A true entrepreneur

I was sent this link a little while ago and thought it was one of those too-good-to-be-true stories: poor kid in rural India fails school but ends up building a profitable business and is greeted by Presidents. But the story of Masukhbhai Prajapati is one of a true entrepreneur who showed enormous passion and perseverance. Some other classic entrepreneurial characteristics that he showed are:

• He didn't let himself be defined by the environment he was born into
  
• He could innovate outside the box and outside the 'normal' for the world he lived in
• He continued despite many failures
  

I am also thrilled with his business focus and products - taking 'useful' things that the middle-class and rich take for granted and making them affordable and accessible to the poor millions. And the fact that he's doing them in a sustainable eco-friendly way is absolutely amazing - a clay refrigerator that doesn't need electricity, how cool is that? This from a guy who never finished high school and learned engineering by just doing it.

The 21st century needs more people like Mansukhbhai - not just more college dropouts creating social games online. His advice to entrepreneurs is universal - 'put your heart and soul into what you do' is one of them - and while he may not be a billionaire, his success is unquestionable as is his social impact. In my book, he is the real deal and you can read his fascinating story here.