Hello steem members, I am here to brief you on my diary for today.
So I attended a mentorship session organized by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for it's beneficiaries of the Youth Led Initiative for Empowerment (Youth LIFE) project.
Topic discussed: Building Confidence
In the mentor's introduction, he said most people aren't able to succeed in life because they lack confidence. He added saying everyone needs confidence to be able to excel and also in having confidence we appreciate what we are doing and see the best out of it rather than thinking other people's work is the best.
The mentor made beneficiaries to understand that they way they talk to customers, the way they work, walk and everything they do, there must be confidence in it.
How do you build confidence? He asked.
- To package yourself for success in what you are doing and also see yourself as the best. He added that without this, you can easily give up.
- Embrace positive thinking. He said we mostly embrace negative things and neglect positive things which can kill us in all that we do.
- Have a clear vision. The mentor said beneficiaries should never act in doubt because it will waste their time. He concluded saying having a clear vision helps you save time and money.
- Taking risks. He said people who take risks find new opportunities. He encouraged them to find opportunities in their failures
- Look into the future and forget about small mistakes. The mentor advised them to be positive about themselves and be happy. He said they should have the "can do" spirit. He encouraged them to talk to their customers with a smile because that will help them to come again.
Can you improve your confidence if you are lazy? A beneficiary asked.
The mentor responded saying it will rather destroy you. He explained saying it will make on to lose his or her customers and losing them too will demotivate you.
Can you tell a customer you are tired and so can't attend to him or her? Another beneficiary asked.
In responding to the question, the mentor said if one is tired or sick, it is better to close the shop for that period than to allow your customers see the negative side of you. He added saying it is better to close than the shop than not to give out your best.
A beneficiary shared his story of how he employed someone to work in his barbering salon but because the person doesn't have a smiley face, they lost customers.
Can I take risk by accepting a contract that I know I won't be able to meet the timeline? A beneficiary asked.
The mentor responded saying it is good to be honest with customers. He added saying he should explain to the customer to let me see reasons why he won't be able to meet the timeline but then bargain with the customer to agree on a time that he will be able to deliver. He said it is not advisable to refuse the contract since that could make him lose customers too.
Participants very interested and paying attention to the session
Success
A beneficiary shared how she withdrew her money from MoMo to a bank. She took the advice that was given during the previous mentorship session in April.
Another beneficiary has bought her industrial machine for her fashion work after she put into consideration the advices that were given during the previous mentorship session in April.
The third beneficiary said she has been able to acquire a container for her fashion work but yet to furnish it and also get some machines to make her work easier, faster and neat.
Also, another shared her experience of how w colleague of hers at work doesn't talk and relate with customers well and so derives away most customers. She said from the experience she had from CRS training, he has thought her good human relations and so she tried advising her colleague to desist from that attitude but she seems to be very adamant and so she doesn't know what step to take again.
The mentor asked advised her to draw the attention of the owner of the shop so that her colleague can be helped
Owning an Account
The mentor emphasized on opening accounts with banks and savings and loans companies and avoid saving on MoMo since it is not the best way because they will end up spending the money. He made them understand that, when saving with a bank or savings and loans company, you are eligible to take a loan. He told them not to be afraid of taking loans because it will help them to buy the needed equipments, to enable them work faster, to generate more income and to be able to settle the loans.
The mentor then called the accountant of Saints Peter and Paul Parish TACSOD branch to speak to beneficiaries about TACSOD. To encourage them to open accounts with them, save and also get loans.
Beneficiaries were so excited to have participated in the session and assured to put all the advices into use
I was glad I participated in the session because I love sharing experiences and listening to others share also. My day then came to an end