“Don’t compare yourself with others; compare yourself with who you were yesterday.” This quote perfectly expresses my mindset. 

My unfortunate happening, the accident

My name is Hariah binti Mohamad, from Simpang Renggam, Johor. Life is not always rosy and smooth-sailing. While I try not to compare myself with others, I used to suffer from low self-esteem. I am a single mother of seven children and a homemaker who was met with an accident in 2015. The accident occurred when I drove to my workplace, the pioneer factory in Tanjung Agas, Muar, around 6.30 am. 

Aside from the permanent impairment, the disability caused me to have a series of self-loathing thoughts, and worst of all, I thought I was unworthy. It never occurred to me that one day I could be financially independent, let alone contribute to my family.

I was at my lowest point in life, crying every day as I tried to regain my strength. The journey was extremely difficult. With my permanent disability, I had to relearn my daily routines.

It was as if you were a newborn trying to figure out things independently. I had to learn to cook on my while seated in my wheelchair. I have to take care of myself from the moment I open my eyes until I lie down in my bed to sleep without help.

After the accident, my medical bills worsened my family’s financial burdens. Racked with guilt and pain, I decided to step up and shoulder the burden of my family. I was upfront about my circumstances but did not have high expectations. My only hope is that I can make ends meet. Even as I began selling ice cream and drinks on the street, I was in emotional turmoil.

Due to my lack of confidence, approaching new customers was extremely difficult. As a result, my income was primarily dependent on passersby, which was limited. Since keeping drinks and ice cream cold in this tropical country can be costly, my business did not generate a stable and sustainable income.

In fact, there were times when I couldn’t tell how much I had earned because there were no records of transactions. When it came to running my business, I mostly went by ear.

The turning point, a learning opportunity

My livelihood at the time consisted of living from hand to mouth. It continued until one year later, as I was going about my daily routine, I got a call from an unknown number, and it was from a grassroots coordinator inviting me to join the Maybank Foundation’s Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship (RISE) Programme.

Also Read: Underserved, not undeserving: Empowering female micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia

This programme collaborates with Maybank Group’s corporate responsibility arm, Maybank Foundation, and social enterprise People Systems Consultancy (PSC).

RISE was a sponsored opportunity to empower people with disabilities to produce tangible, measurable and sustainable outcomes; I decided to give myself a chance to learn new skills.

This was the tipping point for my business and the end of my downfall. The Awareness and Change module illuminated the root cause of my failed business, a lack of a true purpose. Since I became more aware of my business objectives, I gradually regained my self-confidence and ability to identify problems and make effective changes to my business.

Advancing in  social media and financial management

One of the most important skills I have learned is utilising social media for publicity. The trainers have guided me through the process of setting up and implementing social media to promote my business over the years.

I was intrigued by the power of social media when they introduced me to the sales strategies module. I did not doubt that I knew very little about the digital world, but I was eager to learn. Thanks to the step-by-step digital training, I can now advertise my services and products on Facebook. Following that, I closed a few deals with vendors, and now I supply my products to several food stalls in Segamat. 

Moreover, I actively interact with my customers on Facebook and Whatsapp. Whenever my business is open and running,  I post pictures of my products on my social media page and hang my business banner in front of the kiosk to attract more customers. Among all the platforms and methods I’ve tried to promote my business, I’ve discovered that Facebook is one of the most effective ways to market my products.

Instead of aimlessly waiting for customers all day, I used my Customer Analysis module knowledge and skills. One exciting method I have learned is the Hot Button Method which made me know who my customers are.

Also Read: Financial literacy is a basic life skill. And this fintech startup is aiding millennials with it

I can now identify the right potential customers and approach them with confidence. My target demographic includes children and teenagers aged seven to 25. My kiosk is conveniently located near the beach to attract visitors of that age. In addition, I have added new flavours to appeal to the younger generation.

Not to mention, the financial management training has taught me the value of keeping my account organised. I have started budgeting and tracking my expenses since then. As a result, I could save enough money to buy a new generator for my business and pay the road tax. 

This was a pivotal moment for my business. After six months, I can confidently say that I have gradually regained my self-confidence, learned to identify problems and have the ability to improve my business. This comprehensive transformation has enabled me to earn RM2500 per month, four times the initial income I would never have dreamed of. 

The art of letting go of the past and striving for the future

I am currently relieved that I can contribute stably to my household income. I am hoping that my savings will be enough to help my children attend college in the future. Furthermore, I am also proud to say that I can afford to send my children to tuition classes.

My current goal is to open a homemade ice cream shop and experiment with new recipes like my own crispy fried bananas. While there is no such thing as happily ever after in life, I am happy with how everything is going.

I would highly suggest the RISE programme to other fellow people with disabilities. I do not want to keep this success secret to myself; instead, I want to share it with everyone who needs it. I hope that all PWDs will have the opportunity to participate in this programme and change their lives for the better once and for all. 

Please keep in mind that you are not alone. Many PWDs, including myself, have accepted their fate and stepped outside their comfort zone, and you can, too.

–

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

Join our e27 Telegram group, F.B. community, or like the e27 Facebook page

The post How RISE boosted this business owner’s earnings 4x appeared first on e27.