March 2011
1 post
12 tags
New Blog & New Business
For many years now we’ve been consulting, sort of unofficially, for lots of different individuals and companies. This year we decided to formalize it and really put some serious effort into investing in the lives of burgeoning philanthropists, non-profits, social ventures and missions programs.
From this point forward I’ll be blogging on the new Angaza (philanthropy consulting)...
January 2011
1 post
5 tags
Bringing Light
On May 8th, 2010, I married the love of my life, Ilea Dorsey. Naturally the assumption is that we would change her last name to mine, Miller. However, it’s a rare occasion that we roll with the status quo. When we first started talking about marriage, I tossed out the idea of changing both of our last names when we got married. And Ilea was totally open to it (because she’s the coolest).
We know...
December 2010
1 post
9 tags
We Do What We Want
Most people want more money, more time, better relationships, to loose more weight, to work out more, to finally go on that trip to Africa, or whatever the case may be.
But when it comes to putting in the work, things change. We want the results of having a daily workout routine, but fail to discipline ourselves to do it. We want to travel the world, but not the work that leads to financial...
October 2010
3 posts
9 tags
For Profit Business = Greed
Unfortunately this is the predominant belief when it comes to for-profit vs. non-profit business models. KEZA recently converted from a 501c3 non-profit charity to a for-profit social venture. We spent four years living in Africa so we could listen to the people/culture and learn how to serve her. We are non-traditional and innovative in all we do. KEZA is the result. Here are the top four...
8 tags
We Can All Live In Wonderland
I’ve heard “Jared lives in his own little world” since I was a toddler. I now understand that to mean “Jared doesn’t live in reality”. I disagree. I believe the world is exactly what we make it. We create our own reality. What may be steadfast and true in my reality may be entirely absurd in someone else’s. Bob Goff invents holidays, unites world leaders, incites parades, brings justice to...
10 tags
Snow Globes
In America, the land of freedom, there is a tendency to create a Snow Globe world. People create a way of life that is comfortable and safe. They find others with similar beliefs and lifestyles and develop a culture or religion. We often refer to their dwellings as “the suburbs”. Anything outside the Snow Globe is generally believed to be scary, off limits, unattainable and downright crazy. Snow...
September 2010
2 posts
9 tags
Competitor or Collaborator?
People tend to run from competition, often to the extent of attempting to squelch the success of their peers. They fear their methods or designs will be copied or vanquished. This contributes to a lot of undue stress and counter productivity. Fashion is a $298 Billion per year industry in the US. Consumerism is already turning towards more ethical and earth friendly production methods, as well as...
7 tags
REBRANDING AFRICA: Expectations
Developing Nations are not often recognized for excellence. However, this has little to do with the level of talent and determination found in these areas. There are thousands of extraordinary artisans and competent entrepreneurs yet to have the opportunity to present their design and product to the international market. Decades of focus on the negative aspects of these nations has created a...
August 2010
1 post
9 tags
REBRANDING AFRICA: Environment Matters
In 2007, The Washington Post did an experiment on context, perception and priorities in which Joshua Bell, an internationally acclaimed musical virtuoso, stationed himself in the Metro, playing his violin (valued at $4 Million) for passersby. He was perceived as any other bum trying to make a buck in the subway station. You can read the story here. Immanuel Kant (18th Century German Philosopher)...
July 2010
3 posts
8 tags
REBRANDING AFRICA: Image is Everything
Building a solid brand that fuels a better image for Africa can create an even bigger impact than the direct jobs you are creating with your business. For instance, with KEZA, we stand to generate 200-500 lucrative careers for African artists and entrepreneurs over the next 2 years. This is powerful and easily quantified. In order for these businesses to thrive, KEZA must sell the goods they...
7 tags
The Beautiful Things
I am diligent about being aware and in tune with my surroundings. I appreciate the little things that often go unnoticed. I take time to “smell the roses” and listen to the world around me. But every now and then, something hits me from out of the blue; something so magnificent and beautiful it causes me to pause and really soak it in. I was recently at a concert where the ten piece band played...
