A few weeks ago, I shared the ResurgeAfrique idea with my friends, Lynn Harris, author of Unwritten Rules, and her husband, Jeff Arnold who is a co board member at Santropol Roulant. Lynn and Jeff thought ResurgeAfrique's mission was intriguing and as is typical with them, they graciously offered to organize sessions at their home for me to present the idea to small groups of people. The sessions would allow me to receive feedback and ideas, while improving my ability to present ResurgeAfrique.

We had the first session on Wednesday June 23 and it was stimulating. There were lots of questions and ideas including, selection of suppliers, reducing Africa's dependence on Chinese imports over the long term, ensuring local ownership and making love the guiding principle.

Lynn suggested that I read Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea. I devoured the book last week on my way to DC to meet with Tricia Chirumbole and other ResurgeAfrique participants. I am inspired by Greg Mortenson's work and impact in areas that are mostly perceived as being hostile. As I read the book, all I saw was possibilities. Limitless possibilities, when we are ready to identify with people at the grassroots, when we are willing to work together with them recognizing that we are not better, we just have different roles. I see that we can move mountains if we are willing to be guided even by those we are trying to 'help'.

A key highlight of Greg Mortenson's story is the importance of building relationships and I want to bring that into my not only for-profit work in the grassroots of Africa. I love what Greg said about his mentor, Haji Ali, who could have been written off as illiterate. "Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them." I think those of us working in Africa will do well to heed that advice.

Without a doubt, one of the greatest encouragements on this path and surely the best gift from my first session at Lynn and Jeff's is Greg Mortenson's story in "Three Cups of Tea". He has been successful in enrolling and working with people commonly perceived as opposed to the education of girls, to become champions of female education, against many inconceivable odds.

There are many things to take away from Greg Mortenson's story, including the fact that he is also human, with weaknesses. But one important learning point for me is his insistence on enrolling local and at times 'uneducated' or 'unqualified' people rather than "expats" and turning over operations and ownership to them. It does not sound like an intelligent thing to do but time reveals the wisdom behind the strategy. I am convinced even a not only for profit enterprise can learn from that.

Greg Mortenson's story is the triumph of spirit, compassion, humility, love. Qualities that are typically excluded from development or economic endeavours. It suggests that we can achieve better results in the world when we connect to people's hearts rather than their heads. I think this is a story of the triumph of wisdom over mere intelligence.