Abdul Shakur aged 17, is Managing Director of Blogger Enterprises CIC and Young Management Member at Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Forum.
Abdul tells us mistakes are good for you:
“I can afford to make mistakes…” Read on to find out more.
How would you describe yourself? Tell us about yourself.
Well I am a young ambitious social entrepreneur who has a past of volunteering, and working in communities as a young leader. I am an inspiring young individual who is always looking for opportunities for self development and business ventures. Love Networking, supporting and developing organisations to their full ability. I have no limits my dreams are my goals and it’s my positive mentality and passion which drives me.
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
My Greatest Strength would be my age. Aged 17 and with a passion to back up my goals and ambitions in life. My age is my biggest advantaged, I can afford to make mistakes and learn from them. I come across older and people find it hard to believe my age at times.
What’s one of the hardest decisions you’ve ever had to make?
Well my parents wanted me to go to university, leaving college to work for myself and look for opportunities didn’t really come across as appealing. It was a risky choice for a time of recession so it is something that to took me months to decide. This was only a year ago, it was the right time to take control of my life.
What do you hope to achieve with Blogger Enterprises CIC as soon as it is launched in March?
Well I hope to lay the foundation in deprived communities for more smarter and digital cities. Once I have achieved it here in Birmingham I plan to expand to other cities. And bring more services to help lay those foundations. I want to work with as many as organisations as possible and organisations are willing to take my services on. I plan to start off with social media and social reporting workshops but move over to one-to-one support and a helpline.
What do you want to do with yourself five years from now? Ten years from now?
Well I aiming in 5 years time to be a young entrepreneur who has been established in a number of cities and looking to pass my knowledge and experience over to young people. In ten years time I hope to write my success story and become a motivator, fundraiser and a leading social entrepreneur providing the opportunities for young people that I had and didn’t have. It is ambitious but that’s who I am and will always have a driven mentality towards my success.
What piece of advice would you give to young people today?
All I would say if you have a passion, follow it and don’t stop till you can write your success story in your book. Explain to people your ambition in life and they will hold you accountable. Young people can afford to make mistakes, if you learn from your mistakes it will make you a stronger person. Make your decisions now.