New Neighbor

My office has an interesting mix of companies. There are a bunch of small web companies, several non-profits, a plumbing company and a bunch of freelancers. And that’s just on my floor.

I got a new neighbor yesterday for the vacant desk space behind me. A very nice (and very quiet) young woman. So I asked her what she does.

She works for a non-profit that helps start small businesses.

In Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Seriously, I’m not making this up.

How does this happen? I’m thinking a couple of philanthropic types are drinking and/or smoking heavily. The conversation goes:

We should start a non-profit.

Yeah, but not something wimpy. Let’s solve something hard.

Cure for cancer?

Too easy.

Alzheimer’s?

C’mon, I said hard.

Peace in the Middle East?

Seriously, that’s cake.

What are you thinking?

We help people start small businesses.

What? That’s not hard.

In Afghanistan.

(laughs) Oh, dude. Totally. And how about Rwanda?

(more laughter) Perfect.

(maniacal stoned laughter)

Seriously, I can’t come up with any other logical reason you would start that non-profit that doesn’t involve booze or drugs…