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Girl Scout Cookie Season is finally back, and we know so many of you are already selling cookies! We also know that this is going to be many Girl Scouts’ first time participating in the GSGLA Girl Scout Cookie Program, so we thought we’d connect with and interview current GSGLA Girl Scout, Milan, to share some of her best tips and advice for running a cookie business. Thanks for passing along your knowledge, Milan!
GSGLA: What would you say to Girl Scouts who are selling cookies for the first time?
Milan: Ask everyone if they are interested in buying cookies. Even if it looks like they may not buy, ask anyway as you may change their mind. Also, have a good pitch and speak with a loud voice. But most importantly, have fun and don’t stress about it. If you don’t meet your goal, you can always try again next year.
GSGLA: What tips do you have for short-and long-term goal setting?
Milan: Set a goal by thinking about what you and your troop want to do with your proceeds, like camping or helping the community. This will help you determine how many boxes you would need to sell. You can also look at the rewards to see which ones you are interested in and then work towards that goal.
Your goal doesn’t need to be exact, and you don’t have to stick to it. If you find during the season that things change, you can always adjust your goal if needed, whether that’s increasing or lowering it. For long-term goals, think about what you want to accomplish and how you can challenge yourself; see if you can do better than you did in previous years.
GSGLA: What have you learned from participating in the GSGLA Cookie Program?
Milan: The Cookie Program is about more than just earning money for my troop. I learned how to challenge myself and push myself beyond what I thought was possible. Nothing can replace the feeling of accomplishing my goals. I have gained a lot of confidence from talking to people and learning to step outside my comfort zone. All the skills I gained will help me now and in the future.
GSGLA: What have you and your troop been able to do with your Cookie proceeds (activities, travel, etc.)?
Milan: Last year I was a Junior and as a troop, we worked on our Bronze Award. We saw a lot of people wasting food and we wanted to find a way to fix that. So, we created and gave out composting boxes to our community. We used our cookie money to buy materials to create over 55 boxes! It was such a great feeling to see people so interested in our boxes and know that we had a positive impact on the environment.
We also took a big trip to San Diego to camp at their Roar and Snore event! I liked hearing the elephants from my tent and that was an experience I will always remember.
GSGLA: What are you and your troop working toward doing together?
Milan: We are finishing our first Cadette Journey and we’ll be working on our Silver Award this year. We also want to do more camping!
GSGLA: Is there anything else you want to share with us about your Girl Scout Cookie Experience?
Milan: [The Girl Scout Cookie Experience] teaches you about determination and perseverance. I know that if I set my mind on it, I can accomplish anything. Being a Girl Scout is much more than selling cookies. I have gained so many skills and had two once-in-a-lifetime experiences due to being associated with Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles 