I HAVE BEEN A FOOL FOR TRUST. Caveat: Long Read Please.

“LESS THAN 10% OF VOCATIONAL PEOPLE IN NIGERIA ARE HONEST.” That is what he told me. Instantly, I felt like a fool. Because at the instant, voices flushed through my head of everything everyone else had told me about trust too easily and being too gullible. I hated that it seemed true after all; I trust too quickly and I love people to easily.

So let’s go back to February 2021. Because some parts of my house roof had been leaking for years now, I decided that this year I would fix it. I called my plumber to make a recommendation for a roof engineer. This plumber has worked for me for 5 years and he’s been one of the blessings in my life; saving costs and installing quality stuff. So I felt safe to ask for a hand to fix my roof. He got a guy. I like to call him Mr Red, because he has a red fair complexion. I met Mr Red and asked questions about his competence, his approach and what I should expect. He sounded capable. Out of the blues, I asked him ‘what if it rains?’ He said ‘oh! That’s my work. We know how we handle such.’ I was doubly impressed. I felt ‘home and dry. Let’s roll.’ But I did not have the amount he asked for. We deferred.

Enter June 2021. I was done with BSG Summit and I left for Lagos to rest. Then I told myself ‘please fix this roof and get it done with.’ So again, i invited Mr Red and asked him to review the cost since Mr Buhari’s economy has the reputation of raising costs every week. True to expectations, the fee had gone up by around 45%. I told my Staff ‘let’s do it.’ Mr Red asked for 60%. I paid. He set to work.

On Day 1, roof off, beams (the wood on which the roofing sheets are nailed) removed. Work seems to be pretty exciting. I was home all day, having returned from Lagos the previous night.

Day 1 night, Mr Red asks for more money. I sent another 20%. Leaving his balance of 20%. But before Day 1 night, when the boys were dressing up to close for the day, I notice that the house top is bare. I mean nude. I mean naked. And I asked ‘but you guys are leaving without covering the house. What if it rains over night?’ The answer ‘choke’ me. He said ‘by God’s grace, it won’t rain.’ 😳😳😳. I told him ‘it won’t happen.’ He insisted and since the roof was already off, I was distressed already but handicap. I couldn’t but ‘hope with him’.

Overnight: no rain. “Praise God” I muttered.

Day 2: 8am I’m awake and hoping to see a faster rate of work. Work commences.

Day 2: 10am… very thick dark clouds gather over Abuja.. and I am singing ‘okay’ okay! 🎶 🎼 🎵’ By Adekunle Gold.

Day 2: 11am till 1pm: HEAVY UNABATING DOWNPOUR OF RAINS.

I look up.. and right before my eyes, a drop of rain became trickles of rain and became torrents of rains until my POP started giving way.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST MATERIAL LOSS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I was absolutely stunned. I did not lose my temper. I did not get frantic. I did not even feel upset. I was just smiling. The smile of ‘by the grace of God, it won’t rain.’ He was not on ground. My Staff called him. He said ‘I’m coming.’ But he did not come even more than 1 hour later. I noted everything he did. His attitude was my interest.

To cut the long story short, Mr Red absconded from the next day and has not taken any calls from me or my team, neither has he shown up… in 2 weeks, I have spent over Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00 +) to restore my apartment back to shape. I have had to take out of my money market investment to foot this because I told myself ‘I WILL NOT BORROW TO DO THIS.’

2 weeks after, I woke up on this Thursday morning and felt ‘I want to service my car.’ The motivation was that when I kicked my car to start, the sound felt quite odd. So I resolved to service it as part of my itinerary for the day.

Long time ago, I would drive to Total at Zone 6, Abuja to service my car but when I met a Mechanic who knows his onions and knows my car very well, I stepped back to let him do it as and when due. In fact, he would remind me when I forgot to service the car. He was that ‘caring’. So off I went to Total. When I got there, I realized my oil was not Total based. But Mobil based. So I moved to Mobil. I asked for oil. They told me the price and brought 1 gallon. Prior to today, my mechanic tells me I need 2 gallons. But here I am at the servicing center and I’m told just 1 gallon is sufficient. What?????

The last time I checked, I have serviced this car MORE THAN 3 TIMES. A gallon cost N28,000.00 and I buy 2 gallons every time. My goodness!!!!! I could not believe my ears. So I serviced my car FOR LESS THAN HALF THE COST I have been spending for almost 6-9 months so far. I was so so so heartbroken 💔. I kept muttering ‘not you! Not you! Not you!’ But well, that was my reality.

I feel like I have been a fool trusting recklessly. Maybe I trust ‘professionals’ quickly. Maybe I believe people work like me, transparent, putting service ahead of money, and putting my clients interests first. Maybe. Maybe not.

But so as to close this message, let me share my lessons:

1. It is okay to have a SECOND GUESS or SECOND LOOK. No Human is so flawless to not be verified. If I just had some second checks at the beginning, maybe I would have saved myself these damaging financial losses. I have spent too much money to faulty trusting.
2. Business is Business. This lesson I have to probably set a reminder for it. I treat everyone who I am hiring for, literally, any work like family. Imagine me feeding them, watching out for them, advertising them and going all out just promote their hustle. Most times, I don’t even bargain too hard because I’m like ‘no, don’t be too miserly.’ My staff, siblings and close friends usually tell me to ‘calm down.’ But my obstinateness won’t let me see clearly. I have learnt the hard way now.
3. Separate your personality with transactions. I hate to get involved with details. I love to save time. I want to go straight to the point. But it’s my lacuna. I must learn due diligence. I must practice looking at records again and revisiting prices and fees. I must bargain harder to get value for my money. I must improve. I must learn. I must be better than this. I have a lot to learn about people. I am gullible to my peril. Life is not as crystal clear as I assume. Lessons learnt.
4. If there’s a time I believed in SAVING and INVESTING. It is now than ever before. Imagine if I did not have different forms of investments, that would mean BORROWING, maybe WITH INTEREST. Imagine borrowing 3M with interest. Damn. Please INVEST. Please SAVE. Please ask me HOW.

PS: there are great artisans. So this is not a general rule. My plumber, my Housekeeper, my electrician, etc. So far, after more than 2-3 years together, they are God-sent. But TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED. May God help us.

PSS: what do I do with Mr Red who has absconded leaving me to carry my cross? My heart says ‘mess him up’. My head says ‘no time. Move on.’ Please advise me. Thank you.

m a k t u b!!!

SO