The Rock Project

      The first day is the most crucial because it defines what the students expect from the class; what they hope to learn from the class.  Something wonderful about Mexican culture is that even a small spark of hope can ignite a fire within.  As we were preparing our main activity, we could not have imagined the fruits of the students’ newfound faith and confidence in themselves.  After starting the class with a rousing hymn and a prayer, we introduced ourselves briefly and then had the students jump right into what we call “The Rock Project.”

The Egg Project in Mexico City

      The Rock Project is a derivation of a project we have done in Mexico City where we gave each student an egg and sent them out to exchange it for something bigger or better.  By the end of the day, the students had brought back various items.  One student traded his egg up to a hen.  How symbolic!  At the beginning of the day, this student had something he could eat for the day.  After a few transactions he had something that would provide him with food for days and days.

Group Assignments

      This time, we divided up the students into nine groups of four.  Each group contained at least one current business owner who has employees, one who is self employed, and one who is not currently a business owner.  They were allowed to choose their specific assignations (Director, Treasurer, Secretary, etc.).  We then handed each group one white rock that we had picked up from the trash in the parking lot.  We told the students that there were only two rules with this project: (1) You cannot invest your own money or buy your rock from yourself, and (2) You must be honest.  We told them the end goal was to bring back as much cash as possible by the end of the three hours we gave them.  Everyone was surprised!  They asked, “How can we turn this rock into cash? Who wants to buy a rock?”  But as they started to think, grins appeared on their faces and we knew that spark was starting what would eventually become a burning flame of excitement.

Return and Report

      They left the chapel making contact with the people in the street almost immediately, asking if they would trade something for their rock.  Trading up for oranges, baskets, soap, candy, and much more, the students were able to increase the worth of their “inventory” with each trade.  Then, when they had the opportunity, they sold those items in order to complete the challenge with cash in hand.  We have listed trade sequences below of each group so you can see exactly what was traded and sold in order to make a profit:

Grupo Azul: rock -> chocolate - > Coca Cola -> flowers - > candy -> $47 pesos -> carbonated water -> $80 pesos + napkin holders -> drinking water -> $600 pesos -> gelatins, beans, and chips -> etc. = $1643 MXN

Grupo Cash: rock -> washer -> pencil holders -> pharmacy point card ($27 pesos left) -> adhesive bandages -> toothbrush -> tortilla dish -> candy -> pencil holder + bonsai tree -> auto parts -> etc. = $2573 MXN

Grupo Combatientes: rock -> apricots -> lollipops + socks -> plastic bottles + candy + toys + scripture case + earrings + cookies -> candy + snacks -> desserts + used tires + blanket -> creation and design of commemorative shirts + used carpets -> etc. = $810 MXN

Grupo Garapiñados: rock -> straws -> oranges -> basket -> bread -> plant -> flower -> socks -> gum + soap -> peanuts + bags -> $56 pesos -> cheesecake -> milk -> etc. = $752.50 MXN

Grupo Invercom: rock + more rocks gathered -> pencil + soda -> movie tickets -> 100 kilos of tomatoes -> 720 liters of milk -> etc. = $1642 MXN

Grupo JAS: rock -> $1 peso -> orange -> $2 pesos -> 2 oranges -> $4 pesos -> 4 oranges -> $8 pesos -> 1 kilo of oranges -> $12 pesos -> 1.5 kilos of oranges -> pencil holders -> scripture totes -> etc. = $1455 MXN

Lesr Group: rock -> egg whites -> wheel covers + mini-stove -> eggs -> mugs + blender + teddy bear + bags of candy -> more bags of candy + cookies + spoon -> cell phone + mirror, shampoo, CDs, plums -> belt + candy + powdered milk -> more candy + hamburger meat, bread, and cheese -> etc. = $5064 MXN

Grupo Money: rock -> pencil holder -> calculator -> $53 pesos -> soap -> $253 pesos - > soap -> book covers -> $435 pesos -> cardboard + DVDs -> $870 pesos -> wrecked car -> $1500 pesos -> milk -> $1820 pesos -> etc. = $1213 MXN

Grupo Zetas: rock + more rocks gathered -> $30 pesos -> 35 kilos of tomato -> $91 pesos -> lollipops -> cookies + lollipops -> $476 pesos -> milk -> etc. = $775 MXN

Three hours was all we gave them that first day, and in just those three hours, the class brought back a total of almost $800 MXN pesos ($63 USD), not to mention a bunch of inventory that they didn’t have time to sell!  More than that, they brought back a new view of themselves.  They had been humbled and invigorated.  They had done things they never thought possible.  One of the students, Israel Gomez, shared his experience:

“I have worked in my parents’ family-owned business for five years and I have a degree in Business Management. I was shocked to see that the two non-business owners in my group were the ones that out-sold the other business owner and myself in our group! I learned that I have so much to change and I admired my two non-business owners so much. I respect them so much. I learned that I need to lose my pride and learn from everyone here.”

As they returned, we had each team report their numbers for the day.  We then told them that we would be continuing this project for the rest of the week with a final report of their numbers on the first day of class the next week.  Each day the teams would be given two hours to work before lunch, reporting their numbers at the beginning and end of each class.  Outside of class, we left it open to their imagination and determination to reach a goal that each team set upon returning.  As class ended that day, we could see a change in the students.  They had hope.  They had a newfound faith in themselves and in the future that they can provide for their families.

      Since the first day, that faith has only grown as they see in each other the things they need in order to change their lives and live the principles of prosperity.  As a group, we have seen exponential growth in the Income Generating Activities the students are doing as we record their numbers every day.  Below you will see a graph of the results so far:

The first graph is the amount of cash per group each day.  All the groups started out about the same, with just the value of what they were able to trade for their rock.  One group really acted on their faith within the first day, which showed the others that it was possible to really see success where it seemed almost impossible to them the day before.  After that, some of the groups just took off, employing what they were learning throughout the week and building off the experiences of others.

In one day, we had almost $800 MXN pesos ($63 USD).  After one week, we now have just under $17,000 MXN pesos ($1,340 USD).  What an amazing achievement!  We decided to give them a bit more time in order to reach their goals and we will take a final account of their efforts in a couple more days.  The class has learned so much in so little time.  They have learned about profit margins, volume sales, and differentiation.  But more so than the business principles, they are learning the culture of success.  They are learning how to form new habits, increase their faith, set new goals, and act with urgency in order to become a people of prosperity.  We feel so grateful to be a part of The Academy.  We have felt the Spirit every day and look forward to continue seeing the great changes in the lives of these wonderful people here in Mexico.