Two things to learn from
the Ben Bruce loan saga: One is that motivational oratory is often half the
truth. You'd think that brilliant, eloquent Ben would know his way around his
own shit. Business isn't always the sum of power-point slides and figures, nor
will life always fit into a graph. And there's no absolute formula to success.
Reason I plug my ears whenever most inspirational speakers get started. They
think it's all about pleasant alliterations, religious verses, and what John
Maxwell said about leadership. They know nothing, Jon Snows.
Second lesson is that
Nigeria is filled with bitter people who want to sweeten their pain with the
misery of others. I used to think all those whines about haters and enemies
were exaggerated. We celebrate downfalls here: celebrity divorces, political
enemies falling sick, etc. Even people who can't be allowed to borrow N1,000
from their village meetings were throwing flaks at Ben. You have to add value
to be loaned N11 billion people!
Meanwhile, an aside for the
average person: don't always throw around stories of your success. Succeed
quietly. Be your own validation. If you work for your comfort, you'll acquire
exactly the things you need--and you don't owe anyone stuff; if you work for
ostentation, you're working for others and will go out of your way to please
them, even against yourself. If you're happy only when pictures of your flashy
cars and cribs are all over the internet, you're battling an inner sadness
still. Think you're inspiring others by flaunting? You're inspiring your own
misery. Look at Linda Ikeji. I hear she's to pay N75 million for talking too
much. Folks are happy she's in pain.
Still Ben is great, smart.
He has converted his pain to value, such that in two days, his brand has earned
more respect by his bouncing back, never mind he is not yet out of the woods.
Even his followership has improved. I'm a small businessman but I understand
how things can mess you up around here. I find inspiration in dudes like Ben
whose heads are held high up in spite of shit. I'd choose a man who is
credit-worthy to borrow N11 billion over another who doesn't owe but adds no
value. Maybe because I'm capitalist--ethically so though. Maybe because when I
see men who'll amount to something, I know.
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