HOW TO BE CHARMING

Not many people are born with charm. Only a few have that natural ability to be very likeable. The truth is, when you are charming it works in your favour. It opens doors. It promotes you. It gives you opportunities that many would dream for. So why not work on your charm. Listed below are a few things that you can do to make yourself more charming.

Smile More

Smiling seems very easy to do but many people don’t smile enough. Smiling shows another person that you are happy to see them. It shows that you are a warm person. Everyone wants to be around a person who smiles and is happy.  I remember as a student at University, I had a part-time job in the supermarket as a cashier. On busy days when there were long queues at my till customers would wait even though other cashiers were open and ready to serve them. I found it strange and would ask customers to join other queues but they would say I was the only one smiling and they were happy to wait because I made their shopping experience better. From that day onwards, I made an effort to smile even more.

Be Genuinely Interested In Others

Have you noticed that people love talking about themselves? You only have to look at social media to see how people want to share and talk about who they are. So why not make an effort to be interested in others?  Ask people about themselves. Ask where they live. Ask what they do. Ask about their hobbies. When you show interest in others, it makes you more charming.

Remember Names

People love it when you remember their name. It makes them feel important.  But it can be challenging remembering names, especially when you come into contact with lots of people. The best thing to do when you meet someone for the first time is repeat their name back to them. If you have an opportunity, also write it down. Another way to remember a person’s name is to identify them with something or someone else that has the same name. If you do any of the above, you will find yourself remembering names better.

Be A Good Listener

Listening shows that you care. It shows that you are interested in what others have to say about themselves. When speaking with others, make sure you give them eye contact. Don’t stare at them but make sure you look interested. Be an active listener, that means when speaking nod in agreement or ask questions if you don’t understand.

Have A Sense Of Humour

People love happy people. They also love people that don’t take themselves and life too seriously. They also love people who are incredibly optimistic and positive. Is that you? You can be charming by thinking more on the bright side of life. Don’t worry. Be happy.

VALUABLE YOU ANTHEM

Recite this Valuable YOU  Anthem daily and you will always feel valuable and watch our delightful camper recite it in her own unique way.

EMPOWERING GIRLS WITH VALUABLE SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Valuable YOU Summer camp has been running for the past two weeks and the girls have been fully engaged.  Below I will share what they have been up to.

Day 1 - Building Self Confidence

The girls were introduced to the vision of Valuable YOU Summer Camp and what to expect. They were introduced to the Valuable YOU Anthem which they recite every day to reaffirm how valuable they are. The first discussion we had was on building self confidence and I went through the tools to achieve that. I introduced them to games that are directed at building confidence which they all took part in and enjoyed. Mrs Eziafa Nwokolo, visited in the afternoon and spoke to the girls about believing in themselves. She said, the three most important people they should listen to are God, their parents and themselves.

Day 2 - Etiquette and Table Manners

We continued some of the daily activities described in day one such as the Valuable YOU anthem and diction. The theme on Day 2 was about Etiquette and Table Manners. We discussed etiquette and how important it is to have good manners where ever you go. I told them the importance of making a good first impression. The girls took part in dressing a table and also brainstormed all they knew about table manners. They played fun etiquette games including using magic words in different languages. The key learning here is that you need to have good manners wherever you go in the world. Our guest speaker was Madame Solange, Fashion blogger and personal stylist. She showed the girls images of different styles. She talked about knowing your body type and importance of personal style and having your own uniqueness. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 3 - Essentials of Good Leadership

Today was about essentials of good leadership. I went through a presentation that I usually share with corporate organisations but I toned it down to suit their age. We discussed essentials of good leadership and ways that they would improve their country. They took part in leadership games that included being blind folded and being led by the leader who gave instructions. The girls had a chance to play some outside games which included a tug of war which they all enjoyed. Our guest speaker and parent Ama also gave the girls some words of wisdom and told the girls how important is it to be confident. She said she was fortunate to have a father who taught her to believe in herself so she never lacked confidence. In their creative writing session, they wrote down all their key learning and then read it aloud to the group. Throughout the week I kept reaffirming how valuable they are.

