Let’s Talk To Asher
David Bondze-Mbir (DBM): Thank you for participating. What name would you want to go by? (It can be your real first name or any other name of your choosing)
Participant 132: Asher is fine
DBM: Hi Asher. How would you describe yourself?
Asher: Funny, cocky, confident, charming and assertive
DBM: How happy are you on a scale of 1 to 10?
Asher: Eight
DBM: What do you want to talk about?
Asher: I’m a social media influencer with over 30k followers. For some time now I’ve been reading messages from people asking for my help. I’ve been contemplating on asking for donations from my followers to help support those asking for help. I know you’ve had similar experiences in the past and would want to know how to go about it.
DBM: Raising money for a good cause is a good thing. I commend you for considering it
Asher: Thank you! Why don’t you crowdfund anymore on your platform?
DBM: I got to know some people were playing smart with me.
Asher: How?
DBM: They were in the habit of jumping from one platform to the other with all sorts of sad stories just to get financial support.
Asher: I understand, but there are genuine cases too
DBM: Yes
Asher: How were these monies being sent to you?
DBM: They weren’t sent to me.
Asher: I don’t understand
DBM: I usually would ask the person in need of help, if they’d be comfortable sharing their mobile money number, so I attach to the post
Asher: Money transfers weren’t sent directly to your MoMo?
DBM: No. If I can recall, only four people have specifically asked to send their donations to my number/bank account, to be forwarded to the persons in need. Anytime such happened, I would take screenshots of their messages and transfer receipts and post publicly. I make public posts with screenshots also of me transferring the funds to the individuals in need.
Asher: Why didn’t you want to raise the funds using your number?
DBM: I have just one mobile number, and I wasn’t comfortable putting it out there. I’m a very private person and wouldn’t want to be engaging so many people on phone
Asher: But you interact with a lot of people on Facebook
DBM: Yes
Asher: What is the difference here?
DBM: My phone number is personal; I don’t have a lot of contacts on my phone, and I am very okay with that. Also, because I receive a dozen inbox messages on Facebook each day, I’m unable to respond to every single one of them. Some people because of that, would call or WhatsApp at will – if my number was out there.
Asher: You don’t want to talk to people?
DBM: I’m not good at that. My phone can go three days without a ring from anyone, and that makes me happy.
Asher: Not even WhatsApp?
DBM: I WhatsApp every day, but with just one or two people at most
Asher: Wow! But what if the person seeking your help isn’t okay sharing their number publicly?
DBM: I give them options to find a trusted relative or friend to use their numbers, or I’d simply use my discretion to find one FB follower that people trust to use their number to collect the donations.
Asher: Is it because you don’t trust yourself with money?
DBM: I trust myself with money; I just don’t want to be responsible for, and involved with other people’s money.
Asher: Alright! I want the donations to be made directly to my MoMo
DBM: Okay!
Asher: I feel like I’d be the best person to account for it
DBM: Sure
Asher: Also, I want people to know about what I’m doing for others. It’s all part of the branding
DBM: Okay!
Asher: Do I have to give the entire amount received to the person in whose name I raised the funds?
DBM: Yeah!
Asher: Would it be unprofessional if I gave 80% and kept the 20%?
DBM: Kept it for what?
Asher: As my ‘well-done’ benefit or even use it for other good causes? Money isn’t easy to come by these days
DBM: If your motive truly is to assist others in need, then it’s wrong to take from what they’ve been given. If you’ve ever been in the position to ask a stranger for help, you’d realize you do so because you feel there isn’t anyone else out there you feel safe enough to confine in; someone who would understand your predicament, and if possible, offer help. So, if they tend to see you as that person they can trust, and feel comfortable opening up to, then you owe them your honesty to say the least.
Asher: I will think about it. Is there any other way I can use my platform to raise money to support the needy?
DBM: You can charge people with small businesses who would want to advertise their goods and services on your page, and then use the money for your intended charity projects.
Asher: Thanks Dave
DBM: You’re welcome! Participant 131, Ira, left a question for you: ‘Do you think it’s better to stay friends with exes, or to cut ties with them? Are you over your ex?’
Asher: I still have this strange attachment to the last woman I dated. She’s moved on but I’ve not. I did some bad stuff and she couldn’t trust me anymore. I believe she was the right person for me; however, I betrayed her trust and it hurt her feelings. I did care about her, though I was selfish with some of my decisions. She has totally cut ties with me, and I have learned my lesson as to why our relationship didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. I wish I could stay friend with her but she’s not ready for that.
DBM: It’s your turn to leave a question behind for the next participant
Asher: What do you enjoy about your job?
DBM: Thank you!
Image Credit: Monstera
