BE BOLD in NEWSPAPERS, Radio & TV!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Its almost time for the BE BOLD project at citizen kofi entertainment! This 2nd of January 2010! Network with companies and young entrepreneurs will be at 3pm - 6pm, Showcase will be from 6pm - 10pm and definitely an amazing after party right at citizen Kofi to end the night!

We just got published in the Weekend World Newspaper December 14 - 18 edition so grab a copy if you can! Aside from that expect to hear about us on Y FM and see our live interviews on eTV very soon!

Are you excited about the event? Because we certainly are!!!

Lets BE BOLD (Bring Education & Build Opportunity for Leadership and Development)!

See you on Jan 2nd 2010
For tickets call 0208118172 or buy them from koala shopping center or citizen kofi in Osu

Mind your own business!

After graduation I had a sense of panic thinking I need to find a job so that I can pay my bills and start living my life. I think i panicked more because that is exactly what everyone around me was doing. A lot of my friends had graduated and although they had a difficult time finding a job in this economic crisis, they found one. Some were ok with their jobs; others just hated every bit of it, but had to do it for the sake of paying their bills. When my time came, I searched a little. I woke up and thought APPLY! I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but applying just made me feel better so I DID. In my cover letters every job became by passion simply because I JUST HAD TO FIND A JOB. I applied for engineering jobs, accounting, banking, investing, nursing...I KID I KID, but I really wasn’t filtering. Luckily I got a couple of great interviews which I thought I did really well in but when I didn’t make it through I wasn’t the least bothered because it didn’t really matter much. I had a plan in my mind. Its almost like I knew were I wanted to go, but wasn’t feeling the vibe of how to really get there. So instead I spent a lot of time thinking and arranging my life after graduation and not to forget ENJOYED the feeling of NO SCHOOL!! Its a great feeling!

I had started a little business (www.inenorganized.com) on the side that was bringing in some income so I wasn’t too worried about the job thing. It gave me time to wonder why it was so important for me to jump into a job just so when I was asked “SO what are you doing these days?” I would have something smart to say like “Oh I work for so and so” as supposed to “oh I’m not really doing anything yet!” I hate that question sooo much but even I find myself asking it to people who tell me that they just graduated too. One guy I asked said very boldly with a huge grin and satisfaction on his face “NOTHING!!!”. Talk about BE BOLD. Honestly its great if you get a job right after graduation, but if you don’t DO TAKE IT EASY. Know that it happens all the time. People find jobs and hate it, people find jobs and loose it within two weeks and others just can’t find. I’m a strong believer in “everything happens for a reason”. Believe in yourself and have faith.

Between my own panicking, working on the side, applying for all the jobs in the world, taking a BOLD step to come to Ghana I found what I love to do most and thank God everyday for really giving me a chance to experience the saying “do a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. Mine was surely by chance though because I KNOW that if I would have landed some job that made some good money too, no matter how much I hated it, I might have stuck around for a little bit until I found something else to do. Big ups to all those working long hard hours with a job they hate! Know why your there and get out as soon as you can and its all good.
I read somewhere that you should mind your own business. At the end of the day everyone needs to make money somehow. You working for a company is making your boss richer. Even if you get paid well you end up spending more. The more you make the more ideas you have about trips to take, a car to buy and a house to own for instance. These things all increase your expenses and liabilities. The best thing to do is to mind your own business in the sense that you have to start thinking of something to do that will increase your revenue generating assets. If you’re making money, start saving and investing in something that will generate income aside from the income that you are making from your current job. I know fresh graduates who work and have also started doing business in beads, cakes, websites, clothes, singing, real estate, stocks, bonds, event planning, interior designing, writing books. You name it! Be creative and think big! Whatever you do make sure its lucrative and doesn’t necessarily take up a lot of your time just your intelligence, talent or skill. Oh yeah don't forget some hard work is necessary. "work for boss, then mind ur own business" for instance. And remember not everyone has to start a business. There are people who are good at those things and then there are also people who are just not built for it. If everyone in this world was a CEO then how would we survive?

