(With my incredibly competent translator, Daniel Muiruri) "You have become a famous person … so famous that people are demanding an autobiography."
"What will be title of your bio? What are the ten most significant accomplishments in your life that will be listed on the back cover of your book?"
Off they went into groups of two to help each other come up with a title. The real challenge is with the “accomplishments.” After all, many of these men and women live in a rural area where they farm small plots of land or have a grocery stand on the side of the road. They haven’t traveled, ran a marathon, or developed any cutting edge technology.
As I worked with them, giving them things they might consider, reminding them that they learned to speak Swahili at the age of three, whereas I struggle with remembering four words!
You could almost hear the wheels turning in their brains.
Then, when everyone had completed the assignment, we brought each of them up in front of the room.
Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming to this book signing. We are sooo proud to introduce the best selling author AB whose new autobiography “How I Turned Poverty into Prosperity” is already on bestsellers lists everywhere.
As you know, she has led a fascinating life…she owns her own plot of land, can read and write, has raised four wonderful children, survived civil uprisings and droughts, and is a respected group leader in her church. Please welcome Ms Aaaaaa Beeeeee!!!!
People roar, they clap, they bang their hands on their chairs. And the authors beam with pride.
Most of these people have received small micro-enterprise loans to either help them augment their business or begin a new one.
One of their greatest challenges is how life and people have continually told them that they are stupid, or “only a woman,” or not sophisticated enough to be successful, or or or or … NOT ENOUGH, NEVER WILL BE ENOUGH.
How in the world can such a mindset ever allow these people to find their way to learn and do what they need to so as to successfully operate their businesses? How do I sell my vegetables to you when I feel that I am not trading value (my corn) for value (your shillings) but asking for your mercy and charity?
By lunchtime you could already begin to sense the shift.
Three women—all farmers—approach me, and thank me for the happiest day of their lives.
“How is that?”
“We really are powerful”
Just. So.
From here I began showing them how to take this new found sense of power and value into their communications with customers. (Although one woman told me that the first place she was going to use it was with her husband!)
Each participant stood before his peers, introduced himself, told the audience what business he was in, and “Why you should buy my product.”
Monte: Now pretend to be the President of Kenya … now a Queen … now the largest land owner in Kenya. Persuaaaaade Meeeeee!
Amazing to watch, as they each began stretching the limits of what, up until now, they believed possible.
It was a memorable day, with some very amazing people.
My next report will be filled with photos of some of the actual businesses and owners, taken 2 days after the workshop.
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2011
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