Social Enterprise is HARD to do

Starting a business is hard enough, but starting a business that has a social focus is even harder. For Micro Drip, we are still very much working to refine our business model so that we can successfully sell to the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) here in Pakistan, those who live on less than $4/day. For Micro Drip, one of the most difficult challenges is that we can have the greatest low cost, high quality drip irrigation system in the world, but ultimately success for a farmer depends on much more than our system: microfinancing, stable water source, good seed, fertilizer, storage, know-how, distribution to markets, etc. As a result, we cannot simply sell our system off the shelf; we have to think about ways to directly and indirectly (through partnerships) address the problems that come before and after our product.

A second difficulty that we face is the seasonality of our product. There are two growing seasons in Pakistan each year with most farmers growing cotton during the summer season and wheat during the fall season. Unfortunately, drip irrigation cannot be used with wheat given the density of the plants/acre. Vegetables can be grown during both seasons and offer much higher prices, but the lack of storage and access to markets forces many farmers into cotton and wheat, which are more stable with much less risk of going bad.

A third difficulty that we are tackling is how to motivate local sales reps in the communities that we serve. CEMEX, a Mexican cement company, has successfully mobilized a large network of local promoters in its program Patrimonio Hoy, which helps clients who make between $5-$15/day to save money for do-it-yourself home improvements. While there are some successful models out there, many social businesses are struggling with this issue, as it is often difficult for local sales people to make sufficient income selling a single product. Where sales channels to the BOP already exist, it is much easier for existing sales people to add additional products to their offerings. Unfortunately, we are not aware of any other sales channels that reach our target market that would be willing to add our systems to their existing portfolio.

In spite of the challenges, we are committed to bringing irrigation solutions to the poor farmers of Pakistan. Drip irrigation increases crop yields by 30-100% all the while decreasing water usage by 50-70%. This translates into more money for poor farmers and ultimately has the potential to free farmers who are imprisoned in debt and a subsistence life.

Joel Montgomery

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Eid al Adha

This is the second day of Eid al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Take a look at my video blog to see what it's all about...

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The Servant’s Dilemma

I am here to serve the poor in Pakistan, yet I constantly find myself being served. The family I live with has two servants, the company I work for has two servants, and my friends have two servants. I can’t cook, I can’t clean, I can’t carry, I can’t even make tea for myself. Now I realize that the working wage in Pakistan is low, such that this is common, but I must admit that it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. In order to have a servant retrieve the dishes from the dinner table at 10:00pm, that individual cannot be with his or her family. Frankly, I would prefer to do my own dishes so that that person can be at home. While some people treat their servants like members of the family, others treat them as second-class citizens or worse. How easy it is to dehumanize fellow human beings. Thankfully, I was changed by my experience on the streets of New York with the poor during training and I have made sure to treat these people as best I can. Of course, I must allow them to do their jobs, but I make sure to speak to them, thank them, and of course give them a smile. I hope they realize that I appreciate them. I pray that I will never stop these small gestures for if I ever do, it will be a sad day indeed.

Joel Montgomery

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A Look Back to Acumen Fund Training: A Day on the Streets of New York

As part of our training curriculum for the Acumen Fund Fellowship, we were required to spend a day on the streets to better understand the poor. As soon as we arrived in the office one beautiful fall Friday, we were required to empty our pockets of our wallet, cell phone, keys, etc. We were given a $6 metro card and $5. The following is an article I wrote about my day with the homeless…

I have often wondered what is the most appropriate response when faced with a beggar in the street. Too often, I have balanced the choices of giving or not giving in favor of the latter, without truly understanding the person behind the request. Through spending a day on the streets of New York City, I was able to explore the lives of the very individuals that I have passed without even a smile or a kind word. Much to my surprise, my stereotypes of the urban poor were thrust back into my face.

Rose passed by carrying a small, black suitcase and a clear plastic bag full of cans and bottles. She eagerly accepted my offer to help her on her quest. Her slight smile, gentle eyes, and grandmother charm immediately made me feel comfortable. Rose taught me which cans were acceptable and which grocery stores accepted our booty. Every day of the week, she started work at 7:00am sifting through trashcans to collect the five-cent rewards that were hidden along her treasure route. On the day that I worked with her, Rose only managed to raise just over $3.00 after four hours of work; that is less than $1/hour. What struck me most about Rose was that she didn’t appear homeless at all. She was quite intelligent, very articulate, and knew more about literature then I could ever know. As I said goodbye to my new friend Rose, she asked, “Can I have a hug?” “Of course,” I replied. “I don’t get many hugs,” she responded.