Now about the The BE BOLD event on 2nd of January. It has been a little hectic. We have a great team with different committees. Everyone is working hard on their part. We have already inviting over 70 companies to attend the BE BOLD event. Honestly Christmas time is not the best time to invite companies or anyone to attend anything serious because everyone is in the party mood and holiday spirit. So we are shooting to invite as many companies as possible and hoping for at least 50% of the companies to attend the networking part of the event. The rest of the networking will consist of business minded people and well a chance for you to really get to know people. Our designers and artists are ready for a show of a lifetime! Buy your tickets as soon as possible. The venue does have a maximum capacity you know!!!!

Thanks to all our supporters and sponsors!

XO XO
BE BOLD!

TGIF

I finally understand the meaning of Thank God its Friday! Why?! Because I finally started working! YAY!!! Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE it, Fridays are still very special cus you know you get a break. I started working for Global Media Alliance, which is a leading International media and entertainment company. GMA was founded in South Africa and now has its headquarters in Ghana with offices in Nairobi and Johannesburg. Their affiliate offices are located in London and Lagos.. They introduced the first international multiplex cinema (silverbird) in Ghana, a lifestyle store, the first Sunday newspaper and also have a tv station and two radio stations. Feel free to check out the website www.gmaworld.com to read more about what they do.

Best of all I got the position as events management executive for GMA. For those of you who know me YOU KNOW that this is me to the T. It’s my passion. I live and breath event planning now especially because I plan all the events at Global Media Alliance, including events for their radio stations, tv station and cinema! I deal with sponsorship too so I get to meet a lot of people all the time! I think it was most important for me to not be trapped behind a desk or some office just typing away all day. With GMA I meet a lot of people, I’m always up and about creating ideas, planning, organizing. Oh its lovely! Work doesn’t even feel like work because this is what I’ve been doing for years!! So yes, I’m happy because what are the chances that you’ll find a job you love for your entry level job?

If you’ve ever lived in Ghana you know that traffic is intense! Well guess what? I drive against traffic in the morning and when im coming back from work! This is a miracle! I also started work with a wonderful co-worker. We get along so well that people keep asking whether I knew her before. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES! I think its so important for you to get along with your co-workers. A lot of the employees are young, creative, energetic and are experts at what they do! I love the vibe I’m getting from everyone and I feel very accepted into the new GMA family. This week we even had fire service department come train us on how to protect ourselves during a fire emergency! I learnt how to use a fire extinguisher well and successfully put of a fire created by them for practice! So guys SO FAR SO GOOD and I’m Loving it and I FEEL HAPPY! Thank you God for everything!

Aside from that I’m feeling the pressure of BE BOLD coming closer! Some people don’t stick to deadlines out here! Really its frustrating! Time is such a big problem. I mean you cannot successful create a schedule for the day because someone will delay you! Not by 5 minutes oh, maybe an hour to two! Its so frustrating sometimes. I’ve got a very good team on board though. Our creators are working on the final posters, our web designers are getting the website together and we have several committees working on more sponsors, recruitment and marketing. We are all so excited! We’ve had successful meetings with almost 20 people showing up to every day meetings with the core group! Its amazing how much support is out here. All you have to do is ASK!

One more thing that i definitely have to add! Without my mom supporting me I do not think this would be possible. Its a fact! An entry level job will not pay enough for anyone to be able to rent out their own place, as well as pay for electricity, phone bills, water, and transportation! EIIII, not in Ghana. Not with these ridiculous prices. Unless your job is spectacular and pays you a substantial amount or you lower your level of spending! So my suggestion is PLAN. Be smart! I used to hesitate about going back to live with my family, but how else would I have done it?! In fact its the best decision ever. Free rent, free food, and free electricity. I get to save all my money to invest in my future. In Canada all my money finished on bills before I even got my pay cheque. I’m not going to lie though I am a bit of a spendthrift either way. Its the shoes and the parties and the eating out because I’m too lazy to cook after a long day. Been here for about a month and I’ve enjoyed some small blasting here and there, but its all like music to my ears considering the benefits I get. MOMMY & DADDY I love you! I couldn’t have done this without the two of you! This is my way, you have to find yours, but know that ITS NOT EASY!

