WHAT YOU DO NOT INSPECT WILL NOT BE RESPECTED

About three weeks ago, I became tired of constantly searching for pencils and pens whenever I wanted to study with my children. It felt like a small issue, but it was costing us time, money and discipline.

So I stopped tolerating it.

I drove to Jewel Multiservices at Area 1 and bought pencils, pens, erasers, rulers and a proper stationery container. I placed it close to the dining area where we study.

Then I gave clear instructions: Every item taken must be returned immediately after use. Replacements will only happen when the ink finishes or the pencil lead is exhausted. If I check and anything is missing, everyone answers.

Day one: a pen and pencil were missing. Blame game started. Eventually, they were found and returned.

Day two: same thing.

Day three and four: nothing missing.

It has now been three weeks. Only one pencil is gone, the lead finished. One pen is missing, perhaps a visitor who did not know our rule.

Inspection changed behaviour.

A few days ago, while reviewing why sales at Jewel Multiservices were poor, I discovered something similar. The team was simply waiting for customers to walk in. No digital marketing. No physical marketing. Just hope.

I addressed it immediately.

The next day, marketing content began to appear.

Again, inspection changed behaviour.

Here is the lesson:

WHAT YOU DO NOT INSPECT WILL NOT BE RESPECTED.

When you pay attention to something, people treat it differently. When you monitor it, performance improves. When you ignore it, abuse becomes inevitable.

If it matters to you, inspect it.

Shalom.

Comments

DEBT IS A VERY BAD THING

You may not know me personally, but take this from me: DEBT COULD BE A TERRIBLE THING. As long as you owe someone, you remain their servant, no matter how talented or respected you are. Yesterday, while driving to work and enjoying my heavenly sandwich, I spotted Emeka in traffic and nearly lost my appetite. Why? I remembered how badly I suffered in his hands after I was duped of the money I had borrowed from him to fund a certain business opportunity. Let me gist you. When I went back to Emeka to explain what had happened, he empathised with me and even offered a payment plan since it was clear I couldn't return the money all at once. Sometime after, we were both invited to serve as panellists at a supply chain management event. I was the first to share my thoughts on a topic, which Emeka later disagreed with. But my take must have sounded more compelling, because I was asked to expand further. Crazy me (forgetting that my oga at the top was seated beside me), I took a whiteboar...

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PRISON ?

A few years ago, I listened to a message by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he spoke about the high likelihood of ex-convicts returning to prison. This, he said, was largely due to the difficulty they face reintegrating into society. One major challenge is public acceptance. Many employers don’t want individuals with criminal records associated with their brand. Others fear that the ex-convict might relapse into old behaviours, potentially causing harm or bringing trouble to their organisation. While these concerns are understandable, Bishop Jakes advocated for meaningful reform during incarceration. He suggested that churches, manufacturers, and other businesses should create training programmes for inmates—equipping them with skills that will help them survive once they are released. The goal? To reduce the temptation to return to crime. A few days ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across a photo with a caption that caught my attention: President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina F...

A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE - BUT ONLY IF WE CHANGE HOW WE THINK

RENEW YOUR MIND – NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE. Before stepping into the Made in Nigeria Course class, which is held every third Saturday of the month, I always grab a cup of coffee to stay alert during Dike Chukwumerije's life-changing lectures. On one of those Saturdays, as I paid for my coffee, the sales boy asked why we gathered every month. I told him, "We come together to discuss how to rebuild Nigeria." He smirked and said, "Oga, una just dey waste una time. Nigeria don finish." I smiled and replied, "If this message about transforming Nigeria is strong enough to bring me all the way from Mesopotamia (a distant location) and others from across different states, then rebuilding Nigeria is NOT impossible." Before leaving, I asked him: "What religion did your great-grandfathers practice?" He answered, "Traditional religion." "And your father and you?" He said, "Christianity." I then asked, ...

Ask Chuka

Search This Blog