement to stay the course
Many of the groups we work with become regular stops on our annual trip.
We enjoy seeing the progress and energy, part of which we helped generate, and building the bonds of relationship. We feel blessed. We get to celebrate in their success.
Please drop me a note if you are willing to go deeper. To really get involved in impacting change, and blessing those in need, in a new and better way.
Just don't scratch it.
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We focus on small, founder-led groups in Africa. Once there are 3 or more groups to visit in a given country, we prioritize getting there.