Shirley caught my eye as I entered Penn Station. She was a small black woman, sitting in a motorized wheel chair with a sign that indicated that she was a veteran and in need of help. I struck up a conversation with her and was immediately taken with her jovial laugh and joyful demeanor. She told me how she often comes to Penn Station to raise money to live on. I asked her if people were being generous and she said, “Well, you came by and it is a blessing to talk to you.”

Peter sat on the gum stained sidewalk, cowering next to a hand written sign and cup full of change. I sat down next to him and noticed the sadness radiating from him. I learned that he was from a part of Hungary that I had visited in May of this year. He had come to the U.S. in 1999 at the age of twelve with his two parents. Since then, both of them have past away from AIDS. Peter lives in a cardboard box on the street. He told me how he has regulars who give him money, but he remarked that no one stops to really ask how he is. When asked what he likes to do for fun, Peter remarked, “I don’t really have fun.”

The homeless don’t have feelings. They are a group of nobodies with no life worth living and no real value to society. That is how you and I treat these human beings when we speedily walk past to escape their disheveled appearance and jingling cups. Oh, we may give a few coins or even several tattered bills, but contributing to their plight doesn’t lessen the dehumanizing behavior that we engage in.

Each of the 35,000 homeless in New York City has a story. Many are just as happy as you or I, if not more so. Certainly, some have mental illness and others are drug or alcohol addicts, but that does not give us the right to treat them as if they are not human. During my day on the streets, I met eight individuals who marveled me with their resourcefulness, touched me with their affection, tickled me with their laughs, and rebuked me with their humanness. No longer shall I walk by without acknowledging their humanity. To give money to their cause is a matter of personal choice, but to give a smile or kind word requires nothing but a little courage. The next time, you pass a beggar in the street, remember that he or she had a mother and a father. He or she has intellect and emotion, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, just like you and I.

Joel Montgomery

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Thanksgiving Sadness

I awoke this morning to the terrible news that Mumbai had been bombed yesterday evening. So far 125 are dead and 327 injured. Apparently, one of the terrorists in custody is of Pakistani descent. I hope to goodness that this will not derail the recent talks of partnership between the two countries.

The Acumen Fund team immediately went into action to check on all of the fellows in India along with those of Indian citizenship to see if they and their families were safe. It’s comforting to know that there is such support here and abroad.

Apart from the dreadful news, this day has been like any other. Earlier this week, I tried to contact the US consulate in Karachi to see if they had any Thanksgiving plans open to US citizens, but they did not. While I may celebrate Thanksgiving alone this day, I still have the fresh memories of my family’s Thanksgiving celebration on November 9. I traveled home for a wedding during my final weekend before leaving the states. My sister, brother, and brother-in-law all came home as well for the festivities. We cut-a-rug at the wedding and then enjoyed our last meal together for the next 10 months. I am so blessed to have such an incredibly loving family that supports me and loves me back home!

Joel Montgomery

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The REAL Pakistan

Bombs, Taliban, Terrorism, Extremism, Danger. This is the Pakistan that the media portrays. Since my arrival to this country of 162 million a week ago, my picture of this land has transformed into a grand landscape painted by one of the Hudson River masters.

The sketches of this masterpiece began to take shape when I arrived late on a Saturday evening to the house that will be my home for next 10 months. The family that welcomed me immediately accepted me as one of their own. Now, I must confess that as a Southerner, I have been brought up with certain ideals of hospitality, but the level of acceptance that I received that evening makes us Southerners look plain old rude and shallow.

The first color began to hit the canvas as I traversed the land to visit poor farmers in the desert. Dust and desert shrubs stretched on for many miles in every direction. The only colors to break free from the abyss of shades of brown were on the bright pastels of the kurta shalwars that the women wore. As we neared, women would shield their faces with vibrant orange or red or pink fabric. 80% of these people live on less than one dollar a day and are entirely dependent on Mother Nature’s grace to give them rain during the summer.

