My Autumnal Sales Pitch.

Me, on hold with Wal-Mart

Well, it's that time again for me at work.

The time that I swallow any semblance of pride, patience and calm and call area businesses over and over asking them to participate in Disability Mentoring Day.

100-200 youth with disabilities will apply to be part of this project in which they will receive the opportunity to job-shadow someone working in the career of their choice in the metro-Milwaukee area.  It is my job to make that opportunity happen.  This involves a LOT of cold calling.

"Hello. My name is Alie and I am calling from IndependenceFirst.  I run a project called Disability Mentoring Day. I am wondering if you'd like to be involved..." And on and on I go with my sales pitch. 

It's exhausting.  It's a ton of work. It is akin to planning a wedding.  Several months of work, with one day to enjoy the results.  But, when I get someone to say YES, yes they will participate. Or I make a match between a student and a mentor exactly within their interest area and neighborhood, it makes me exhilarating happy.

So that's what I'll be doing from now until Mid-October.  I will make 100 + phone calls.  I will be put on hold, rejected, hung up on....   I will work, think and dream mentor/mentee matches.  I'll probably get a couple migraines.  But when all is said and done, on October 17th, I'll be really proud to be part of such a great project.