Shafaey Iqbal

I come from an accountancy background but never chose that path as my career field having learned a thing or two, sometimes working for my father since I could count when work got too much as he was self-employed after redundancy. I found accountancy boring and a headache when problems came up as I was always the type of person who would rather go out and enjoys myself. I pretty much grew up on the streets and raised by my brothers and sister having both parents working hard living in East London.

I used to love reading one encyclopedia that had good attractive pictures and explanations I used to read at home in my primary school years that was stolen from the library! My mother who is a very dominant woman used to make me to go extra tuition 4 times a week to make sure I excel in education when all I used to do is listen to music 24/7. At GCSE I did no revision except show everyone the latest best music so I could be the person where they heard it from first. At school I was a naturally smart child but didn’t realise the importance of education and got 7 A-Cs but was predicted higher grades. I got into college doing A-Levels but dropped out as I didn’t feel none of the subjects Maths, Computing, Economics, Chemistry was my future and ended up not turning up for lessons. I went to a different college doing A-Levels, this time Maths, Economics and Sociology but same thing happened but this time only passed Sociology. The year after that I jumped in a fast-track AAT for accounting to jump into ACCA. At Foundation and Intermediate levels I was ahead of the class finishing my work way before everyone giving me enough time to leave the class, see some friends, smoke a cigarette and come back in time to continue the lesson. When it came to the Advanced stage I lost my focus and the boring numbers confirmed why it wasn’t for me.

Instead I opted for a career in UK Hip Hop music while working in a group which I was doing as a hobby during and after college. After college I was working for a family and once I learned the set-up he trusted me to run the business for him every time he went away on holiday. Back to the music eventually we was run under a management, did a music video and ended up having disputes. This put me off track and back on the streets on a hunt to raise enough money to build my own studio by any means necessary. After a year and a half living the crime life and anger my mind turned was conditioned for drugs and alcohol 24/7. Then an old friend brought me back into a studio and we have been working together ever since and see him as family. The music we made and the attention from women turned me into a serious everyday party animal. Then, a day before my 25th birthday I had a major car crash. That experience with a lengthy after effects changed my life and how my brain works. I could not claim off insurance even though I was insured and all I could think about is getting back on road. It had an effect on my career gaining experience in a top garage but they failed to show any support and ended up leaving. Not long after I started working again and saved up to get back on road with only training wages even though I was the most hard working employee and did most the work. After, because I am a perfectionist with the quality of the work for customers. My employee’s partners younger brother who was also a painter did not like the fact I pointed out every mistake that it created a big argument. He felt like he was boss naturally because it was is brothers business and I see the finished product as my reputation which cause the dispute. This resulted in me leaving and after I resolved the situation maturely I came back as a customer buying and selling vehicles I repair at that garage.

Still doing music working on an album produced across the ocean I have always seen a pen and a blank paper as my best friend. Being a writer naturally you release what is on your mind in a readable format. The same applies with business as I transfer my skills and creativity from music. An idea comes to my head and I draw it all up on paper along with my research I do. My biggest challenge with these ideas has always been the investment. It it was my own investment I would not think twice and go for it as you live and you learn once I done my research. You will never know the real ins and outs unless you try it. I have been speaking to a number of oversea manufacturers and have been doing many test negotiations so when I am ready I know exactly what I require. My middle brother being qualified in ACCA and looking to do an MBA has always been my biggest critic since kids and knows how to push my buttons but it helps to keep me determined. Determination and ambition has always been the pillars of my character although my language is not professional. After reading a book about branding it helped me bring my ambition back after a mixed and mind challenging history. People say I want to do too much but I just say I have big dream. Yes I learned I can’t do too much at once but if I start up partnerships based on my ideas and have a good legal back up, then I am allowed to have more than one company in different fields.

Currently I am in the process of starting my own company I am keep disclosed until my launch as well as buying and selling cars. My target for this is to allow me to move onto my next projects and eliminate funding restrictions for my future businesses. The future is promising and through my father I will inherit land in Bangladesh which is not affected by flood I would like to develop as a factory that would allow employment in a remote region and also bring in money to the table. Too much money is not my goal and I will one day open up a charity for my Grandfather who passed away where he was in his last days not eaten for days, cannot talk or breathe properly and whispered in Bengali “Make sure everyone eats something”. Because of this I want to open one up that feeds the world run under my mothers supervision and credentials when she retires as she has been awarded an MBA by the Queen for her services to people with disability and learning difficulty.

Thats my life story so far and remember to stay positive! Entrepreneurship is not easy but the bigger the failure, the bigger the success!