7 tags
RE-BRANDING AFRICA: This is Better Than That
If I’m a photographer working in Africa, I’m going look for the most mind blowing and disturbing images I can capture. That’s my purpose. I gather pictures of starvation, disease, filthy hospitals, rebels with guns, dictators with gold plated vehicles and children with distended bellies and flies on their faces. I will use these photos to expose the plight of Africa and advocate my cause. More...
June 2010
5 posts
5 tags
This Must Be Faith
Most of my life has been so tumultuous and insane that the majority of people I meet can’t even fit it into their reality. There are a lot of things that just don’t make sense in the short term. I am a magnet for the ridiculous, the insane and often the supernatural. Through the years, I’ve learned to view life as a lot more complex than moment to moment experiences. I believe everything has a...
9 tags
RE-BRANDING AFRICA: Entrepreneurs Empower the Poor
For many years, KEZA has focused on what the aid world refers to as the “poorest of the poor”. It’s become another buzz term like “sustainability” or “capacity building”. These terms help attract volunteers, donors and public awareness. However, we’ve recently taken a step back to reanalyze our methodology. There are thousands of entrepreneurs all over Africa that have been working diligently to...
7 tags
RE-BRANDING AFRICA: She is not a Charity Case
The Rwandan women we serve are former prostitutes. They’ve been beaten, raped and oppressed to a point where the only viable method for supporting themselves and their babies was to sell their bodies. Society regularly humiliated them to the point that they believed they were worthless.* It would be easy for us to tell that story all over the world, knowing it would pull on heart strings and...
9 tags
RE-BRANDING AFRICA: Deconstructing The Brand
We live in a world where shock value regularly trumps true value. Consequently international aid agencies either play ball or loose the opportunity for funding. And it’s not just the funding mechanisms that are tainted, it’s the “brand” that’s generated in order to garner the funds. The media are looking for scenes of destruction, starving children, AIDS victims and tyrannical dictators toting...
7 tags
RE-BRANDING AFRICA: Introduction
I’m convinced that a large part of what holds Africa (and others) back from being a “developed continent” stems from a less than desirable branding trend. The international aid community has done a phenomenal job of branding her as some sort of Mad Max desert overrun with corruption, disease and poverty. However, I assure you that is not representative of the Africa I know and love. The typical...
May 2010
3 posts
5 tags
Emotional Redundancy
Aid agencies are emotional. Someone saw an injustice or a need and developed what they believed would be a better solution. They had grand intentions of helping those in need, and they believed no one else would do it with the amount of passion and determination they would. So they started an aid agency; one that would “finally” solve the problems at hand*. People start aid agencies “for the...
Fight the System! (Or Maybe Not)
I am a born activist, and love to “fight the system”. I grew up listening to Rage Against the Machine, toting a “Free Leonard Peltier” sign. However, I’ve learned that sometimes there’s a much more effective way to provide a solution to a problem. I spent years lobbying for women’s rights, fighting governments for more action and accountability, and so on. Consequently, I garnered lots of high...
March 2010
3 posts
5 tags
When Greatness is Expected
The aid world talks incessantly about “sustainability” in Africa, especially in reference to setting up businesses. Isn’t that the least we would expect from a business in the West? If I operated a business in Nashville, TN, it’s unlikely I’d consider myself a success if I merely kept the doors open year after year. Yet this seems to be the most we expect of Africa. I feel that this is yet...
There is Purpose
We see atrocities every day. We incessantly discuss the topics of suffering and death, asking , “why does God allow these things to happen?” In our ignorance, we clamor for meaning. We grow jaded because we’ve fooled ourselves into believing we are capable of understanding the infinite complexities of life. Those that have witnessed or experienced great suffering and tragedy are filled with...
The World Moves for Love
It is seldom I take the risk of penning my thoughts on the many facets of love. It is infinite in scope and influence. It is a state of mind. To treat someone with love is a choice, though loving someone may not seem to be. In Latin, there is but one word to describe both justice and equality; aequitas. I cannot treat my neighbor as my equal if I do not first love him enough to do so. If I...
February 2010
2 posts
(Un)fair Trade
The Fair Trade concept was pioneered by missions groups and non-profits back in the early ‘40s. The idea is that if a product is produced with Fair Trade practices, one can assume it was created “fairly”. This concept has become a household term due to the proliferation of corporate transparency caused by the internet boom in the early ‘90s. However, there has been some speculation as to whether...
