“Sometimes Big Sharks Eat Little Fish”

As soon as I told my Nepali friend that we have been contacted by one of the largest companies in all of Nepal because they share an interest in making this fortified peanut butter, she warned to practice caution because, in her words, “Some Big Sharks Eat Little Fish.”

This is certainly all the more true in a place like Nepal where the absence of a true legal system means that any contract negotiated between parties is always at the will of the most powerful partner.

So no doubt, there are some things I’m losing some sleep over since we’ve heard this news. But at the same time, this was actually part of the plan, and we (obviously) haven’t been working to conceal our intentions to start a social business to make this product. A good partnership with a quality food producer makes everyone’s life easier and holds the potential to drastically fast forward the start of production.

But this raises a tough question that is applicable across all fields:

What can be done if you and your partner don’t share exactly the same vision and values?

In my early experiences, it has already become clear that our plans and motivations are not exactly on parallel paths. As a young believer in a new framework for business, my beliefs don’t mirror that of Nepali businessmen in their 4th decades of moving up through a ruthless system where good intentions result in bad bottom lines.

So will the big fish eat the little shark? I don’t think so. Here’s why:
1.    We have a lot to offer if you look across the whole value chain inherent in this project. This requires much more than just producing a product. It also requires an intimate understanding of the program needed to distribute the product (which we have).
2.    We have built an entire movement, a project with thousands of followers and supporters (including our blessings from President Clinton himself).
3.     We have done very thorough, high-quality research. Knowledge is power in this case, and we have a lot of it that they need.
4.    And finally, people are supporting us because they believe in our intentions and our design. They aren’t supporting us because we are looking to make a high margin.

So now I’m faced with the onus of showing everyone involved how we can “do well by doing good” together. We are hoping to present our case this Friday. Good thing I’ve received some training from the extraordinary Transformative Action Institute, which teaches young people many needed skills including how to turn competition into collaboration. I will be putting all of TAI’s lessons to work later this week…

Anyway, it should be noted that the big shark and small fish do actually share a symbiotic relationship in real life. The small fish eats parasites off the shark to keep the shark healthy, and in turn, the shark keeps the fish safe…