The Most Important Entrepreneur I Know is a Ugandan Fisherman

"Godfrey is a married man living in Kamwenge, Uganda. He sells fish to earn income to support his family. He also has a banana plantation where he gets supplementary income to buy food for the family... Godfrey has asked for a loan to paint his house."

Kiva is a micro-financing organization that strives to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. I finally signed up for Kiva.org and, among the hundreds of other worthy young businessmen and women, found Godfrey.

There are businessmen I admire for the joy they derive from their ventures. They genuinely find purpose in the doing - the building, operating, and creating side of entrepreneurship.

Then there are people who are survival businessmen; Godfrey is a fisherman and a farmer for the basic needs of his family. Kiva states, "better housing means better health, better sanitation, and even educational outcomes for children." Motivational differences separate these two types of businessmen but Godfrey's struggle for the betterment of his family is why I consider him most important.

My First Borrower

I'm not sure why I chose Godfrey as my first borrower. Maybe it was his picture. He stood in a forest wearing a pink plaid shirt but on his face crossed an expression of optimism overshadowed by uncertainty. Godfrey looked like a man who had been let down. A man not ready to trust fully, but brave enough to try again.

I think we can all relate to that feeling of mixed hope.

It's scary putting yourself out into the world like Godfrey. To stand as the face of your family. To declare who you are, what you have, and, more importantly, what you do not have. I admire that kind of courage and suspect it is the driving force behind his goals, his purpose, his entrepreneurship.

I think we should all strive for that type of courage.

Know When to Ask For Help

"He hopes to construct and have a model home, though he is limited by competition from other traders, bad weather and perishability of fish, which limits his level of sales and profits."

A survival businessman lives in a world of razor thin margins. The old adage, it takes money to make money, is a crushing realization for first generation entrepreneurs. Access to capital, simple assets, or institutional knowledge is limited.

If I were to start a business tomorrow, I have cash liquidity, a car, a network of family members to help, all creating an instant competitive advantage before I even start. Godfrey is still gathering capital, acquiring assets, and building his network to buffer against outside forces, while still trying to compete in the marketplace.

He strives for more and has reached out for help. Too few otherwise smart, successful, driven entrepreneurs limit themselves through a refusal to ask for help. That type of ego is driven by the stubborn belief that accomplishments somehow mean less if achieved with help. Everyone needs help, not because we are weak, but because we are stronger together.

Accomplish. Achieve. Build. Don't fail alone.

Hold Yourself Accountable to Those That Help

Kiva provides charitable loans. Each borrower is expected to repay the loan and set a schedule for that repayment. As a lender, there is risk, but if Godfrey defaults, it was in the pursuit of an investment in his future. I'm ok with that.

The risk Godfrey assumes in his business far outweighs my risk, but his initial commitment to repay will preserve our business relationship even if he fails. Accountability first starts with recognition. Then, like trust, it grows with every successful follow-through.

Accountability is a vital characteristic for any potential businessman/woman. Without accountability, the networks you build quickly disappear and the help everyone needs is no longer offered.

Be Kind All The Time

On the Kiva platform, lenders can leave messages. I am told the borrowers can also see those comments, although I'm not sure how much time Godfrey can devote to checking his email.

No matter, though. I didn't leave a comment to start a conversation. I just wanted to leave a few words to honor his courage. He is putting his trust in me. I recognize his leap of faith and put my trust in him.

Godfrey,

I hope you get this message. You are a man I admire. A fisherman, a farmer, a husband, and an entrepreneur. And, a man with the courage to reach out for help. Peace and harmony will always find those that seek the compassion of others.

Be kind all the time,
Michael

Update

Godfrey's loan of $350 has been fully funded by the Kiva community. I hope he picks out a color he likes for his house.