The dabs of color began to mix together as my colleagues and I sat on the side of the road drinking tea before embarking on the rest of our journey. Converted WWII-era trucks that the British had brought many years before passed us decorated with intricate detail and hauling several times the amount of cargo that they had originally been designed for. Their unique horns seemed to posture toward one another in an attempt to dominate the others. Men sat on rope coaches conversing about the day’s events and enjoying the comforting warmth of a teacup that warded off the coolness of the evening air. A nut vendor passed roasting small chickpeas and selling peanuts by the bag full.

This is the REAL Pakistan and I have only gained a glimpse of its complexity and beauty. Now, I am not denying that there are elements Bombs, Taliban, Terrorism, Extremism, and Danger in this country, but which country can repudiate the existence of these elements within its own borders (minus the Taliban)? I wonder how might the world’s view of this country be if a more balanced portrayal of its reality were shared.

Joel Montgomery

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I Don't Know Why You Say "Goodbye"... I say "Hello"

Given the fact that I have lived abroad on several occasions, I have not really anticipated much about the 10 months that I would soon spend in a foreign land. I was busy enough with training and arming all the necessary documentation to get my visa to think much about what life would be like once I arrived in Pakistan. That all changed on my last day with the Acumen Fund team in New York. During the day, Acumen Fund held its Investor Gathering for all its key investors in a shareholder meeting that is atypical in the non-profit world. As part of the afternoon session, my cohort of fellows and I performed a 10 minute presentation to give the audience some background into who we were, why we were there, and where we were going. In preparation for the event, Rives, the renowned slam poet, helped us refine our ramblings into a more thoughtful and more entertaining package. The performance held special significance given the fact that this was the last day that our team of fellows would be together until out mid-project meeting in March 2009. Many of us were leaving for the field the very next morning.

During the evening, my fellow fellows and I greeted guests to the Investor Gala with silk scarves. We mingled with the greater Acumen Fund community and I was impressed by the way that the engagement of most of the people in that room was far deeper than a simple financial commitment. I am convinced that social change requires much more than capital; it requires a passionate community that is committed to breaking molds and blazing new trails. It was at the Investor Gala that the importance of my work took on a new meaning. There is a movement brewing. For too long, the traditional aid models have thrown trillions of dollars at developing countries and in most cases making the situation far worse. Acumen Fund, Endeavor, and other like-minded hybrid organizations are challenging the old guard. We are leveraging the power of business to empower the poor. As I leave for Pakistan, I am eager to live this work firsthand.

Joel Montgomery

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Closing One Chapter and Opening Another

In spite of my brief six-week stint in Honduras, I feel confident that I was able to make a positive contribution to the Cooperative. While some of the more tangible outcomes included the formation of two new microbusinesses and the restructuring of the Cooperative, probably my longest lasting impact will be more intangible. During my time in Honduras, I noticed the Cooperative members change from an attitude of dependence upon donors to one of seeking sustainability. I hope that this key revelation will continue to bear fruit long after my departure.

After a brief stopover in Alabama for some R&R with my family, I made my way to the Big Apple to begin my fellowship with Acumen Fund. The fellowship began with seven weeks of intense training that included leadership development, team-building, in-depth discussions on the foundations of democracy, and access to incredible speakers such as David Bornstein (Author of “How to Change the World”), Martin Fisher (CEO of Kick Start), and Seth Godin (Marketing Guru). I was fortunate to be joined on this journey by nine exceptional individuals who had also been selected for the fellowship program: Premal Desai (India), Sophie Forbes (USA), Ram Haribaran (India), Joanna Harries (Canada), Mubarik Imam (Pakistan), Karthik Janakiraman (India), Heidi Krauel (USA), Nicole Orillac (Panama), and Suraj Sudhakar (India). What surprised me most about this group of highly successful and passionate people was their incredible humility. In a world that is full of self-righteous egomaniacs, it was truly an honor to serve alongside such incredibly humble people.

