1. Notes: 7 / 2 years ago 

   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 another great injustices we have imposed on Mother Africa.
   
   Why don’t we expect greatness? And what might happen if we did? John Steinbeck once said, “It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.” Is it possible that a people group might rise to greatness if it was continually expected of them?
   
   If we desire to empower Africa to pull itself out of poverty and achieve economic independence from aid agencies and government, we must set the bar higher. We cannot settle for sustainable businesses; they must be sustainable at the very least with the ultimate goal of profitability.
   
   If we expect mediocrity, everyone involved is set up for failure and disappointment. Might we be contributing to the problem with these low expectations? We’ve got to strive for better. There are many components that will contribute to Africa’s success, but I believe this is integral to sending them in the right trajectory.

2. Notes

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These are my thoughts, and more likely my agendas. Let’s call a spade a spade. I want to inspire people to treat each other with love and respect, and to live each second as if it were our last.

At the end of the day, I appreciate the journey, good and bad. I believe there is purpose in everything; literally everything. And the more I embrace that, the more I truly live; the more peace I have.

I believe in the social entrepreneur model, as opposed to the traditional forms of aid that have crippled developing nations for decades. And on top of that, I believe the fashion industry is one of the best industries to leverage as a tool to combat poverty and help restore dignity to developing nations. So that's my thing. If that's not appealing, you might want to read a different blog.

I believe in the power and importance of ubuntu. I aspire to do more…more than I have to. I won’t "change the whole world", but I intend to make some significant improvements along the way as I try. And I’ll fight for all sorts of justice, up to the day they throw dirt on me.

I thank God that I get to live this life. Carpe diem.

+ Comments are welcome. I'd love for this to be a two way conversation. +

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