A Time To Learn

I’ve been building KEZA (with the help of an amazing team) for over 3 years now. I’ve certainly learned a lot of invaluable lessons throughout the process. Most notably, I’ve learned to understand that our “failures” are necessary steps towards our success. I have an opportunity to learn from each one if I choose to. I can (at least partially) inoculate myself from having to endure the same lesson again. This is how progress occurs.

I’ve also learned a lot about building a business in Africa. But business is in my blood. Even in the moments of what seems to be absolute chaos in the business development process, I am still operating within a realm that feels like home to me. And I tend to thrive in chaos anyway. Developing building systems, marketing, branding and all of the other essentials of building a successful business are ingrained in me. I am not intimidated by it, and rarely am I perplexed by a dilemma. Generally speaking, I’m operating within my domain. I’m just listening and learning daily and applying it to what we do.

However, as of recently, I have entered into an entirely different realm; that of fund raising. I have never done it effectively, and what funds we have stumbled into have been sort of organic and not as a result of my actively tracking them down. But now we’ve come to a place where I absolutely must dedicate myself to becoming a fund raising expert. We’ve built this Ferrari of a business, and it took everything we had in order to get here. Now I’ve got to go out and find fuel for this machine.

This is new territory for me. I must head back to the USA to learn how to raise funds. I feel 100% confident we will generate and income based on sales that will alleviate our dependency on donations within the next 12 months. However, we’re not there yet and right now we need seed money, to the tune of $200,000.

I am now relying almost totally on the council of many others that are greater than I in the field of fund raising. It is admittedly a mental and emotional challenge for me to operate in a realm where I am absolutely clueless. I am clearly out of my league on this one. That certainly feels lonely at times and tugs at many of my insecurities. I do not find myself here often, but I understand that it is necessary.

I do, however, welcome this new realm. It is a tremendous opportunity to learn something I’ve never had any concept of before. This is not a time to be depressed, it is a time to be grateful for such an opportunity to learn and become a better leader and provider. It’s a time to add another skill to our arsenal. And it’s a time for me to humble myself before my peers and our creator. Though it is difficult for me to accept, this is not a time for me to lead; it is a time for me to listen and rely on the miracle of ubuntu with those around me. It truly is a time to learn.

It’s About Faith and Unity

Ilea and I were talking this past Sunday about all the changes going on with KEZA right now. It's an exciting time. We've spent the last three years building something beautiful, and now it's time to start living it out.

When working in an organization like this, it's important to constantly check our perspective. KEZA is not about beads or jewelry or fashion. It's not even about business. It's about providing the women with something they can believe in; each other and their own inherent ability. We are about fostering faith, and unity (ubuntu). We're taking an industry that is typically known for being self centered, materialistic and superficial and we're turning it into something truly beautiful. We're taking that power and using it for good.

We truly are blessed. We have an outstanding team that has become family. We get to live in community with 37 amazing women and their children. It's surreal. And even with all of the crazy things we endure here, the most prevalent and pervasive feeling we experience is gratefulness; for the opportunity to be part of something so powerful. People often thank us for our "great sacrifice" in serving these women in Africa. But I assure you, it is no sacrifice at all. It is an honor, and I could not possibly imagine another life than this. Life truly is beautiful.

Fear is a Choice

Fear can be an evil thing. It grips us. It controls us. And it can destroy us. It can weave its way into almost any aspect of our lives. It creeps up on us and gnaws away at our confidence and our ability to think rationally. It can completely incapacitate us if left unchecked. Many people are so controlled by fear that it becomes central to who they are. It dictates their every move.

Why do people stay in a job they hate? Why do they believe they could never be the hero they dreamed of as a child? Why do they stay confined to one tiny area when there is a magnificent world out there waiting for them? And why do they spend so much time worrying and stressing about life? It’s often rooted in fear; the fear of failure, humiliation, and being less than someone else. The fear of not achieving our goals. But why? Fear isn’t real. It’s just an emotion. It’s a choice. We can choose to be happy in a sad moment. We can choose to be sad in a happy moment. And we can choose to let fear rule our lives or not.

Fear is most notorious for absolutely wrecking relationships. We fear that our partner will leave us, cheat on us, humiliate us, and any other multitude of crimes of the heart. We worry ourselves into a tiny little chasm of debilitating fear. We are no longer able to make rational decisions because everything we do is influenced by a tumultuous fantasy we’ve created in our heads. And often times, your partner is completely oblivious and helpless in the situation. They have no idea what is going on in your head. They believe you have committed a crime, and all the while, you have no idea. And there is nothing you can do to change their mind because their fear is not based in reality. I have seen fear break up many otherwise wonderful relationships, and typically, it was totally unfounded.

But I believe fear is a choice. By the same method we train ourselves to wake up at a certain time, ride a bike, or master the piano, we can train ourselves to not allow fear to control our lives. We either choose to entertain our fears or we choose to live beyond them. I believe that the presence of fear is often a reflection of our lack of faith. Do you believe God created us all to be great? Then why do we fear we are inferior or inadequate? Do you believe God created someone out there specifically for you? Then why do you allow fear to wreck your relationship? Do you believe God will never give us more than we can handle? Then why do you fear you will never get through this?

A healthy level of fear is just that…healthy. I am not asserting that fear should be absent in our lives. I am simply stating that we choose to let it control us or not. Fear can be used for just as much good as bad. It only becomes a problem when we let it control our actions to the point of debilitation and destruction.