Joel Montgomery

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Day 32: Reconsidering Business

A few days ago (Day 29), I shared about an encounter I had with one of the members of the team who had decided that he no longer wanted to pursue business in favor of a retreat back to the NGO world. Today, it seems he has had a change of heart. My friend sat down with me this morning and remarked that he had been upset with me because of a conversation I had had with him last week about not delivering any of the work he had promised to complete. He confessed that the news had been difficult to hear, but that on further reflection, he knew what I had said to him was true. He went on to list all of the things he had learned from me during the past five weeks, which was incredibly gratifying.

Later on in the day, he returned from doing some field research on some competition with an intense sense of excitement and accomplishment. He had been able to get a lot of information about the major competitors to his small business and was already formulating sales strategies that incorporated the new information. It’s exciting to see how enthusiastic he is and I hope that he will continue to move forward with his business aspirations.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 31: Leading Change

Most corporate change initiatives fail. The fact of the matter is that change is difficult and can be sidetracked in so many ways. At Thunderbird, I studied change under the tutelage of Dr. Caren Siehl, an expert in corporate change. As part of our curriculum, we learned Dan Cohen’s and John Kotter’s change framework, which has hence provided me a unique lens through which to view change initiatives. The steps are simple but incredibly powerful: 1. Increase Urgency, 2. Build Guiding Teams, 3. Get the Vision Right, 4. Communicate for Buy-in, 5. Enable Action, 6. Create Short-term Wins, 7. Don’t Let Up, and 8. Make it Stick. For more detail on the framework you can check out the book “The Heart of Change Field Guide.”
Today, I participated in a workshop in which the coordinators were trying to inspire a group of local NGOs, involved in serving children and young adults, to form a network. The coordinators had conducted a study of the common issues arising in the NGOs and were hoping to get feedback from the participants. As I sat through the discussions, I noted some common mistakes that are typical to change:

- Lack of a common theme throughout the meeting. Why were they there and what did they hope to accomplish? What was the benefit to each individual NGOs of participating in the network?
- The change initiative was primarily being led by paid consultants. They had failed to involve other members in the process early enough and thereby garner support within the group. As a result, the group of NGOs viewed the consultants as outsiders in spite of the fact that they are just as passionate to help children.
- As a result of not involving key personnel from the beginning, most organizations that participated (50% of the invitees) had sent lower level representatives who really have no power in making decisions.

Surprisingly, the group began to respond to the call in spite of the efforts of the coordinators. In my opinion, they responded more out of a passion for helping kids, but the important thing is that they responded. It was exciting to see the participants begin to take ownership of the movement and answer the questions of naysayers within their own group. The question now is whether or not the group can capitalize on the momentum they have gained.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 30: Seeing into the Future

Ever since I was accepted as an Acumen Fund Fellow, I have wondered where on earth I was going to be placed. As the days have gotten closer to September 2nd, I have been on pins and needles waiting for the clouds to clear. Several weeks ago, I got some clarity after reading Greg Mortenson’s book, “Three Cups of Tea.” The book discusses Greg’s adventures building schools in some of the most remote areas of Pakistan. After reading the book, I got this deep sense that God was going to send me to Pakistan. Today, I got the news that I will indeed be placed in Pakistan and working on a Micro-health insurance initiative.

I must confess that I have truly brought my parents through the ringer over the years with all my adventures abroad. Costa Rica, Latin America, Africa, Turkey, Jordan, Honduras, and now Pakistan. It is certainly easier to leave than be left behind. My dad’s usual response is “It’s dangerous there!” without even knowing much about the destination. This time, it is true, but I have faith that the Lord will keep me safe. Ironically, my father responded in a much more subdued fashion this time. It’s probably part shock, part faith, and part growing accustomed to my travels. It is truly comforting to know that I have a loving family who is praying for me and supporting me back home. Certainly the next 12 months will be a great adventure!


Joel Montgomery

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Day 29: Just Say “No”… to Business

Today, I had an interesting discussion with one of the members of the cooperative. He came to me and said that he had decided that he didn’t want to be a businessman. He mentioned to me how the whole process of writing a business plan was too complex for the local market and that he is more passionate about working directly with the former gang members in a non-profit setting.

