"I did not have a master plan, but I had a social conscience. I had this urge to do something useful with my life." - Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, and economist who is widely known for his pioneering work in microfinance.

He was born in 1940 in Chittagong, a city in southeastern Bangladesh, and studied economics at Dhaka University before earning his PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University in the United States.

What makes him a Polymath:

Muhammad Yunus is a polymath in the sense that he has expertise and experience in multiple fields, including economics, banking, social entrepreneurship, and poverty alleviation. He has combined his skills in these areas to create innovative solutions to help the poor and marginalized populations in his country and beyond.

Skills:

Muhammad Yunus has a diverse range of skills, including:

• Economics

• Banking and finance

• Social entrepreneurship

• Leadership

• Public speaking

How He combined his Skills:

Yunus combined his skills in economics, banking, and social entrepreneurship to develop the concept of microfinance, which involves providing small loans to people who are typically excluded from traditional banking systems.

In 1983, he founded the Grameen Bank, which has since provided millions of loans to impoverished individuals in Bangladesh and other countries. Yunus also served as the bank's managing director for many years, and his work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Beyond microfinance, Yunus has also applied his leadership and public speaking skills to advocate for social and economic change.

He has been a vocal proponent of social business, which he defines as a type of enterprise that aims to address a social problem rather than maximize profit. Yunus has also served as a UN adviser on poverty alleviation and is the author of several books on social entrepreneurship and economic development.

Yunus’s latest work rejects the self-interest focus and extreme concentration of wealth and environmental destruction of modern capitalism. He proposes a new model of economics based on a vision of humans serving the common good of all humanity while protecting the earth and its resources for coming generations.

Actionable tips:

If you're interested in combining different skills to make a positive impact, here are some actionable tips inspired by Muhammad Yunus:

Develop a social conscience:

As Yunus notes, he didn't have a master plan, but he did have a desire to make a positive impact. Start by thinking about what social or environmental issues you care about, and how you can use your skills and resources to address them.

Look for opportunities to collaborate:

Yunus's work in microfinance was only possible because he collaborated with others who shared his vision. Look for opportunities to partner with others who have complementary skills and resources to help you achieve your goals.

Be willing to take risks:

Yunus's work in microfinance was groundbreaking, and there were many obstacles to overcome along the way. Don't be afraid to take calculated risks and try new things in pursuit of your goals.

Continuously learn and adapt:

Yunus's success in microfinance was due in part to his willingness to learn from his experiences and adapt his approach over time. Continuously seek feedback and be willing to adjust your strategy as needed to achieve the best outcomes.