Thursday - We did what we came here to do.

Sorry for the "work speak" in this post but we're off to another meeting and I want to share our huge success with you, after all this is what I originally came here for.

This morning Elizabeth and I did what we came here to do. We presented the Strategic Coach/GRDP coaching concepts to 79 people and had 40 entrepreneurs register for the 2010 workshop series (with 10-15 more applications to come). For those of us that have been to a TSC road show, this had all of the magic of impromptu testimonials, an engaged audience, and a 50% registration goal set and achieved. Throughout the morning, many people told me this was an historic moment for Rwanda because they had never seen a room full of business owners from all different industries, students, and community leaders (including the headmaster of the English school and a Bishop).
In Rwanda it’s not common to network and share information and knowledge like we do in Canada and the US. People are private and shy in a group setting and they don’t want to speak in public and share their ideas.

Unlike networking occasions in North America, people here find their seat and stay there until the end of the presentation, then get up and leave – maybe introducing themselves to the people at their table or sitting with those they know.
The presentation was a huge hit. Sindrali, a GRDP client and dear friend of Dave Ormesher’s, and now mine and Elizabeth’s too, started the morning with an introduction, next the headmaster of the English school led the crowd in a group prayer. Rwanda is a Christian based society and it reflects in their day-to-day lives. Elizabeth followed with an introduction about the partnership between Strategic Coach and GRDP and about the importance of the concepts being brought to Rwanda and why they’re important to the community of entrepreneurs here and the growth and vision they have for their country.
Following, I presented The Missing Link and What’s the Point. We covered the R-Factor and DOS and it was wonderful to see heads nodding, people smiling and generally engaged in what we have to offer them, individually and collectively. At first, very few would share their thoughts, but as people saw the vision of sharing their struggles with other entrepreneurs, they started to engage more and more.

Towards the end, a beautifully positioned but unplanned “testimonial” was provided by a well-respected community member who stood and urged everyone in the room to register today and create their Bigger Future. He explained that he didn’t know us personally, and wasn’t getting paid to speak(!), but “we must learn about relationships and sharing and this is what businesses in Rwanda need. These women have brought us a message and we must learn so we will grow.” His “stamp of approval” for the message brought applause and nods of approval.

As proof of the message getting across and being internalized, at the end of the presentation many people stayed to network and speak about their business, not just with me and Elizabeth but with one another. They understand the value of building relationships and their actions showed that they are ready and eager to create change and growth.

Rwanda has a powerful group of skilled and adept entrepreneurs who have the raw materials that we see in successful entrepreneurs everyday in North America. Add the relationships and mentoring from GRDP and the tools of TSC and Rwanda has a great future ahead of it!