It’s Girl Scout cookie time!!!!! Selling and buying cookies is much bigger than just raising money for a local troop. It’s about empowering young skills for life.
What exactly do they learn? Oh let me count the ways…. OK I’ll just list three to get you started!
How to speak up for themselves
Each troop sets a target goal of boxes to sell. Which is usually based on a troop goal – so there is a natural incentive for everyone to sell. Because no one wants to get left behind of the fun trip that’s planned!!! lol.
Now I know every Mother on this list wants to support their daughter. But you’ll support them 10x more if you encourage them to sell directly themselves. Because no one can resist a young woman who is speaking up for themselves…and selling some delicious cookies. Make her ask for the sale. Back her up with deliveries and ensure that she is selling at every event your troop hosts. Yes, you might want to jump in every time to sell for her. But let her learn the ropes so that she can speak up for herself.
How to present themselves professionally
How often do young women get to talk to adults outside of the school or after-school activities? Not often. And while that’s important to protect them in general – it also hinders their development when it comes to future internship and job opportunities. Young women need to the chance to take the risk and communicate with adults in professional settings.
So challenge your daughter or empower another young woman to step outside of their comfort zone and sell cookies to trusted adults that they don’t interact with on a regular basis. This will make all of the difference in the world when they have speak up for themselves in future interviews or negotiate salary in future jobs. They will have gained experience from these moments which can equip them to better present themselves professionally in the future.
How to plan
The stats prove it. Young people who plan for their future are much less likely to get involved in negative influences. Period. The trick is convincing them that they came up with the plan.
So give them experience on this critical skillset. Have them create their own sales plan – both individually and as a troop. Don’t take the sales sheet to your job and do all of the work for them! LOL. Let them decide the best way to sell their desired # of boxes and make a few mistakes along the way. You’ll empower them to think differently as they learn how to troubleshoot experiences that don’t go the way that they planned. And they will gain a valuable lesson about the benefits of planning. You’ll be putting them in charge of making their decisions…ones that both of you can feel proud about afterward.
