Youth receive inspiration for business

Over 350 young people gathered at Career Coaching’s first youth mentorship session of the year to get motivation to start 2019 on a high note and tips for a successful year ahead. Career Coaching mentorship programme encourages youth between the ages of 15 to 35 to unleash their best potential by connecting them with exceptional leaders from across various professions that they can learn valuable career and leadership lessons from. The session that was held in TraveLodge on Saturday was held under the theme, ‘Nurturing a Vibrant and Globally Competitive Youth.’ Serial entrepreneur Manhar Mooney, who was the guest speaker told the youth in attendance that if they are to find success in 2019, they should take personal development seriously, uphold ethics and good business practices. He shared simple yet often neglected principles of entrepreneurship stating that youth should accept the responsibility for their destinies. “Don’t do what is not necessary like drink alcohol and smoke,” he said to a burst of laughter from young people. As much as this seemed to be funny, Mooney who has a wealth of experience in business having started only at the age of 15 said such habits often derail young people and cause them to lose focus on the most important things. “Overcome fear. Learn to focus on the positives over negatives, and know that hardships create opportunities,” Mooney told an attentive youth adding that “no difficult situation lasts forever. Failure is also a learning experience.” Mooney further added that it is important for the youth to learn the art of balancing work, play and exercise in order to live fulfilled lives. “Live life and live fully.” Another important tip is time management. “Find time and make time to do what matters the most. Punctuality is critical at all times.” Zimbabwe born Mooney, who has been in Botswana for 40 years has also observed that some entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking that they have made it and therefore waste their wealth. “Destroy your ego with humility, and always seek to offer support to those that are less privileged,” he said. Mooney has been supporting Career Coaching’s mentorship sessions for the past two years and now conducts monthly collective mentoring to an audience of about 15 to 20 people on issues related to business. For 27 year-old Phatsimo Moshapa, the highlight of the session was the talk on the importance of upholding one’s reputation in business. Moshapa, an aspiring entrepreneur with interest in baking says although she is employed she has a desire to do business full time. “I learnt that in business one has to be resilient and to push harder and be honest,” she said. Botlhe Lerothodi (24), a University of Botswana Business Management student believes that what she gathered at the session has helped her get a better understanding of business from someone who has experienced it first hand. “My highlight was learning that it is critical to strike a balance between passion and market needs, because there is no use doing something for passion yet there is no market for it,” she said. Bolokang Mpoma (25) is a Computer Forensics graduate who was looking for motivation at the mentorship programme. “I have an interest in entrepreneurship and have learnt that procrastination can be a thief of success, I need to do it now rather than later,” Mpoma said. Katlego Lesego, 25, runs Birds Nest, a white dove release and display services company. What he took from the mentorship session is that self-discipline in business is critical. “Saving a portion of your earnings, for example.” Amantle Sennonane (25) is interested in Forex Trading and Network Marketing and the session has revived her desire for business. “I’ve realised that I should stop doubting and stop allowing fear to be a stumbling block. I now have new energy to just do it,” she said. According to Lilian Moremi of Career Coaching, the large turnout and engagement shows that young people desperately want opportunities to build themselves and the need for more events of this kind. “We look forward to seeing more developments.”