Business Is Bad
How did general business practices get so bad that we had to come up with a new method called “social entrepreneurship”. Why isn’t all business done in such a way that it builds communities, enhances the lives of the people running the businesses, and bolsters the betterment of humanity? Shouldn’t your success as an entrepreneur be gauged by whether or not you are benefiting the lives of...
January 2010
3 posts
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as...”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
People, Not Haitians
A 7.0 earthquake struck Port au Prince, Haiti last evening (1/12/10). This is a devastating blow to an already impoverished country with little infrastructure for stability. It’s estimated that over 3 million people have already been displaced, and the death toll is in the thousands. I’ve been in humanitarian work long enough to know that this is a time to leave the relief work to the experts...
Landmines
Due to the nature of our increasingly infinitesimal attention spans and continual desensitization to violence, humanitarian initiatives must exercise some serious marketing savvy. We have to fight hard to get people’s attention and compel them to act.
Check out the image (below) of the Landmine Removal Campaign designed by Publicis Mojo. This is what they had to say: “Using a ketchup sachet, we...
December 2009
3 posts
Excuse Me, Your Style is Speaking
We say “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and that certainly makes sense. The same phenomenon applies to fashion. We don’t always feel comfortable talking to strangers in places where people congregate, such as nightclubs, coffee shops or on public transportation. But it’s to be expected that you will see cliques of people similarly dressed or styled standing closer to one another, or even...
Choicemob
Today, December 7th, is the first ever choicemob, and you’re invited. What’s a choicemob? It is a coalition of proactive consumers joining together to support companies that uphold our common values: Fairness, Compassion, and Respect for the Earth. Today we’re flexing our consumer, gift-buying muscle in support of Better World Books. The choicemob community believes that business is changing...
November 2009
1 post
“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.”
– Charles de Montesquieu - French Politician and Philosopher, 1689-1755
October 2009
14 posts
It’s About Dignity
I wanted to build businesses in Africa because I knew it could help generate a sustainable income. It could free them from dependency on donors and connect them to the same market that allows the western world to thrive economically. I picked the fashion industry above all others because it exemplifies sustainability in its resilience to the ebb and flow of our economy. KEZA provides women with a...
Kicking Off The Training Wheels
Four years ago we set out to build businesses in Africa for poverty stricken women. We had three major goals.
Create locally (African) owned businesses that provide lucrative careers, resulting in income and dignity.
Set a higher standard and example of a quality products and a preferred brand.
To do it all so well that it attracted more outside investors to do business in Africa as well.
...
Attraction To 'Do Good' Brands Is Escalating... →
I’ve been talking about this dynamic for a long time. First wishing it would happen. Then predicting it would. And now they’ve actually done studies to prove that it’s happening. This is what the KEZA brand is built on. These are truly extraordinary times.
“We have divorced our values from the most powerful force in the world. [James on...”
– James A. Pearson - Jame’s Travels - James is a revolutionary. His wisdom and perpetual action makes this world a better place.
“Go to the people. Live among them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what...”
– Chinese Poem
When Does Goodness End?
What if I write a book that enables poor people to start their own businesses and earn an income that provides for their family and I sell it for $15? Then I donate $5 from every sale to a fund that helps some of those businesses get off the ground. What if I sell 1,000 books? I’ve made about $8,000 (after subtracting the cost of my book) which allows me to make more books and help more people....
Reform It
Diamonds don’t kill people in Sierra Leone. The structure of the diamond business does. Should we stop buying diamonds? Not at all. Don’t take away their most valuable resource. Reform the way it’s produced and sold. What if we reformed the way the diamond business is carried out? What if the money from diamond sales actually went back to the harvesters? “Sustainable business” is one of the most...
Why do we say "Social Entrepreneur"?
I keep having this issue with the term “social entrepreneurialism”. I agree with the concept, and consider myself to be one of them. But the word “social” doesn’t seem to work for me. And why do we have to have a term for this anyway?
Shouldn’t your success as an entrepreneur be gauged on whether or not you are benefiting the lives of the people that work with/for you, as well as the amount of...
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come...”
A New Start
I’ve decided to start a new blog. I’ve been a bit long winded, to say the least, in my past blogs. So here’s to a fresh, and hopefully more concise, start.