I have about two interviews I would like to share with you by the end of this week. Just had to type up my first week of work and tell you how amazing my company is! Will write up again soon!

XOXO

BE BOLD

Progress!

Nov 15th 09

I’m actually surprised to have gotten a couple of phone calls asking when I’m updating my blog. I’m glad to know that people actually read what write. Terribly sorry for the delays. Been doing a lot this past couple of days! First things first, my job offer is still pending because apparently they are in the middle of organizing a major event so they will get back to me in a couple of days. PATIENCE is something I don’t have on a normal day, but I’ve developed it by force! Don’t really have a choice. To be honest I have been extremely busy too working on the BE BOLD project event so I'm not bored sitting at home. Infact I do an 8am till 7pm sometimes. There’s too much to do!! Things can be very slow unless you go out there and really follow up on things. Getting sponsors and support letters has been the biggest task! So far we have Lincoln Community School, Koala Shopping Center, Possibly Vodafon and a couple of other independent sponsors sponsoring us. The support we are getting is ridiculous! Been approaching the minister of communication, minister of youth & sports and minister of Education to support the event and also give us some job postings for the website. Companies are calling in to be a part of the event networking aspect and Im doing a lot of individual face to face advertising already! Our designers for the fashion show are Renee Q, Christie Brown, Honey Bee, Allen Davids, Aya Morrison, Duaba Serwa to list a few. We also have several registered up and coming companies going to be present. Greatest news is that TV3 is also going to come and cover the event!! Still working on a lot so i’ll definitely keep you updated at least once a week. For the meantime take a look at my interview with ISO Paely (Ghana’s own TV3’s Entertainment Manager)! And I went to take some pictures of Citizen Kofi Entertainment (venue for BE BOLD project)!!!






Name: Iso Paely Job: Entertainment Manager at TV3 Station

BB Interviewer: What advice do you have for Africans studying abroad?

ISO paeley: First of all I would tell them to get some experience abroad before coming down. I think that is essentially important. The mistake a lot of us make when we travel and get back here is that we look down on a lot of people down here, which is a very big mistake. There are people who come back down here who realize that their friends they left behind have excelled so much that they even have a hard time catching up. So first of all when you come back you should take them as colleagues, even though you studied in the States, Canada, Europe or wherever. You need networking. You need to know somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody THAT can give approval for a job. So you need to make maximum use of your network. So when you come down make sure you build your network so that it is very powerful and can get to where u want to go.
I think essentially you need to adapt fast! It’s not like you went to London or America so you come back and you don’t like banku or fufu anymore for example. If you don’t like it anymore KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. The common thing you hear is “oh the weather is too HOT!” Keep it to yourself. This is how I have been able to penetrate the system even though I’m not Ghanaian (ISO is a Liberian originally and moved to Ghana 17 ago after studying abroad).
Be able to communicate with people in the way that they will understand you. You may be used to talking fast, however you’ve been here before so you should know how people talk here. Communication is KEY. If you’re talking and people keep saying “pardon”, then you should check yourself.

BB interviewer: What was the most difficult part for you when you came down to Ghana to re-establish yourself?

Iso: I started from scratch. It was hard. I was rebuilding a foundation, so my whole life stopped and i had to re-start it. It was difficult, but sitting back now and looking at those days I’m grateful because now I see life from a whole different perspective. This is what i want, i set my priorities straight. Im living a comfortable life, got my own beautiful house, drive the cars i want to drive, but then i know how hard i worked to get those things so i know how to manage those things. Easy come, easy go. The bible says “as a man thinketh, so is he”, you are who you think you are so if you think it then you definitely will be. Back to guys who are coming. You need to be focused and know why you are coming home. Are you coming home because everyone else is coming? Are you coming home because you want to re-settle and contribute? Or are you coming home because your parents want you to come? You need to have that fundamental understanding first, so that by the time you get here you know where the story is going to take you next. And once you do that DO NOT CREATE ANY FORM OF DOUBT. Think: Im going back and Im going to make it and I will do it! For some people it might be fast, for others it might be slower, but the point is eventually you want to get there!

