Working at your business and personal goals is a self-centered undertaking. Yes, to succeed demands focus and commitment … but so does doing great things for others.

Here’s somebody who deserves a few minutes of your thoughts, so loosen up (take off your tie, upbutton your waistband, put your phone on mute, stand on your head, whatever it takes) for a few minutes and consider this woman’s contributions.

Rose Mapendo, a Tutsi woman who founded Mapendo International recently won the “Volvo Greatest Hometown Hero” award for her work rescuing refugees of genocide.

Ms. Mapendo was, herself, a victim during the Rwandan genocide. She was imprisoned and tortured, ad witnessed unspeakable horrors.

From that experience, this single mom channeled her “great love” (the Swahili meaning of her name) into the powerful work of raising up her own family while assisting and inspiring countless others.

Her story is incredibly moving, and you can read more about it here, or just google her name for many more accounts of her life and work.