"I NEED YOU"

Visting collegues in thier homes’ has never been my bit,maybe once or twice i try,but really what fun would it be,having to see the same person 8 hours,every single day,weekends are meant to hang out with “Converts” like my Boss would say.I visited Cherise on Saturday,cos i needed an apartment in her neighbourhood,9 am was the deal, i would have sworn that driving through the streets of Lekki phase 1 would have been the most colorful evnt that morning.

A serene environment with elegant ,well arranged flowers,birds singing,ivy-cottages,and probably a running brook,far from my imagination, apart from the overlooking lagoon on my left,Lekki phase 1, would pass for anywhere in some lagos surburb, getting to my location was endless,i feared my shock absorbers were going to be out in no time,the blarring from cars were as bad as what you would hear in Mushin.Looking from the entrance you could see a bold, beautiful painting of Wole Soyinka hanging adjacent the sofa,Cherise’s place was a total contrast from what the streets looked like,it was such a simple ambience,the vernician blinds gave it some sort of an aristocratic feel,a collection of absolute vodka bottles glittered from the bar like pieces of diamonds arranged perfectly.

The last thing i heard as my thought whispered away was “Do Cherise still earned the same salary like i do,these Guys might be playing some trick on me”She got two cups,and we share a pack of juice together,“what a lovely apartment you’ve got here...,you’re actually worth more than you appear...” i said,she jerked as she giggled,i wondered how she was able to do that,without choking, “Danny ,you are getting it all wrong ,this is my brother’s place,he just drove out to see some friends,why do you think i got the agent’s number...,for you?,you must think i’m so nice.“Where is Bassey ?”,i need this goat!,he’s been away forever....”in her usual british accent, “who is Bassey i asked,and why is he a goat?”.Bassey was Cherise’s houseboy,apparently he had gone on some runs for her some three hours ago,and was not anywhere to be found.i smiled,and remebered Okon.

Okon appeared to be all i had at a point,90% of my entire domestic activity depended on Okon,i was looking through the bathroom window once,and saw Okon and Adamu the gateman battling over relevance,and who was more important to me.Okon made my food,he did my laundry,kept the house clean and tidy,did my domestic shopping and even sometimes would drive to get fuel at the nearby station,i payed him relatively high,considering the fact that i also took up the responsibilty of paying for his rent at the village where his wife and family stays.Okon was 100% relevant...,and like Cherise’s houseboy, i always needed Okon. Gradually Okon was becoming unavailable,he was never at the right place at the right time,he was assuming and unneccesary comfortable with his recent attitude,i was getting really tired.i needed to find an alternative,i waited till the end of the month and got a laundry machine, a dish washer,i registered with the TFC home delivery,and some house cleaning agency.it was time to FIRE Okon.

My new assitants were efficient,fast,cheaper to service, available anytime, anyday,and more importantly was the fact that they meant so much than just equipments to me,the brands were entities that i had empathy and shared meaningful association with.Okon lost his competitive relevance,because he failed to realise two key business principles,which are largely important

1.The changing nature of technology ,which makes service efficient,faster and cheaper.
2.The art of humanising service,and being able to empathise with the consumer’s need.Just food for thought!