Our focus in this training was the need
for these entrepreneurs to continually Be Aware
—to Pay Attention—
of their surroundings, businesses,
customers, selves, and, of course,
for opportunities of increasing their cash flow!
for these entrepreneurs to continually Be Aware
—to Pay Attention—
of their surroundings, businesses,
customers, selves, and, of course,
for opportunities of increasing their cash flow!
As I have explained before, these are not
seminars where teachers download information
into the brains of participants, leaving them with a
notebook full of data that they
will probably never use.
What we offer are experiential training modules
that breathe life into the training content.
These structured experiences focus on
making learning fun, easy to access,
and have a longer retention factor
seminars where teachers download information
into the brains of participants, leaving them with a
notebook full of data that they
will probably never use.
What we offer are experiential training modules
that breathe life into the training content.
These structured experiences focus on
making learning fun, easy to access,
and have a longer retention factor
A profound point,
profoundly made ...
I hope!
profoundly made ...
I hope!
For example, at the beginning of the training,
I walked up to the front of the room,
and proceeded to unload briefcase, move chair,
play with camera, adjust tripod,
and a so forth and so on.
I then turn to participants and
instruct them to write down everything
I just did ... in the precise order I did them.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to be paying attention.”
“I didn’t now the training had formally begun.”
Welcome to real life!
I walked up to the front of the room,
and proceeded to unload briefcase, move chair,
play with camera, adjust tripod,
and a so forth and so on.
I then turn to participants and
instruct them to write down everything
I just did ... in the precise order I did them.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to be paying attention.”
“I didn’t now the training had formally begun.”
Welcome to real life!
Not wanting to have other's think
that their question was elementary or
"stupid," questions would often
appear written and lying on a
table in front of the room!
Here, Davide is addressing the question,
"How do you know when it's time to
shut your business down?" This
led to a lively discussion regarding
Why Are You In Business?
Answer: (Altogether now)
TO MAKE MONEY!
that their question was elementary or
"stupid," questions would often
appear written and lying on a
table in front of the room!
Here, Davide is addressing the question,
"How do you know when it's time to
shut your business down?" This
led to a lively discussion regarding
Why Are You In Business?
Answer: (Altogether now)
TO MAKE MONEY!
Amos Manyara is the Director of
Farming Systems Kenya,
the organization that facilitates and oversees our
micro-enterprise loan program.
(The photo I took of Amos was so blurred
you couldn’t even tell if it was of a
human or not. Think: Denzel Washington
with a MBA.)
Amos had this to say about our trainings:
“The training approach has been quite different
from the conventional seminars approach
but is yielding more than we expected,
as it trains people to think outside the box,
questioning things that have not been working
and eliciting the beliefs and attitudes that would
create the desired change. Initially it looked
strange
but
after the first and the second training tremendous
results and changes in the ways of doing things
amongst the trainees have been witnessed.”
Notice the multiple usage of the word “strange”!
Much like here in the States, Kenyans are
accustomed to a classroom setting and structure
where they hear a speech, take notes,
and go home. Our contention, however,
is that unless there are the necessary
adjustments to mindsets
—beliefs, attitudes, psychological states—
the skills being “taught” will never
be as effective as they could be.
As Amos notes, it is the trainings
coupled with the micro-credit
that is fueling the success of the program:
“The FSK’s micro- credit program
has grown since last year.
To date we have over 150 entrepreneurs
who are receiving credit from the program.
Credit coupled with trainings is making
a big a difference in the lives of the entrepreneurs.”
Over and over again, Davide and I heard
testimonies as to how past trainings
had equipped the young entrepreneur
for the success they were now experiencing.
Did I mention that over 95% of the loans
are being paid back on time? Amazing stuff!
One of the keys to success here is
letting go of the fear of Being Wrong,
and Making Mistakes.
When you have a culture that
is defined by Risk Aversion
it is no wonder that so few
experience success in business …
or in relationships, for that matter.
Motivating the participants to
stand up,
show up,
and risk having others thinking
you are wrong, foolish or arrogant
is one of the keys to preparing these
men and women for future success.
