From the beginning of my journey, I had heard of this man in the first picture, the person who popularized microfinance and founded the ‘bank for the poor,’ Grameen Bank, the social entrepreneur awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize — Muhammad Yunus.
After his achievements with Grameen Bank, Yunus travels the world with his organizations, continuing to spread entrepreneurial spirit society and build ‘A World of 3 Zeros’ (Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions). In a sense, for many people, Muhammad Yunus is an ‘Icon’ of social entrepreneurs worldwide.
Although we have not met, I occasionally share his story with others (as in the newspaper article at the end of this post), and often hear him speak at One Young World's largest global conferences and, if I remember correctly, JCI too—only ever listening from the audience.
The closest I came to Yunus was representing Vietnam with its national flag at the One Young World Global Summit in late 2017. Before me were leaders and outstanding figures from 150 countries; behind me were heads of state, Nobel laureates including Yunus, and influential world leaders. Carrying the flag was such an honor that I focused only on that and never spoke a word with him.
So I was deeply honored to speak on a stage with him seated in the audience. When I finished, I went over to greet him, and before I could speak, he congratulated me on delivering an inspiring, valuable, excellent talk.
I am very happy, and I am showing it off on Facebook to indulge in a little online vanity and create “karma” (I wonder whether I will have to make spirit offerings in my next life?). It is also a milestone reminding me not to stop, even when I feel disappointed or sad, but to keep doing meaningful things. Keep acting in accordance with your mission. Let us all make this world better and more worth living in before we “Say Goodbye” to this life, even if only a little. We all come into this life for a reason, and when we embrace our mission, each of us can shine.
