Reading Reflection No. 3

Twenty-Seven Dollars and a Dream: How Muhammad Yunus Changed the World and What It Cost Him by Katharine Esty

1) The thing that surprised me the most about Muhammad Yunus was that the $27 was used to end global poverty. I had thought the book would be about how he used $27 to build a large business, but I was pleasantly wrong. The thing I admire the most about Yunus is his innovation and his dedication to do something bigger than just making money and building his own empire like many entrepreneurs. He used his entrepreneurship spirit to help millions of poor women in over 100 countries through a microcredit movement starting with just lending $27 to 42 Bangladeshi women. I think that is just amazing. Yunus encountered failure when he was removed from his position of the Grameen Bank - which he had founded! However, he was unfazed and continued to carry on the good work and promote social entrepreneurship globally.

2) Yunus's competencies include resilience, innovation, compassion, and perseverance.

3) One part of the reading that confused me was why he had started a bank when he could have focused just on promotion of social entrepreneurship and investing more into his own social business.

4) Two questions I would ask Yunus is: "Do you think the rewards of your actions outweighed your costs - why or why not?" and "Were you ever afraid that you social entrepreneurship would fail or would cause more damage than good; if so, how did you address this fear?" 

5) Yunus' opinion of hard work is most likely that he sees hard work as a means of bringing a joy and a future to others in need - allowing them the chance to work hard too (and be rewarded fairly and accordingly). I share this opinion. Hard work is best when it means something and is ultimately selfless.