SOCIAL media makes success look instant, but entrepreneur Maame Afua Gyamfua Yeboah wants young people to know it isn’t. She believes there is no shortcut to mastering a craft.
Maame, who is CEO of OhMyHair and co-founder of Office and Co, cautioned young people against chasing online fame at the expense of apprenticeship and practical skills.
She used her address at the recently held 40th anniversary and 25th graduation ceremony of 2nd Image International Skills Academy at the GNAT Hall in Accra last Thursday to push back against a trend where young people chase online fame while skipping the training that actually builds a career.
She said the discipline acquired through training is what keeps a career alive when the social media spotlight fades.
She urged young people to put practical skills ahead of the pull toward becoming an influencer or a CEO overnight.
“Social media shows the highlight reel and not the work behind the scenes. It convinces many young people to skip the most important stage of development, which is apprenticeship, where people get to nurture their skills.
“After school, you need practical skills such as client management, industry standards, quality control and the discipline required to master your craft. But here is the challenge: many of us are deceived by the glamour of social media and want to be part of it, neglecting the importance of professional development and skills,” she said.
Maame, who is also a social media influencer, cautioned the students and young people not to be lured by what she described as the “performance of social media”, but to concentrate on developing their skills and expertise.
“I can confidently tell you that social media teaches performance. But with apprenticeship, you develop your skills, become competent and build a business that can keep you going when the social media lights go off,” she said.
She further cautioned that talent or being gifted alone did not guarantee success, stressing that consistency, resilience, humility and perseverance were equally important.
Her own path, she said, wasn’t built on posting pictures online but on learning the craft, building relationships and earning clients’ trust over time.
She advised young entrepreneurs and creatives to find mentors and let the learning process take as long as it needs.
“You can choose the path of short-term fast clicks and quick collapse, or you can choose the path of mastery, the path that may take longer but should last forever.”
“At the end, your true worth and talent would not be measured by the number of social media followers but by the skills and knowledge you have acquired,” she said. (Read (VIDEO) Ghanaian dancer Endurance Grand steps onto Hollywood stage with ‘Children of Blood and Bone’)
The graduation, held on the theme A Legacy of Evolving Excellence, saw 145 students complete training across the beauty and creative industry.
Some of the graduates were recognised for outstanding performance in fashion, make-up, nail extension, facial therapy, braiding, weave-on and hairstyling.
Founded in 1986 by Nikki Boa-Amponsem, who remains the Executive Principal and Chief Executive Officer, 2nd Image International has over the years trained more than 10,000 students, many of whom are now working in reputable salons and spas.
Dr Naa Asheley Ashetey, CEO of Nova Wellness Centre, and Mr Abdul Rahaman Zakaria, Deputy Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), also spoke, urging the graduates to take their training seriously and build sustainable careers that contribute to the growth of Ghana’s beauty and wellness industry.
