Hi steem members, I would like to share my today's dairy with you.
It was a mentorship session.
The session started at 9:30am. The mentor's opening statement was that, this was a discussion forum and so he encouraged all mentees to be open since we were all going to learn from one another.
The topic discussed was "Knowing yourself" and in this discussion, the mentor started by asking mentees what animal inspires them. He gave an example of an eagle who is a go getter. He said how we respond to our environment is our behaviour and that we need to know ourselves, be confident and proud of who we are and not wanting to be someone else. In addition, the mentor said everyone is unique and has a gift that another person may not have so mentees should be focused on their works, open in life to learn from others and copy the good things that will help them in life. He advised them to go into partnership as it will help them learn more and also help them in their growth.
During the discussion, mentees were focused, participatory and interested in listening to the mentor and their colleagues.
A carpenter mentee asked how he could showcase his furniture without it being dirty due to dust. The mentor responded saying he could showcase just one or two and leave the rest in his shop so that he doesn't loose much. He also advised that in future, mentee should get a glass frame to put his furniture there for showcase to avoid them from collecting dust.
A concern was raised that what happens when a client brings a design to a mentee that he or she can't do. The mentor responded saying mentees should seek to learn and partner with someone who knows the design so that at the end of it, he or she is able to deliver to client, meets client's expectations and also learns
Challenges of mentees
- Not having enough equipments and materials
- A mentee in partnership with her sister but her sister doesn't share her income with her because she needs to pay utility bills
Mentees who have shops shared their stories saying after their passing out, they started under trees and on varenders. They started saving from there to get their shops and to buy their equipments and materials whilst those yet to get their shops said they are saving to setting up their shops and buying their materials and equipments
Mentor advised mentees to continue saving. He introduced cooperative society savings to them and advised them to desist from saving in money box, mobile money and saving at home because it wouldn't help. He added saying saving with banks and cooperative societies will give them an opportunity to be able to take loans
Mentees lessons learnt from the session
- They learnt other sources of saving
- They learnt that they should be confident in themselves and what they do
- They learnt from experiences of others and sharing made by colleagues
- They learnt partnership in business is good and helps in faster progress
- They learnt that taking advantage of every opportunity is very important.
This session was so interactive and I am glad I participated in it because it gave me another opportunity to learn and share.