The first thing I did was to let him know that I feel quite strongly that everyone should pursue what he/she is passionate about and that I was glad that he had decided to pursue his passions. It is wonderful that he has decided this now instead of six months from now. That being said, I am afraid that he is using this as an excuse to return to his comfort zone, in which he frankly is not really doing a whole lot of good for the target group that he is so passionate about. Unfortunately, my friend has a tendency to zigzag around depending on his short-lived interests. This is further exasperated by the fact that the organization with which he works has no vision or strategy and he really has limited experience handling money. I shared with my friend the reality that any organization, whether for profit or non-profit, should go through a process of self-definition. Although in theory he understands the value, he does not seem disciplined enough to go through the entire process. Thankfully, most of his peers see the value in going through the business plan process and are diligently moving forward.

I can already see what is going to happen in the future and it makes me sad for my friend. He has a lot of potential but still lacks a lot of discipline and drive. It is comforting to know that he has taken to heart some of the concepts that I have shared with the team since my arrival, but I wish I could do more to help him.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 28: High Definition

At 7:45am, Leonel the taxi driver gave a honk in front of the house to let me know that he had arrived. I grabbed my bag and jumped in the backseat. We sped through the city streets this early Sunday morning, whizzing past bottlenecks that usually deterred us during the week. Upon arriving at work, a man quickly tried to grab my backpack, but thankfully it was only Javier. We yelled in the building to wake up the guard so he would let us in. As we arrived in our office, we realized that there was no electricity. You never know what will happen in a developing country. Slowly all the members of the team arrived and we began our meeting. The main reason why I had wanted to meet was so we could further define what the purpose of the new cooperative would be. During Friday’s meeting at the Association of Honduran Maquilas, the team had given the impression that the cooperative was a single company and I found this to be contrary to many of the plans that we had put in place, so there was obviously still some confusion. Although there were some intense moments of discussion, everyone felt better after we finished, as the road forward was much clearer.

After the meeting, we continued to work in the individual businesses over lunch. We all sat at separate tables and people would come up to me to ask questions about doubts they had about the business plan process. Probably one of the most exciting moments happened as I was listening to the discussion at one of the nearby tables. One of the staunchest critics to the business plan process was suddenly telling a new member of the team how important it was for him to create a business plan for his company. For me, that one sentence reinforced the fact that I was getting through to the team. I will certainly walk away from this experience having learned a lot from the team, but I am thankful that they, too, have learned a lot from me.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 27: Payday

One of the most incredible benefits of having graduated from Thunderbird is the extensive network of alumni from all around the world. On multiple occasions, I have searched the school database and found Thunderbirds in some of the smallest countries on earth. Here in San Pedro Sula, I found Hector, an alum who graduated just a few years ago.

As Hector and I headed to Applebees for some typical American fare, we passed several banks with lines that reached as many as one hundred cars. I asked Hector why there were so many people waiting at the bank and he remarked that it was normal for a payday.

Most workers in Honduras get paid on the 15th and 30th of every month. As a result, everyone heads to the bank to deposit checks and take out money to pay bills. Although many companies offer Direct Deposit, a relatively small percentage of employees choose it. Latin America is still very much a cash culture. Hector told me that some of the Maquilas used to pay all of their employees in cash until the buses that would take them to/from the plants began to be robbed. To combat this, the Maquilas opened corporate bank accounts that were then subdivided to include each employee. Instead of check or cash, employees received a debit card. Initially, there was a lot of push back from the employees as they thought that the company was cheating them of their hard-earned money.

As Hector and I arrived at the mall, we noticed that the payday craze was exactly the same there. Lines haphazardly snaked around the various banks as people lost hour after hour in pointless lines. For me, this reinforced the fact that the developing world is full of opportunity. Imagine what could happen if a foreign bank entered the market with many of the efficiencies that are typical in developing countries. It would quickly revolutionize the whole banking system in Honduras.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 26: Presentation

Yesterday, Jesus emailed us to let us know that he had arranged a meeting with the Communications Director of the Association of Honduran Maquilas. He asked each of the new businesses to put together a short PowerPoint presentation and be ready for the 8:30am meeting today. I was a worried that this meeting was too early given the fact that there was still some doubt as to how the micro businesses were to function within the structure of the new cooperative as well as the reality that all the businesses are still in the early stages of developing their own business plans. In spite of my concerns, I knew that we must be ready for the meeting as it was an important contact.

