Monday, June 12, 2017

Recognizing and seizing opportunities

Not too long ago, I came to learn of yet another individual from my field starting a statistics tutoring business.

I have toyed with the idea before. After all, quite a huge proportion of people from my field of social science are absolutely terrified of statistics. Some of them have even shared with me that their choice of major was predicated on the fact that the fields of arts, social sciences, and humanities lacked mathematics (and concomitantly, its sister subject, statistics). Well, their hopes were dashed since statistics is a course requirement. :P

Come assignment/thesis-submission and statistics exam time, panic-stricken faces are a ubiquitous sight in campus. Lecturers and tutors will have their timetable filled to the brim with students' request for help. For those who are a step too late in approaching the lecturers and tutors, stats nerds like yours truly will experience a sudden spike in friendliness from every Tom, Dick, and Harry. -_-

I digress.

A year back or so, one of my (now) ex-boss shared with me the same sentiments. During his tour as a Masters student, one compulsory task he had to undertake was to teach undergraduate social science students. From there, he experienced the same students' aversion towards statistics.

What he shared with me next made absolute sense. Of all the modules we are required to take, statistics is one of the few subjects that grants us social scientists a competitive advantage (the other subject being Cognitive Neuroscience. Okay, I'm being biased here). It is highly transferable across fields. Got a degree in social science, but wanna use something that serves as a foot-in-the-door to gain access to another industry? That will be statistics.

Meanwhile, the general social science populace still diss their best asset. They don't seem to realize that they possess a diamond in the rough right under their noses. An asset that they could nurture and hone, especially in light of the trends in society towards artificial intelligence/machine learning/statistics/data science/analytics.

Well, I'm not complaining. When the time comes, I shall go set up my own consultancy providing statistical solutions for people who are not adaptive enough or are too late to the game. Or better still. Build competency in the subjects that come after statistics. ;)

Random trivia: Did you know that there is such a phenomenon known as mathematical anxiety? That's what people experience if they fear mathematics. A similar phenomenon exists for statistics too. Just throw in "statistics anxiety" into Google.

5 comments:

  1. I took Statistics as I thought Statistics is an easier subject. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Uncle CW,

      LOL!

      You jin satki! On a totally different level altogether!

      Delete
  2. Unintelligent Nerd,

    Do what comes naturally to your heart.

    Just a heads up that once you have your own consultancy, you'll have to spend most of your time in the beginning on PR, marketing, networking, promotions, social media, etc.

    Unless of coure you are a better mouse trap, then customers will come to you ;)

    Jia you!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi SMOL,

      That's what holding me back. Too much effort and not the right time to execute yet. :/

      Got some ideas to value-add but I'll need to increase my competency first.

      Delete
  3. the current world taught us to focus on education rather than character building.

    To be self-independence and self-will rather than self-less and to help the helpless.

    to focus on statistics rather than relationship building among people?

    Maybe i hope one day I can start a "what is true purpose of life" tutoring business for free?

    Not sure anyone interested?

    Bcos next door is "how to make 1 million in 1 year" consultancy.

    hahahaha

    ReplyDelete