Choose the Right Tool for the Task at Hand

I often compare the concept of one thought away to a large fire starting from a single spark. The irony in this has been the intense wildland fire season Oregon and the Pacific Northwest has experienced this summer with thousands of acres burned, dozens of structures/homes destroyed and even a few lives lost. Due to these historic conditions the Oregon National Guard was activated calling up three 125 person teams to respond to these emergency conditions. As a member of the Air Force National Guard I was a crew boss for a 20 person team assigned to the Grizzly Fire Complex in NE Oregon/SE Washington for the past two weeks. This experience shapes the thought for September: Choose the right tool for the task at hand.

Despite extreme fire behavior causing fires to literally “run” through the woods and jump across roads, valleys and tree tops the usefulness of the traditional 20 person hand crew remains a cornerstone in wildland fire suppression. With advancements in technology including large air tankers dropping retardant and bull dozers cutting large swaths of ground for fire line why are these crews still relied on? The dynamic nature of fire and the topography it burns through creates a need for an equally dynamic response with diverse resources. A hand crew cutting, grubbing and scraping fire line may just be the best option in many cases.

These crews are composed of different tools including chain saws, pulaskis, mcleods, shovels, combi tools, etc. and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Certain tools are placed up front to cut through the brush and large branches (chain saws and pulaskis) while other tools are perfect for putting the finishing touches on a fire line (mcleods and shovels). A well trained team knows this and will often rotate through tools to make sure the right tool is being used for the task at hand to ensure maximum effectiveness. Knowing this simple concept allows well trained teams to cut miles of fire line a day in rough terrain to suppress wildland fires.

Connecting this back to One Thought Away Investing I encourage lenders and those thinking about lending to carefully think about what type of projects you choose to invest in. Treat each loan as if it is a tool cutting a fire line around the slow creep of poverty occurring across our world. Do you think investing in a cell phone repair shop is the best use, or would it be better spent on a farmer needing better equipment? My hope is as we each grab our own “tool” to cut, grub and scrape a line to extinguish the unnecessary poverty that smolders across our globe.

Positive thought sparks positive action,

                                                                                                                                                       

Miles

Sign Up and Lend Here: https://www.zidisha.org/groups/205

Success In Anything Takes Risk In Something

While we enjoy the hot summer months I am excited to see the involvement with One Thought Away Investing warming up (at the beginning stages we have a dozen lenders and have lent $571). As I have said before, each fire starts with a spark and I am grateful for the support of these individuals being part of lighting the first match. Being the first to take a step into the uncertain is not always easy and brings us to our thought for August: Success in anything takes risk in something.

When speaking to these first lenders the questions arose of how certain it is those borrowing the money will pay their loan back and how are they are held accountable. These are valid questions I appreciate since they display a level of seriousness being shown in lending responsibly. In fact, the situation allowing micro-lending to be a viable option is that traditional banking systems in these developing areas can be characterized by ultra-high interest rates (up to 40%) on repayments. Rates this high create a much larger risk to borrowers who already feel the weight of financial insecurity (in comparison, loans lent on Zidisha have an average interest rate of 3.5%). The current repayment breakdown of the portfolio of $1.35 million of loans lent on Zidisha is as follows:

• 87.9% of loans have been repaid, or are being repaid on time
• 8.3% of loans have overdue payments
• 3.8% of loans have been written off. A lender can reclaim the money they have lent through the Zidisha Members Loan Fund for default loans (more details here).

One might jump to the fact that there is a portion borrowers with overdue payments and loans that have been written off. My response is this is normal with any investing concept because the nature of risk; the reality in life is best laid plans do not work out 100% of the time. I share this openly because how relatively low these default rates are if you compare them to other borrower groups we may be more familiar with. Student default rates in the U.S. were reported to be at 13.7% in Fall 2014, which was actually a decline from previous reports [1]. Despite this fact, millions will still enter college this coming fall and spend thousands of dollars to do so willingly with the thought it will pay off in the end. With this in mind I argue the repayment risk of providing one micro-loan is low not only to the lender who risks a relatively small amount of collateral (e.g. a $20 loan), but also based on the fact that the borrowers have an incentive to pay it off (they achieve their investment goal and it builds their credibility for future larger loans).