And man-o-man do they really
get into showing up,
once they see how critical it is to all of life.
The second training was with business
leaders and CEOs of NGOs there in Nakuru.
Part of the motivation for offering this training
was to begin creating a network for our entrepreneurs
that would provide wisdom and opportunities
to expand their customer base.
The theme in this training was
Discovering Possibilities for Success Through Crisis.
Not only is Kenya experiencing the same economic
downturn as the rest of the world, but
is also suffering through a terrible drought.
Our conversation centered on paying attention,
the need for increased sensory acuity,
and the importance of managing the
story you are telling yourself
as to the “meaning” of this crisis.
Does the story you are creating
shut down faith and hope?
Does the story you are creating in your mind
open up more personal resources
or shut down any thought of
your being able to not only weather
this crisis
but find opportunities for success?
The feedback from these
business leaders was very positive,
and they are already contacting Amos
as to how we can proceed in the future.
Farming Systems Kenya,
the organization that facilitates and oversees our
micro-enterprise loan program.
(The photo I took of Amos was so blurred
you couldn’t even tell if it was of a
human or not. Think: Denzel Washington
with a MBA.)
Amos had this to say about our trainings:
“The training approach has been quite different
from the conventional seminars approach
but is yielding more than we expected,
as it trains people to think outside the box,
questioning things that have not been working
and eliciting the beliefs and attitudes that would
create the desired change. Initially it looked
strange
but
after the first and the second training tremendous
results and changes in the ways of doing things
amongst the trainees have been witnessed.”
Notice the multiple usage of the word “strange”!
Much like here in the States, Kenyans are
accustomed to a classroom setting and structure
where they hear a speech, take notes,
and go home. Our contention, however,
is that unless there are the necessary
adjustments to mindsets
—beliefs, attitudes, psychological states—
the skills being “taught” will never
be as effective as they could be.
As Amos notes, it is the trainings
coupled with the micro-credit
that is fueling the success of the program:
“The FSK’s micro- credit program
has grown since last year.
To date we have over 150 entrepreneurs
who are receiving credit from the program.
Credit coupled with trainings is making
a big a difference in the lives of the entrepreneurs.”
Over and over again, Davide and I heard
testimonies as to how past trainings
had equipped the young entrepreneur
for the success they were now experiencing.
Did I mention that over 95% of the loans
are being paid back on time? Amazing stuff!
One of the keys to success here is
letting go of the fear of Being Wrong,
and Making Mistakes.
When you have a culture that
is defined by Risk Aversion
it is no wonder that so few
experience success in business …
or in relationships, for that matter.
Motivating the participants to
stand up,
show up,
and risk having others thinking
you are wrong, foolish or arrogant
is one of the keys to preparing these
men and women for future success.
And man-o-man do they really
get into showing up,
once they see how critical it is to all of life.
The second training was with business
leaders and CEOs of NGOs there in Nakuru.
Part of the motivation for offering this training
was to begin creating a network for our entrepreneurs
that would provide wisdom and opportunities
to expand their customer base.
The theme in this training was
Discovering Possibilities for Success Through Crisis.
Not only is Kenya experiencing the same economic
downturn as the rest of the world, but
is also suffering through a terrible drought.
Our conversation centered on paying attention,
the need for increased sensory acuity,
and the importance of managing the
story you are telling yourself
as to the “meaning” of this crisis.
Does the story you are creating
shut down faith and hope?
Does the story you are creating in your mind
open up more personal resources
or shut down any thought of
your being able to not only weather
this crisis
but find opportunities for success?
The feedback from these
business leaders was very positive,
and they are already contacting Amos
as to how we can proceed in the future.
This is such an incredible project:
rather than merely passing out
food and medicine,
actually providing people
with the wherewithal
to support themselves ...
with the goal being
that they will never ever again
need the help of some
Charity
or NGO.
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2009
rather than merely passing out
food and medicine,
actually providing people
with the wherewithal
to support themselves ...
with the goal being
that they will never ever again
need the help of some
Charity
or NGO.
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2009
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