Return on equity is a way of measuring the profitability of an investment. However, when talking about relationships, it is hard to measure the return on those terms, so I try to ask myself two questions: am I building long-term relationships? am I being intentional on that?
I recognize that I might be being quite ambitious in my search for answers, but sometimes, the answers take you by surprise, as it did a few days ago.
I was visiting some of our associates who live in the community of Matagorda, and I spent the afternoon at one of our associate’s home, drinking coffee (probably too much) and listening to what they had to say to me.
As I was talking to Fica, one of the associates with the largest savings account in Microfinance, I was asking myself those questions, and honestly, I was afraid that the answers would not be what we were expecting.
At the end of the visit, I said good-bye to Fica and I encouraged her to take care of her health, and I told her how much I loved her and how important her wellbeing (physical, emotional and spiritual) was to me.
Fica stood up, gave me a big hug and said to me “I love you”. Fica is a tough woman, who has been able to survive through difficult circumstances during her whole life. Those that know her well are aware that communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is not part of her skills set.
That hug and that “I love you” strongly resonated in my soul, and suddenly I realized that there was no better answer to the questions I was asking myself.
I feel greatly satisfied because in what I do, success does not fit into a mathematical equation, but in how we make feel others.
As Carol Buchner said, “they may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel”.
Those are the Microfinance we love.
Peace & blessings,
Raquel & Alvaro
When helping matters 