Angel Blaze Replies Blog Visitor's Mentoring Questions -Part 4

These questions were sent in by blog visitors needing career path and business ideas mentoring and Angel blaze tries to be a super man by replying and giving the best advise he knows....you are free to add your bit to each question as well cos ''two heads are better than one''

BV SAYS - My name is Olulonimi. Angel blaze,its a nice thing you're doing on this blog. Straight to my question, well,am a very young girl,age 17 and am in my 3rd year reading a course I don't love at all. I've always wanted law but am studying English. Do I start all over again or I should just further my studies in English. Everyone said age is still on my side. I just want to know if it will be advisable to start again. I've tried my best to love this course but I get jealous and real sad when I see the law students. Thanks angel,I can't wait to receive your answer. 

Blaze answers - I am not too sure how the universities operate now, but back in the day, you could transfer in between departments. So you could transfer from English to law and lose a year.

My personal opinion, if your parents can afford the cost, you should consider completing your first degree (you have one year left) then go back to study law. Being 17 is an advantage so you can afford to get a second degree. I assume furthering your studies in English implies a masters? That makes no sense cos it's like digging deeper into a pit you would rather escape from!

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BV SAYS - Dear Angel Blaze please I have a question. I'm a student of National Open University that has passion for baking, I have completed my training but I am finding it hard establishing my self. How do i go about it? Thank you and God bless you.

Thanks, Ezi O.

Blaze anaswers - why are you finding it difficult to establish? Start small. Baking is easily started from your home front. experiment in creating unique savories and pastries, sell within your existing network of friends and families. Keep the sizes small and prices low so people willingly take a chance on you.

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BV SAYS - Dear Angel Blaze,

 I have BA in English, OND in MassCommunication, Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Certificate and Diploma in Public Relations from NIPR. I am well versed in journalism and corporate communications.

I currently work in that line but wants to start a small PR firm. What do i need to do? Is this a viable venture? I need counsel. Thank you for your time.   Chigozie

Blaze answers - your skills sound more like corporate communications to me. I think PR lacks edge in Nigeria which is a pity. The best PR firms sell the uniqueness and freshness of their style. 

Pr is very very viable but you need to have a unique angle that clients can identify and desire. Beyond certifications, invest in yourself, research to acquire more skills, identify a cause or platform and volunteer your skills. That's your best advert, your work output. Once you start that way, if you are fresh and different, be assured, clients will find you.

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BV SAYS - Hello Angel Blaze,I'm an ardent blog visitor. I'm an intern pharmacist and I wouldn't want to waste my earnings on unproductive things. Also,I come from an average family which puts extra pressure on me. Please I need ideas on how to assist my family and still save up something to invest. Secondly,from your vast knowledge and experience,can you suggest a business or investment I could put my savings into? I have a goal of opening my own pharmacy store but that is capital intensive. My salary is #115000 and I just started working. I need to know this early to enable me start saving in time to avoid later regrets. The internship program would last for a year. 

Thanks, Jules Anugo.

Blaze answers - your focus is laudable and commendable. First step, create a personal budget; define your monthly cost of living, how much you are setting aside for contribution to the family pool and that will reveal,what you have left for savings.

I suggest aggregating your monthly savings in a savings account for an initial period of three months to accumulate a larger pool before trying to figure out worthy investments. One easily overlooked investment is our local informal saving schemes known as Esusu or Ajo amongst Yorubas. When done amongst serious pool of friends, it makes larger sums available once it is your turn to draw. 

The pharmacy is a solid winner but please acquire required skills before starting one, lastly when you intend to start, go to an area that is underserved - there are plenty and please don't be afraid to start small! 

It's only in this blessed nation that people try to climb ladders from the top!! That's unsustainable. Start small, grow big!

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BV SAYS - Dear Angel Blaze,

Thank you for your efforts to add value to the lives of others.

I am a science graduate and have been in the sciences most of my life. Lately I seem to be regretting my choice of subjects in secondary school, particularly the fact that I elected not to study Economics. In discussions of financial and economic matters, I find that I'm out of my depth and can't seem to grasp simple concepts like inflation, interest and exchange rates.please advise me on courses I could take to improve in this area.Thanks and God bless.

Regards,

Sdkfollower, Mina Wambo.

Blaze answers - Mina, I am trying to think through your question and its either you are asking what course to study for a second degree or saying you are done with school, working but realizing your deficiencies.

Either way, enrol at the university of Google and Wikipedia. You will be shocked how much Information is freely available on the net. Get into the habit of reading.

Personally I learnt early that courses are simply structured ways of acquiring knowledge and that's easy to do by reading voraciously. We don't read in this country and I mean real books not fiction or gossip mags.

However if you are someone who simply must study, check out coursera, it's an online school it's loads of free courses and online lectures with real certificates too.

Lastly, be warned, intelligent people aren't simply knowledgable or informed. they are actually people who process information and make real life use of it to impact their world.

Read Part One Here

Read Part Two Here

Read Part Three Here

That is enough for now,lets give it a break and resume again in a forth night and so that this doesnt become boring.Angel blaze is a very busy person,I dont want to stress him...