When I arrived this morning at 8:00am, there was a flurry of activity as each of the groups made the last minute touches to their presentations. We arrived right on time to the association’s office and were escorted to the conference center by our hostess, Tesla. Quickly it became apparent that Tesla did not know why we were meeting with her, although she gracefully listened to each company’s presentation.

In spite of many minor sales mistakes, the team successfully communicated the basic ideas of what we are trying to do. Tesla expressed her interest in including our information in an electronic newsletter that is sent to all association members each Friday It was good to see each group present and give them some feedback as to how they can improve their sales pitches.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 25: Socially Oriented Graphic Arts

Today, I had a lunch meeting with Espectro Ganzua, the socially oriented graphic arts company. We made some major breakthroughs in terms of further defining their strategy. One of the ideas that came out of the meeting was the concept of offering a service to clients in order to measure the true need of a social campaign. Most companies have market research down, but they don’t know where to begin when conducting a social campaign. Is the message that they are trying to communicate really necessary? Does the public already understand all or part of the message? By offering this service, Espectro Ganzua would be able to partner with sociologists to actually measure these types of questions within the community, thereby enabling the client to make a more informed decision all the while helping the creative team to refine the campaign to the realities of the market. Certainly the idea needs to be explored directly with potential clients, but I like how the group is starting to think outside the box.

The other major area that we discussed in our meeting was the difficulty of forecasting numbers. I suggested that they break up their projected growth into phases and estimate how many clients, workers, equipment, etc. they would need to enter each phase. They could then use this information to fill in the gaps from where they are currently and ultimately put a time frame around each growth phase. The team is moving along and I am hopeful that the hard work they are putting into the business plan process will produce fruit.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 24: The Street

Every morning I head to work and the taxi driver takes the same route. I pass the same food stand that has people crammed around it waiting patiently for breakfast. I pass the same taxi stand with its line of white cars. I pass the same Kiwi-branded corner where people come to shine their shoes before work. All of that sameness, I can live with, but it is the street people that touch me the most. I wonder what horrible misfortune has caused them to call a bit of concrete home. I wonder most about one individual in particular, who does not seem to be in a drunken stupor like so many of his neighbors. He’s black, in his teens and always sleeps in the same pair of red shorts and no t-shirt. He’s not an early riser as he sleeps soundly as I roll by around 8:00am. Small pieces of cardboard are his mattress and tall tree branches his roof. Today, I noticed that he was not at his usual address and I wondered where he could be. Could someone have murdered him during the night? Could he be visiting a friend in another part of the city? Could he have returned to his far away home? Whoever he is and wherever he has gone, we are not that different he and I. We have the same needs of food and water. We have the same wants of acceptance and love. Yet, what has caused him to live on the street while I studied at the best schools in the US?


Joel Montgomery

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Day 23: Meetings

Today was filled with meetings. This morning, I met with the Director of Paz y Convivencia, a local social program that targets former gang members as one of its focal points. I shared with the Director the information I have gathered about the Delancey Street Foundation model. Next week, I am going to make a presentation to a number of NGOs and community members who are also interested in the topic of gangs and how to best rehabilitate former members.

This afternoon, I had a conversation with Angela Tarfur, Director of Give to Colombia. The organization has already sent more than $5M to Colombia, and has an incredible model for sustainable philanthropy. Angela has developed a community-focused methodology for building local buy-in for projects that ultimately become 100% self-sustaining within three years. Her corner stone project was the Juan Bosco Computer Center, which has now become the definitive model for Microsoft’s involvement in similar technology centers throughout Latin America. The center is an oasis in the middle of the slums and 100% community run and operated.

My final meeting was with Ami Noel and his fumigation company, FUMYSEM. He has been particularly diligent in heeding my calls for more and more detail about his company. Today we had some major breakthroughs. First of all, we discussed the fact that he is not selling fumigation services at all, but the real service he is offering is family health. By using non-toxic chemicals and removing unwanted pests, he is making the family home safer and healthier. The mental shift is finally allowing him to think in terms of what differentiates his firm from his competitors. The second breakthrough came from my insistence that he define his variable costs in terms of area. Until now, his pricing has been somewhat arbitrary without a proper understanding of his true costs. Ami Noel is more motivated than ever and that is making me even more excited about the process that we are undertaking.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 22: Starting the Week in Style

Every morning, I have an arrangement with a taxi driver to pick me and take me to work. The curious thing is that I believe he is the only Honduran who ever arrives early. I woke up this morning at the usual time, took a shower and just as I was pouring my cereal, the phone rang, to indicate that Leonel, the taxi driver, had arrived… 15 minutes early at that. I scarfed my food down and grabbed a bottle of homemade juice from the small refrigerator in my room and ran out the door.

When I arrived at work, I tried to open the bottle of juice, but it was under an extreme amount of pressure. As I slowly twisted the top, I thought to myself, “This is some strange type of juice.” Having finally opened the bottle, I gave a sniff and wasn’t sure if it was still good or not. I figured that my friends would have a better nose for the smell of local juices, so I asked Jovel and Javier to smell the golden liquid. Both agreed that it was fine, so with that I sat down to work with the strange concoction by my side. After quite a few sips of the pineapple liquid, Javier came by and said, “You know that it is alcoholic, right?” Here I was, Monday morning, drinking a homemade Honduran wine without having the slightest idea that it was alcoholic.

Later in the day, I met with both Espectro Ganzua (Graphic Design) and Centro America Consulting regarding the progress of their business plans. It is incredibly satisfying to see the teams struggling through the process of refining their ideas and putting their strategies together on paper. The step-by-step guide that I am developing to help the teams through the business plan process is proving to be quite useful as it gives them a point of reference as to where they are and how all the pieces fit together. I have also developed an Excel worksheet that helps the teams through the process of building the financial aspect of their business. This is the area where people seem to need the most help.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 21: Space & Time

Today, I spent the whole day with the congregation of a small local church. Slowly but surely, we zigzagged our way to Puerto Cortez, the closest beach (and largest port in Central America). Our first stop was a temporary meeting point at a local gas station, where one of the cars had broken down. We jumped back in the car, headed to one of the member’s houses to retrieve some tools and then returned to the impromptu meeting place. Next, we headed to retrieve a cousin and her young son. Our fourth stop was on the side of the highway, where the pastor and his family were waiting for the caravan. A red truck that was part of our group carried five people inside and another six in the back. Our fifth stop was once again on the side of the highway as soon as we saw the ocean; there seemed to be some confusion about the exact location of our destination. Finally, we found a nice beach, fully equipped with a pool and a cement slide. Curiously enough, the “slippery” side of the slide was made from ceramic tiles.

As I got out of the car, the hospitality immediately began. Everyone was incredibly warm and accepting of the tall gringo who had recently entered their midst. After lathering up with sunscreen to repel the deadly Central American rays, I took a plunge into the Caribbean. The sand was an uninspiring brown but turned into little flakes of gold as the waves churned it up near the shore. My new friends and I shared lunch together, played keep away and enjoyed the natural beauty of which God had graced their country.

Sometime during the afternoon, I asked one of my friends what time the group was planning on returning home and he just shrugged and said he didn’t know. I’ve very much enjoyed escaping from time’s stranglehold on me here in Latin America. Seeing America’s obsession with time through the lens of fluidity makes the concept of letting a $5 machine, attached to one’s arm, rule our lives seem somewhat ridiculous. Certainly, time has its place, but maybe that’s the point… time has a place in our lives, but it shouldn’t rule our lives.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 20: Cancel the Site, Let Me See the People

The more I travel, the less I am interested in seeing tourist destinations. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy Rome’s Coliseum, Peru’s Machu Picchu, or Turkey’s Hagia Sofia. What I truly love is culture and unfortunately, you don’t get much of that surrounded by tourists in a water taxi in Venice’s main canal. You can even be living in a foreign country, with the compound walls separating you from everything foreign. As for me, I prefer living in the trenches. That is where culture resides. I feel so fortunate to be living with Doña Maria and Adoña and working with Jesus, Jovel, Javier, Jorge, Salvador, and Ami Noel. My memories of Honduras will not be of Copan and Ceiba, but rather these people who have enriched my daily life.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 19: Personal Motivations

