Inspiration 365 Days!

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“What are you doing with that roll of gold wrapping paper?” screamed the father at his 3 year old daughter. He was tired after putting in extra hours on Christmas eve so he could earn a little extra. Money was tight and even a roll of gold wrapping paper meant money.

“Daddy, I’m wrapping…” the young girl, sitting under the Christmas tree and holding a half decorated box, started to explain.

“I don’t care what you’re doing! You’re wasting those wrapping papers. Go to your bed now!”

“But daddy…”

“Go!”

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Whenever it is in any way possible, every boy and girl should choose as his life work some occupation which he should like to do anyhow, even if he did not need the money.

— William Lyon Phelps

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There are only two kinds of money problems. One problem is not enough money. The other problem is too much money. Which type of money problem do you want?

— p. 41, Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing by Robert Kiyosaki

I just had the amazing opportunity to intern at Kiva, the online microlending nonprofit.

Since I know that interning at Kiva is a rare and valuable opportunity, I decided to take advantage of it by filming “The Kiva Story.”

On my last day, I interviewed most of the Kiva staff by asking them all the same three questions: who are you, tell me a good Kiva story, and how do see the world in 10 years.

Watch this movie and tell me what you think. Even better, loan your money so that it can change a life in the developing world!

FRONTLINE/World travels to Uganda to explore the impact of microfinance and, in particular, how one San Francisco-based nonprofit is using the Web to forge a more direct connection between lenders…

To continue with the video…

We Let You Loan to the Working Poor

Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

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The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

A great hulking freighter was in dock because of puzzling noises. And it just wouldn’t “get up and go”.

The in-house engineers of the ship owners worked day and night but couldn’t figure out what was causing the noises. Losing thousands of thousands of dollars every day their ship was in dock, the ship owners called in consultant after consultant.

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No one, it seemed, could fix the problem.

Their expenses mounted. There were insurance payments to be made, employees to be paid, rent… Not to mention the daily maintenance and costs of the ship. And their clients were going elsewhere. They, after all, had businesses to run and payrolls to meet, too.

I like to think BIG. And I like to do things that others have not done before.

What you don’t know are my motivations for dreaming so big.

It’s not about the money.

Sure, having money is better than NOT having money, but it’s not about the money.

It’s about what you can DO with the money.

And I’m not talking about bigger houses, faster cars or more gadgets.

I’m talking about investing in something far more valuable than these things.

I’m talking about investing in people.

I’m talking about making a difference in someone else’s life.