Day 4 - Money Matters

Entrepreneurship, Team Building & Money Management are all buzz words that the girls heard from me. My valuable girls were taught money management and budgeting. They were given a budget to plan a fabulous party for my god daughter. It was difficult to choose the winning team but the girls that understood what the client was looking for and within budget were declared the winners. Our guest speaker Osarhieme Fola-Alade, CEO at SweetHeart By Cassata Silcilana came by with her eldest son and taught my girls cake decorating. She is one of the finest dessert makers in Lagos. The girls got hands on practice and decorated their own chocolate cake. The verdict yummy! As promised Design Essentials donated goody bags full of haircare products for the girls. The girls enjoyed treasure hunt and water sports, along with a host of themed money management games.

Day 5 - Personal Grooming

I shared tips on how to be naturally charming which will give them a competitive edge wherever they go. These include smiling, remembering people names, asking questions and being interested in others. There was plenty of role plays, dress up and lots of fun and games both indoor and out. In addition, lots of practical demonstrations on how to look after oneself and the girls had fun dressing up. Kemi, owner of KLs Natural Beauty bar, and educator on behalf of Design Essentials spoke to girls about how to care for the hair and one lucky girl received a hair massage which is important for hair growth. 

Day 6 - Communication! 

I shared valuable tips in communication that I gained at BBC and beyond.  The girls had great fun taking part in role play. They were shown the best ways and bad ways to communicate. All these are tools will help them stand out anywhere in the world. They learned APA Communication that is Aggressive, Passive and Assertive styles of communication and they also discovered which is most effective with a bit of role play.  I think my valuable girls deserve an award in acting for show casing communication skills through role play. They also produced a radio jingle for our Valuable YOU TV show. The camp ended with a  Pop Idol themed dance session. The girls got down to some serious tunes.

Finally

All great things must come to an end. Next week is the final week of Valuable YOU Summer Camp for girls at Teeky Arena and Events Place.  The girls will engage in activities that cover personal power, public speaking and healthy living. They will also produce a full theatre production of their time at camp. Confirmed guest speakers will include Dr Nonye Barrow of Party Shop, a doctor turned remarkable entrepreneur and Sophia Mbakwe , an oil & gas senior executive, turned exceptional interior designer extraordinaire.

Click link to view photo snippets
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VALUABLE YOU SUMMER CAMP SUCCESS! WEEK ONE

I started a Valuable YOU Summer camp this week in partnership with Teeky Arena & Events Place. These are the nuggets for week one.

Day 1 – The girls were introduced to the vision of Valuable YOU Summer Camp and what to expect. They were introduced to the Valuable YOU Anthem which they recite every day to reaffirm how valuable they are. The first discussion we had was on building self confidence and I went through the tools to achieve that. I introduced them to games that are directed at building confidence which they all took part in and enjoyed. I am very passionate about girls speaking properly and eloquently which also builds confidence, so we also did some fun tongue twister activities. Mrs Eziafa Nwokolo, visited in the afternoon and spoke to the girls about believing in themselves. She said, the three most important people they should listen to are God, their parents and themselves. The girls also had some fun dancing to Zumba and taking part in a treasure hunt. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 2 – We continued some of the daily activities described in day one such as the Valuable YOU anthem and diction. The theme on Day 2 was about Etiquette and Table Manners. We discussed etiquette and how important it is to have good manners where ever you go. I told them the importance of making a good first impression. The girls took part in dressing a table and also brainstormed all they knew about table manners. They played fun etiquette games including using magic words in different languages. The key learning here is that you need to have good manners wherever you go in the world. Our guest speaker was Madame Solange, Fashion blogger and personal stylist. She showed the girls images of different styles. She talked about knowing your body type and importance of personal style and having your own uniqueness. The girls wrote down all their key learning for the day.

