Jul 02 2009
Vision Entrepreneurs: Doing Well by Doing Good
Peter Eliassen, Vice President of Sales and Operations, recently went to Nicaragua to visit VisionSpring Franchise Partner Cause for Hope. Reporting back on conversations with Vision Entrepreneurs, Peter reminds us that the VisionSpring model is unique because not only are we a Social Enterprise, the businesses we create are too. While making money is a main driver for all of our Vision Entrepreneurs, many of them stay with the program because they also have the opportunity to help our communities.
“Yesterday and today I met with a bunch of Vision Entrepreneurs (VEs) here in Nicaragua, and I asked each one what motivates them. Although the women generally want to discuss their sales – how much money they make, and how they would change this or that style – when I ask them about what motivates them, it always brings a smile to their face. Each has told me mas o menos the same thing, that the best part of what they do is sharing the joyful moments when their customers can see clearly for the first time in many years (the “ah-ha!” moment). The VE’s are given titles by their customers like “Savior of Sight”, or “Angel of Vision” and that’s what really fuels them.
Today in Managua we brought three new potential VEs to a vision camp for them to see what it actually looks like. During our brief interviews in the morning, the focus was primarily on how much money the VE could earn by participating in the program. Then, when we got to the camp, the active VE explained to the three new potentials that the primary goal of the program is to expand the access to affordable glasses. When asked what motivates her, she told the new potential VEs that she is driven by the joy that she brings to her customers and that the money is like icing on the cake. She explained in detail the referral process, the screening process, and her favorite VisionSpring models.
I applauded afterwards. It is so great to see how the dedication and excitement about our work is adopted by the program coordinators, trainers, and the VEs.