When considering your next risk whether it be making a micro-loan (click here), or in some other area of your life remember the thought: success in anything takes risk in something. As a parting shot take a look at this example of a man part Tar Heel, part Bull, part G.O.A.T. who took life by the horns and understood this thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA7G7AV-LT8

Positive thought sparks positive action,

Miles

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[1] U.S. News, 1 October 2014. http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/student-loan-ranger/2014/10/01/student-loan-default-rates-fall-but-borrowers-should-still-worry

One Thought Away Rekindled

In 2012 I began a blog called “One Thought Away” for the purpose of raising money for a non-profit project in Haiti as well as inspiring other people to pursue their dreams. The premise was simple: great things we hope for and wish to do are often one thought, or a series of continual thoughts over time, away from happening. I always saw these thoughts as sparks that could create a roaring fire of change. It has been on my heart recently to rekindle this experience in a way that can be sustained and achieve a larger impact with a broader reach.

You may know I have had an interest in micro-finance and developing impoverished countries based on my past volunteer, education and travel experience. In particular I had the chance during my MBA program to study microfinance in Nicaragua and business development in Cambodia as well as seeing poverty up close and personal while on humanitarian trips to Haiti and Mexico. This baseline knowledge and my core belief that Jesus calls us to serve our fellow man compels me to stoke this passion with a broader audience.

Zidisha (Swahili for “growth”, or “expand”) is a micro-lending platform focused on cutting high “middle-man” costs and promoting transparency on where funds are distributed (learn about their approach in the info links below). My vision is to combine the concept of my “One Thought Away” blog with the Zidisha lending platform to provide 24,901 loans during my lifetime (one loan per each mile of the earth’s circumference symbolizing how the world is all connected and the common ground we share). I believe in this process because it connects the heart of service (Zidisha serves some of the poorest areas in the world) with the effectiveness of capitalism; lenders (i.e. you) decide who to loan to based on borrowers business ideas, adjust loan rates for riskier loans and can ask borrowers questions before investing. This is not a hand out, this is a hand up. Micro-lending in its ideal form is centered on empowering individuals and small groups to profit from their ideas and hard work as they develop accountability through the fact they are required to pay back the loan(s) they receive.

Sound interesting? Then keep reading!

I need you to do seven things.

1.       Read this entire note (good job, you’re almost done with step 1! J)

2.       Sign up for the “One Thought Away” blog here to keep up to date on efforts

3.       Sign up for Zidisha and join my giving group (One Thought Away Investing)…IMPORTANT to do this before step 4

a.       FYI: Signing up via Facebook is simple and allows you to spread the word easily

4.       Make one loan of any amount you feel appropriate (even a $1 loan can create the spark for others to give)

5.       Tell one person about this group within one year

6.       Re-loan the amount that was paid back to you (borrowers re-pay the loans over time)

7.       Get excited

I will keep in-touch with this community of lenders (i.e. you) with monthly posts on the “One Thought Away” blog so the fire we are starting does not die out.

Are you with me?

God Bless,

Miles

***Need more info like I did? Explore these links and feel free to ping me with questions***

‘What is Zidisha?’video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwvkbXCgU7g

'Why Zidisha?'- https://www.zidisha.org/why-zidisha

'How it Works'- https://www.zidisha.org/how-it-works

Big Spark!

Hi everyone, I thought I would shake off the dust from this old blog to share two quick stories.  As those who supported me as I prepared for the 2012 Marathon you know that I did so with the motivation to raise money and awareness to support the Maranatha House Orphanage in Titanyen Haiti as part of the Portland nonprofit Ncompass.  The spark came after discovering how much power one thought can have and how it can quickly spread, so started One Thought Away.

During my latest trip in February I was able to share with Jackson Isomorin (Director of the Maranatha House)  of what it was like preparing for the race and how much love and support he has from those in the United States.  During this time I shared with him three gifts along with three verses.

First my bib number from the Portland Marathon.  My entry name was "Ncompass" to show him he had an organization of people behind him and that the work he does is not a sprint, but much more like a marathon where patience is needed.   

Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so       great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us"
Second, were the shoes I ran the marathon in and that I trained in.  They were also the shoes issued to me at Basic Military Training this summer by the Air Force and were with me nearly every step of my training (literally).  This gift encouraged him to have renewed strength in all he does (reminder he took over this orphanage in his early 20's and currently consists of 40 children).

Isaiah 40: 31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

 

 Lastly was my medal from the Portland Marathon to represent the prize we receive when we finish the race.  This is to remind him he is running a very grand race that ends with heaven as the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

This was great to see his big smile and share this all with you when I came back.  The best part is the race is not over.

Last fall I was approached by Angie Gray who had mentioned she had seen what I was doing and wanted to talk to me about an idea she had.  I remember that first phone call with her as she brainstormed some ideas and said "you know I think I want to run a bunch of half marathons and support the kids in Haiti".  She did most the talking since she had a flurry of good ideas revolving around one simple yet powerful thought.

With that spark and the support of her family and friends she was off and running with her idea for 13 for 13 which comprises of running 13 half marathons in 2013 as she requests a simple $13 donation.  Her story is incredibly impressive and inspirational.  Please take a couple minutes to see what one thought can do.

Watch 13 for 13 

God Bless,

Miles Dodge

Director of International Relations

Ncompass

503-580-6132

Miles.Dodge@worldncompass.org

Worldncompass.org

Facebook.com/worldncompass

  

Donation Total

Hi all,

One thought away donations through 9/30/12 = $455.20

Not quite as much as I hoped to raise, but every little bit counts.

Thank you again,

Miles

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Last Spring I had this crazy idea to run a marathon sparked by a coworker on a random afternoon at work (thank you Korie!).  I then had a crazier idea to tell a bunch of different people and raise money for an orphanage over 3,000 miles away through the Portland based non-profit Ncompass*.  Thank God for crazy ideas.

Thank you for kindling this spark that allowed me to finish my first marathon yesterday and shed a little light on the power we ALL have that is only One Thought Away.

*Keep in touch at http://www.facebook.com/worldncompass for fundraising totals that are currently being calculated.  Didn't have a chance to donate?  Navigate at the following site to make your tax deductible donation:  https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=NCompass

Let it Shine

So here we are: the final week before the big race.  Since I started running and blogging last May I have logged over 275 miles, written 14 blogs and been encouraged by many family and friends along the way.  The hope has always been that through these many months and miles the concept of “one thought away” would spark the mind, heart and spirit of those who took a moment to read.  Although the tangible goal at the beginning was to spur prayer and financial support for the children at Maranatha House in Titanyen Haiti, I soon realized this concept had a larger scope (stay tuned after Oct. 7^th on fundraising results).  I have heard many stories of people applying this concept in their personal lives as they face their own “marathons” in life.  What is your “marathon” and why do you run it? I have asked this before, but I emphasize it because it is important.  The reason?  Every fire has a spark and without that spark your world remains dark.

Sparks may start small, but anyone who has seen a fire start knows how quickly a spark can transform into a roar of orange and flickering blue flames.  During my summers fighting forest fires I remember seeing fires that were hot enough to burn roots from trees and crack rocks.  Many of these fires were started by lightning strikes; in other words a spark.  This spark would grow by igniting easier to burn objects such as grass, underbrush, or sometimes would smolder for days before growing exponentially with a gust of wind.  Our aspirations and thoughts are best described in the same way.  We all have sparks; they happen daily.  The problem is we too often let someone extinguish them with their negativity and doubt before they grow to a large scale.  Let’s be honest, sometimes that “person” is ourselves not being patient enough to let the spark build.  There is a passage out of the Bible (Mark 7) that says it is not what comes into a person’s body, but what comes from within a person’s heart that allow evil thoughts to contaminate us.  Let your spark burn and light shine within because you can be your own best ally, or your own best enemy.

Logically, it is easier for your light to shine in ideal conditions (e.g. surrounded by positive people, or people of the same likes/dislikes).  In fact sometimes it may seem like you do not need your light when you are surrounded by light (have you ever seen someone use a flashlight in broad daylight?).  However, your light is brightest in the dark; I guarantee it.  You could be in the middle of the woods with just a camp fire yet it provides a sense of security and comfort despite being surrounded by darkness.  You will go through dark times and going off of last week’s blog you need to remember those around you will, or are going through dark times as well (unemployment, depression, divorce, death, anger, slavery, etc.).  Like any fire it needs fuel, so remember to sharpen your axe (reference last week’s blog) and feed the right wolf within (reference 9/1/12 blog) to ensure you don’t burn out (hint: God’s light within is everlasting J). 

Remember that all fires start with a spark; be patient and don’t be your own worst enemy.  To be transparent, I am writing this specific blog on a day when I had a bad night and a bad morning based on negative thoughts.  However, you have all helped me build a roaring fire that isn’t so easily put out by one bad day.  Your spark is one thought away and your fire not only brightens your life, but shines for those around you who may need a little kindling.  Remember to let your light shine, let it shine, let it shine!