Day 3 Today was about essentials of good leadership. I went through a presentation that I usually share with corporate organisations but I toned it down to suit their age. We discussed essentials of good leadership and ways that they would improve their country. They took part in leadership games that included being blind folded and being led by the leader who gave instructions. The girls had a chance to play some outside games which included a tug of war which they all enjoyed. Our guest speaker and parent Ama also gave the girls some words of wisdom and told the girls how important is it to be confident. She said she was fortunate to have a father who taught her to believe in herself so she never lacked confidence. In their creative writing session, they wrote down all their key learning and then read it aloud to the group. Throughout the week I kept reaffirming how valuable they are.

We resume Monday July 20th from 10am to 1pm

Daily entry is N4,000 and includes lunch pack

Venue! Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (4th Round About), Lagos.

CAMP NEWS! VALUABLE YOU SUMMER CAMP - WEEK ONE

Valuable Summer Camp for Girls resumes next week Monday 20th July at 10am sharp. Even though it’s a public holiday, we are open. Lined up for next week includes discussions on public speaking, personal grooming and more on leadership with hands on experience. More indoor and outdoor fun games including one of my favourite, Valuable YOU themed – It’s a knock OUT, egg and spoon race and other fabulous games. We also have a line up of confirmed valuable guest speakers including a doctor turned business women, interior designer and cake designer. 

One of my girls this week said ''Tweeky Arena is so posh and I didnt realise I was going to have so much fun'' lol. The girls are in for a valuable treat because they are worth it. 

If you would like your girls to attend then register at ritaokoyeis@gmail.com or send an SMS to 08068997439
Daily entry is N4,000 per day which includes a lunch pack. Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (4th Round About), Lagos.

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KINDNESS IS VALUABLE

The Word says LOVE is Kind. How can we be kinder because it is such an essential virtue? I am passionate about kindness. I absolutely despise bad treatment and I am very vocal about it. I hate injustice and I hate seeing others or myself taken for granted. And I will confront the unkindness. Unkindness can knock one’s self esteem. No one, no matter how confident, likes to be treated badly. Some girls are really mean and laugh or comment on others and this upsets me too, not to talk about the person who is being treated badly. 

The tips below will help us to think more about being kinder to others.

Look Inwards

There are reasons why we are sometimes unkind to others and maybe it’s because we have things going on inside our world so we want to lash out. If we are frustrated with life in anyway, we shouldn’t take it out on others. We should learn to deal with our own issues. Ada had anger issues. This caused her to be short tempered and tactless when dealing with others. But she soon realised that it was affecting her relationships. She confided in a friend and is now looking for ways to deal with anger.

Childhood Issues

Some people are unkind because of childhood issues. Maybe their parents were unkind to them. Maybe they had a difficult upbringing. This is not a reason to be unkind to others. The best way to deal with matters like abuse is to seek professional counselling. Lisa was molested as a young girl. She kept this a big secret but was angry with the world. She found any opportunity to be unkind to others, especially those that she thought were happy. Fortunately for Lisa, she found a mentor who had been through a similar experience to her and was able to steer her in the right way.

Treat Others Well

There is nobody that I have met that likes to be treated unkindly. The truth is sometimes unkindness can really knock ones self esteem. This happened to Agatha. She was being bullied by a girl called Temi. She was called really unkind names. Temi knew she was getting to her and carried on the abuse. Agatha fell into depression and was almost suicidal. When Temi discovered this, she felt so bad and changed her ways.

It doesnt come naturally for everyone to be reflective, but we should really be mindful when dealing with others. We should also ask the following, is our behaviour nice, pure, kind and does it reflect our beliefs? As a Christian, I always have to ask myself if my behaviour reflects Christ.

Nobody Is Perfect

Kindness needs to be practised and deliberate. Sometimes, affirming to ourselves that we are kind, will help us be kinder. At my valuable YOU Summer Camp for girls, I get the girls to recite a daily Valuable YOU anthem which includes kindness. Nobody is perfect but we should make an effort to try to be kind, always.