BB Interviewer: So what do you do at TV3 station? Tell me a bit about that.

ISO: I am the manager for entertainment. I manage all the entertainment that you see on TV. The reality shows, the special shows and production you see on TV. I don’t like to just sit there as manager so I also go down to the studios because I love what I do. Another advice i have for those abroad is “LOVE WHAT YOU DO”. You’ve got to have the passion. I speak to a lot of producers and musicians that come onto my show. One of the questions they ask me is “do you love what you’re doing or do you just do it for the benjamins? If I was doing this for the money, I would have been gone a long time ago because of other offers I’ve received abroad. But I love what I do so I even though I’ve tried other places, I always told myself “I have to go back to Ghana” because when I’m here I’m in my environment, back into my zone. This is where I belong. You need to have that natural vibe. It needs to be there.
Understand that when you come back here you are not more important than everybody else here. That is the biggest mistake, because there are smart people down here. Be level headed and humble and see where the story will take you next. If you don’t believe, you will never receive! BUT It also comes with something called hard work.

BB interviewer: Will you be attending the BE BOLD event?
Iso: Most definitely. I would love to talk to those coming back perhaps even before the event in a formal gathering. I would love it!

BB Interviewer: Thank you very much for your time. We look forward to seeing you at the BE BOLD event!

In the HEAT of things

In the HEAT of things

HEAT HEAT HEAT...And I’m loving it!!! I have been up to a WHOLE lot since I last blogged. First of all I did get a call back from the company I applied to and they are giving me an offer!!! YAY! They said they were drafting me a proposal for the job offer and would call me back. So I’m excited and waiting. Apparently it was very competitive and I made it! Meanwhile I’m glad because I need a lot of time to work on the BE BOLD project. We have a VENUE! I have successfully managed to partner up with graphic designers, website designers, fashion designers for the event and artists. I’m also having meetings with relevant ministers, the x high commissioner to Canada and companies to start getting job offers for our inencareers.com website. Things are looking very good and everyone’s supporting the event so I’m positive it’s going to be exceptional.

Aside from that I’m working on interviews to give a broader picture of the REALITY in Ghana. Check it out.

INTERVIEW

Name: Fifi Nuno

Universtiy: 2^nd Year Central university college, Ghana

Studying: Banking & Finance (Bsc)

Christal: Tell me a bit about yourself

Fifi: I’ve lived here all my life. Went to Achimota and Im currently in Centreal Uni.

Christal: What do you think about the BE BOLD Project

Fifi: I think it’s a good concept and it’s very necessary because every year we have students applying to go outside the country and they hardly ever come back, especially when they get good jobs out there. As a result Ghana is on standstill.

Christal: Have you ever applied for a full time job? As a local student what has been your biggest challenge in trying to find a job?

Fifi: Not exactly. To find a job in Ghana, it’s more or less whom you know. I’ve never had to go out myself to look for a job because I happen to know a few people who tell me “oh come and work here”. However, I know a lot of people who come out with their degrees and can’t find jobs.

Christal: What is better for students that are coming back into the country? Is it better for them to start looking for jobs or better for them to set up their own companies?

Fifi: I think its practically necessary for everyone to try and start up their own thing, but you definitely have to work for someone first to get some experience. If people want to work outside of Ghana to gain some experience, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as they keep it in mind to come back to Ghana later. Even if you’re going to work outside eventually you should come back and start your own thing here in Ghana, because its not you working for a company here that’s going to move Ghana forward but you starting your own thing. And that’s one thing that students here lack a lot. As soon as everyone comes out of University they start looking for a job. Nobody gets up to start their own thing. We hardly see that.

