I suppose repeatedly hearing me say, “If you go alone, you may go faster, but if you go with someone, you’ll go far,” led Francis, my ex-friend, to talk to me about becoming a partner in his retail business.
I agreed quickly because I had some experience in that line and believed I could contribute to its growth. Over lunch, while discussing our ideas, I helped refine the business strategy — I could see the excitement on his face.
Just two days later, Francis rushed back to share how one of the ideas I suggested had already triggered some customer orders. The only challenge was that he had no money to fulfill them, and since he was new, clients wanted to pay after delivery.
I was hesitant at first. We had yet to finalise our partnership terms, and he had already started working on our ideas. But I still provided the money—I didn’t want to discourage him or misunderstand him. I also made sure to express how I felt.
Two weeks passed, the orders were delivered, and payment was expected. Still, no Francis. When I finally reached him, he said five more orders had come in, and he’d fulfilled them too.
Weeks went by. I gave up on partnering and simply asked for my money back. But to this day, it’s yet to be returned. He didn’t seem too bothered either — business looked good from his end.
Then, a few weeks ago, I arrived at the office and found him waiting at my door. I thought he had come to return my money — and honestly, in this Nigeria, that would’ve been great news with the kind of bills we all face.
Cut long story short: he came to revisit the partnership conversation.
Smiling, I said, “I shared just one idea, and you ran away and left me. Imagine if I gave you the full blueprint.”
And guess what? I gave him the entire blueprint. But I told him plainly, “You’ll never execute this, because you lack the spirit of risk and execution.”
I freed him of the debt I knew he would never pay and told him not to return to my office. My line is only open to him for sincere emergencies.
Warren Buffett said it best: Integrity is a strong fabric in business. If someone, male or female, lacks it… Don’t waste time.
Shalom.
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