Real Leadership
There are fewer qualities in a leader that gain more respect that the art of getting something done. For all the leaders that I look up to and learn from, the one’s that mean the most are the ones that have done something. They’re not going to do something. They are doing it. Being involved with Backstage Leadership has enabled me the opportunity to meet many amazing leaders. Let me introduce you to one that epitomizes getting it done. Jessica Jackley started a microfinance organization called Kiva and this is a brief history:
In March 2005, through a local contact in Uganda, 7 loans were posted on Kiva for a total of $3,500. They included a goat herder, a fish monger, a cattle farmer and a restauranteur. Six months later every loan had been repaid. These original 7 entrepreneurs became known as the “Dream Team” and proved it was possible to lend to the poor over the Internet.
In October 2005 Kiva announced to the world the first peer-to-peer microlending website via a press release. Shortly after the Daily Kos discovered Kiva and broadcast the website to hundreds of thousands of its readers. The word was out… and the rest is history.
Since its birth Kiva has grown from a small personal project to one of the world’s largest microfinance facilitators, connecting entrepreneurs with millions of dollars in loans from hundreds of thousands of lenders around the world.
Here’s what’s amazing. They are now the conduit for $5,000,000 a month in micro loans to entrepreneurs around the globe. That’s $5 Million with an “M”. So, here’s the lesson, if you want to grow as a leader, no matter in what field, find someone who’s doing something or has done something great and go learn from them. If you want to be a great spouse, find someone with a great marriage and learn from them. If you want to be a great golfer, find a great instructor. If you want to start a small loan organization that benefits the poor with the hopes of one day it raising millions of dollars every week, I know of a good place to start! Hopefully we’ll be hearing from Jessica in next year’s Backstage Leadership class.
The point is, if you want to lead, you have to do. Do something. Don’t talk about what you’re going to do. Go do it. Start today. Buy that book that will help. Sign up for a class. Call that business owner and buy them lunch and learn from them. Either you’re working towards the goal or away from it. There’s nothing neutral. Who knows, your next idea could raise $5 million a month to help the world’s poor.
In the mean time, go check out Kiva.org. Lend $25 and see the life change it can bring.