Peace has returned to our humble office in the center of San Pedro Sula. The concierto of drills and hammers has ended to a grand applause. The office is now divided into four parts: Espectro Ganzua (Graphic Design), Fumysem (Fumigation), Centro América Consulting, and Generación X (Social organization focusing on the needs of former gang members). The reign of the old CJM, was very similar to communism in that all resources belonged to everyone. In contrast, the installation of dividers has ignited a flurry of activity within the individual min-offices as members begin to take ownership of their own companies. The environment in the office has changed drastically in just three weeks.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 18: Putting Up Barriers

The new direction that CJM is taking is refocusing the attention of all the members involved toward their own individual enterprises. As part of this shift, CJM has contracted two men to build dividers within the office so that each company has its own private work area. The chorus of street sounds that is the normal office score has now been replaced by a concierto of drills and hammers. Chemical smells dance around the room. Yet, these minor inconveniences are not for naught as the excitement within the air is palpable. While the barriers are only made of wood and dry wall, they symbolize much more. They represent the new focus of the organization, toward sustainable entrepreneurial ventures. Slowly, members are letting go of the non-profit mentality and grasping the concepts of sustainability.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 17: Blue

Today, Honduras is playing Mexico in soccer. Starting on Monday, blue flags and jerseys began to pop up all around the city as passionate citizens showed their support and clever entrepreneurs banked on that passion. On the way to work this morning, I was shocked to see so many people wearing the Honduran national team jersey. There is an electricity in the air that is not normally present in the city.

On the way back from lunch, Jesus and I stopped by Diunsa, a large department store, to visit the bank. The line must have been at least 20 people long. Americans would go crazy in such circumstances, but the Hondurans waited patiently for their turn. I decided to explore the store while Jesus waited for his turn in line. What struck me most was the large number of employees in the store. There were dozens of blue-uniformed women strategically stationed all over the complex. Some were diligently counting inventory while others were itching to help any customer in site, unlike the few minimum wage teenagers that you usually find in a similar store in the US. I have found this same phenomenon all around Latin America as shops can afford to have a lot of laborers due to the low salaries.

In the food court, there was a Dunkin’ Donuts, Mexican restaurant, and juice bar. Here, there were women in red uniforms, who were clearly contracted to clean the floors. They methodically picked up trash and swept the floor… not too fast and not too slow. There was no expression on their faces, as if they were working on autopilot. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to work at something that I love.


Joel Montgomery

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Day 16: Sustainability

This afternoon, I had two important meetings. The first involved helping Jovel to diagnose the issues of Generación X, the social organization that he and two other former gang members lead. The group was initially founded in 2003 to combat the government’s direct targeting of tattooed youth. Back then, police were imprisoning and in some cases murdering youth without trial, solely on the basis of having tattoos. Thankfully, this policy has all but vanished, but this has left Generación X without a clear purpose. Jesus lead the meeting in which we diagnosed the problems, causes, and effects. We then came up with some recommendations for how to improve Generación X. At the end of the meeting, I acknowledged Jovel as I was very impressed with he willingness to take constructive criticism with grace and humbleness.

My second meeting was with the new consulting group that is forming. Last week I presented each fledgling business with a simple template that included basic information about the business they want to found. This information serves as the base for the Business Plan that we are hoping to complete before I leave. In the meeting, I reviewed the business template that the group had completed and then discussed with the team the next steps that are necessary to complete a more detailed assessment of the business venture. I am building a step by step guide that is based on the book, “Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning.” The resource is incredibly helpful and is even offered as a free download.

Overall, I am quite pleased at the progress that we are making, although I must confess that I wish the pace would be a little faster. Little changes in behavior are occurring which serve as a testament, that the group is slowly changing its old ways of non-profit thinking and forming some business acumen. There is a running joke in the office about the sustainability of everything. The joke started from our initial discussions around sustainability, but has evolved to include everything, from keeping the air-conditioning on for too long (Not sustainable) to borrowing money from friends (Not sustainable). While the jokes are very much tongue in cheek, it makes me happy that the group is using such important concepts in daily life. I am also encouraged by the fact that many of the people in the office come to seek advice from me on a number of issues. This is a true testament to the trust and respect that the group has bestowed upon me.


Joel Montgomery

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