A SUMMER CAMP WITH A VALUABLE DIFFERENCE

Majestically Rare has teamed up with Teeky Arena & Events to provide a world class summer camp for girls age 10 -13. Valuable YOU Summer Camp is designed to equip girls with tools that will help them value themselves as treasure and present themselves effectively anywhere in the world. The programme has been well thought out to give your daughters an experience they will never forget.

ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE:
Essential Leadership Skills, Confidence Building, Communication in Action, Global Etiquette, Personal Grooming, Diction, Creative Writing, Hair Braiding, Public Speaking, Cake Dressing, Zumba & Salsa Dancing, Theatre Workshop, Tug of War, Outdoor Sport Games, Fashion show

MAIN FACILITATORS : Rita Okoye is the CEO of Majestically Rare Limited, a marketing consulting firm based in Lagos and Doris Akpova is the owner of Teeky Arena and Events Place. Rita also write a column called Valuable YOU for the Guardian Newspaper. 

Guest speakers will also being sharing life lessons and knowledge to the girls

DATES IN JULY are Mondays to Wednesdays from: 13th -15th , 20th -22nd , 27th -29th 

TIME : 10am – 1pm

VENUE: 

Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (3rd Round About), Lagos.

DAILY CAMP FEE: 

N4,000 a day, includes lunch  (Monday to Wednesdays) until 29th July

HOW TO PAY:

Majestically Rare Limited, Skye Bank 1771277214 (write name on bank teller)

Call 08068997439 

WHAT MAKES A GREAT SUMMER CAMP?

When I was growing up in London, my mum always booked me up for summer camp. Summer was never boring for me. I went to overnight camps and also ones run by the local church or school. Since relocating to Lagos, I have also conducted and delivered exciting summer camps in my local neighbourhood. From our camp research, listed below are factors that make a great summer camp.

FUN FACTOR

Any parent that sends their child to summer camp to learn just literacy and numeracy will not have a happy child. C’mon, children have been working hard all year round and the last thing they want to do is school work during summer holidays. The children just want to have fun and lots of it. So look for summer camps that have exciting activities. Your child deserves it.

VARIETY

Variety they say is the spice of life and who really wants to spend summer just doing one activity? Not children. Their minds are alert and they want to learn new and varied topics. So don’t get caught up in sending them to a summer school that caters for one skill only. They will get bored. Trust me.

CREATIVITY

Children love getting creative. Drawing, building, music, beading, dancing, making things or writing things down; They love them all. Look for camps that have a wide range of activities. You don’t want your child coming back from camp with excess energy and saying things like “I’m bored”.

BONDING

One reason I loved summer camp was because it was an opportunity to meet new and interesting people. When I went away for summer camp, I met a friend called Dionne. Even though I haven’t seen her since I was 10, I always have fond memories of our friendship. Things havent changed today. My children love making new friends at summer camp.

ADVENTURE

To keep the children coming back to camp, you should look for camps that offer adventure. Maybe they will solve a mystery case or a treasure hunt or unusual sports activities. Children love adventure.

LIFE SKILLS

Finally look for a summer camp that will deliver important life skills that will make your child stand out and have a competitive edge. These skills may include leadership, public speaking, communication and etiquette. Do your research and ask around for reputable summer camps.

I wish you the very best in your search.

Valuable YOU summer camp starts from 13th July for 9 days at Teeky Arena and Events place

Venue: Teeky Arena & Events Place, 19, Kunsela Road, Lekki By Conoil Chisco Bus Stop Lekki Lagos (3rd Round About), Lagos.


Gate Fee: N15,000 per week (Monday to Wednesdays)
Full program only N36,000 for 9 days
Snack Pack, Camp journal and certificate of participation included

How to pay
Majestically Rare Limited, Skye Bank 1771277214 (write name on bank teller)

Call 08068997439 


This is joint collaboration between Majestically Rare and Teeky Arena and Events

Contact Rita for more information at ritaokoyeis@gmail.com or rita@majesticallyrare.com