Before you think this story is about marriage, it’s not 😊. It’s about choosing the right person to help rebuild a struggling business.
When Kevin (not his real name) engaged me to evaluate his small retail business, things were in decline. My first instinct was to sack everyone, hire new people, train them, and restart the process. It’s a radical approach, but one that works, I’ve used it before. My philosophy has always been: when something becomes stagnant, replace it with something new. It’s a law of growth, though I’ve also learned how much pain it can cause when applied without wisdom.
I asked for six months and suggested installing cameras in all three store locations. Kevin agreed, and ordered the cameras from Jewel Multiservices 😊.
I began visiting the stores daily, sometimes twice a day. I’d come early to check punctuality, then return before closing to ask two simple questions:
“How much sales did we make today?” and “What did you do to achieve it?”
By the second week, I already saw the pattern. Some staff came early but left after I did. Others stayed the whole day complaining about poor sales, bad location, or lack of customers. On one of those frustrating days, I said, “Maybe we should pay salaries based on actual sales.” I knew it shook them, but truthfully, people who won’t act to change their current situation rarely act to change their own lives.
After about five weeks of trying everything, advising, motivating, even counselling, with no real improvement, I decided something had to change. I recommended letting go of two sales staff from one location. My intention was to keep one, but both had grown so close that they behaved exactly the same.
When I broke the news, Anita picked her bag and left quietly. Funmi fell to her knees crying and begging to stay. The neighbours gathered, thinking I was being cruel. Out of compassion, I reversed her termination and asked her to resume the next day.
That night, Funmi sent heartfelt messages on WhatsApp. She promised to improve, to fix her weaknesses, and even offered to be paid based on her performance. That alone showed me she wanted it more.
From that moment, Funmi stayed.
We’re still working towards bigger goals, but the number of zero-sales days has dropped significantly.
A few days later, I saw Anita visit on the camera feed. Let’s just say her face told a story words couldn’t.
Like King Solomon in the story of the two mothers who claimed one baby, I realised the power of choosing the person who wants it more.
Because if you truly want something, you’ll do everything to get it, even if it means crying for it.
So, how much do you want it?
Shalom.
Do well to share this story, so others can learn and grow with us.
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