Christal: how about internships do people out here get chances to do internships?

Fifi: Yes, People out here get a chance to do internships a lot. Me for example, when I’m on holiday I work for a banking financial institution. They are always looking for more people who are also on holidays to help out. Internships help because you get a lot of experience in the field that you are already studying before you come out.

Christal: What do you think will be useful for people like you on the inencareers website.

Fifi: If it would be possible to get in contact with companies that are willing to hire interns and put those internships out there. A lot of people are not aware of how to get those and mostly get them through who they know. So having some internships on the website will definitely help people like me.

Message from Fifi for all those out there:

Let us not forget our country Ghana where we learnt our values which make us proud and stand above in our daily lives.

BE BOLD

The BE BOLD project memoirs...Day 1

Nov 2nd

It’s the first day of me coming back to Ghana to live the BE BOLD project initiative. I’m feeling a mixture of tired, enthusiastic, courageous, spontaneous and bold. Yes BOLD! Why? Because it’s NOT THAT EASY! Simply put we all know how scary it can be coming down to Ghana to work for the very first time. I mean I just graduated and although the economy in Canada has not been the best place to find a job, I’m certain I would have found one if I tried just a little harder. Then I would be able to pay my rent, phone bill, food, eat out here and there and maybe even save a little something or NOT! I don’t know about you but I’m the biggest spendthrift ever so saving close to nothing might as well be nothing at all. It was a very big decision, but It’s only the first day and so far I feel like I just made the BEST decision of my life. Here’s why. Recently INEN Organized started working on their new project called the BE BOLD project. BE BOLD stands for Bringing Education and Building Opportunity for Leadership and Development. I’ll tell you more about the project later because right now I’m giving you the rundown of my first day experience of this initiative. You see I’m not the best of writers; in fact I despise writing diaries because well my siblings used to be the kind that never respected anyone’s privacy when we were younger so I never went past “dear diary”. This right here is necessary though. I hope to share my experiences with you through the most important events that happen henceforth specifically concerning making that move to your home country for work. If I’m going to be starting a movement (BE BOLD) to bring all Africans home I might as well live it myself right? Feel free to ask any questions or share your concerns right here with me. I plan to interview others and hopefully include some pictures in here.

Day 1

I arrived last night and I have a meeting at 3pm with the job I have been following up with since I was in Canada. A good friend of mine (bless her) referred me to them and so I sent them my resume and got an assignment a couple weeks later. My assignment was to write a proposal for a task (which ended up being 15 pages long !) and a 10 page PowerPoint slide outlining specific details of my resume that pertain to the job description all in 2 days. The proposal part was the hardest because I also had to include a budget for the event that I was organizing and in Ghana we don’t have a lot of prices just sprawled over the internet. People won’t reply your emails either! So I decided to call everyone to get the price quotes. It was hectic but I managed to do the best with it. Luckily they were happy and gave me a phone interview which I also had to call them for. YES YES I called them for it! Interview went great! In fact I was hinted at that I got the job! So I packed my belongings and said ASTALAVISTA BABY I’m off to Ghana!

Got here and had the interview at 3pm. I arrived there thinking it was me coming to sign papers and and finalize my pay, but NOOO it was another 3 hour interview. GUYS I have never been grilled so much by any company before!! Before I even finished what I was saying he would ask a rebuttal. It was the boss so if I wasn’t confident I would definitely have stuttered out of nervousness. Wheeeew! Then I was also sent to another supervisor who grilled me some more and told me he doesn’t like to work with women!!! So I convinced him that I can do the job. Lastly I was given a 1hour and 30 minutes aptitude test! INTENSE! Math questions, English questions and computer skills test! ALL ON THE SPOT ALL IN ONE DAY. Expecting a phone call by Wednesday. Meanwhile I’m sending off more applications out to banks and working on my business plan for INEN Organized Ghana and of course the BE BOLD project this Christmas. Wish me luck.