matey

Went out marketing again today as I usually do. One of the few things worty of note that happened today though was an encounter with one of my customers who also happened to be an alumnus of Great Ife. I handle his company account but had not yet met him in the entire one year that I've been in the unit so today's visit was to be my first time meeting him. He's a young enough fellow, probably mid thirties and I was already gearing to shower him with 'yes sir' thank you sir' how is business sir' that I typically use for all my customers. I noticed quite a number of award plaques from different organisations - several youth organisations, one for his MBA and the one that sparked my curiosity the most, from Obafemi Awolowo University or as I prefer to call it in the few times I feel unwarrantedly proud of my school 'Great Ife'. Of course in trying to win business, we marketers try almost everything to get close to a customer so naturally I played the alma mater card. And as expected, he brightened up and we exchanged the usual pleasantries. Sure you are wondering where all this is going but have a bit of patience okay and we'll get there in a bit. So he asks me what year I finished, I answered with '2001' and he's like 'wow! That's the year I finished too!'.

!!!!! Well??? You don't get it? Okay, I might have missed out on some background. This customer is an architect. He has his own architectural firm. He owns the building where his office is (3-storey building on a standard size plot of land that has the offices on the ground floor and 5 residential apartments that are close to upper class standard. Did I mention swimming pool). The company has lots of projects in progress and in the works and of course the account has done reasonable turnover with the bank (which is why I was even giving the time of day in the first place). So u can imagine my surprise when I learnt we finished in the same year. People, my biggest achievement to date as per asset acquisition is a plot of land at Ajah.! We frigging finished in the same year! If this isn't a wake up call or a wake up slap for that matter, I don't know what is. I was in silent shock, and awe for this young gentleman who had all this and peace of mind. I don't want to state the obvious but I had nothing and no peace of mind. What kind of life am I living? I soooo envied his small and simple but nicely decorated office and wished I was the one sitting behind that desk. Ohhhh, I soo wished I was the one sitting behind that desk!

Well, the rest of the meeting was typical, talked about his business, charges on his account, mutual friends etc. The crux of the matter, the koko of the matter as I more often say is that I need to be that guy sitting behind that desk revelling in that kind of peace of mind! No targets, no threats, no sleepless nights or early mornings or slaved life. That life will not be achieved by all the talk in this world! Action must be taken! And the first step I'm taking towards achieving this is going to bed right now! Think with a clear head in the morn. Plan B and C must come to birth. Enough said!

Definitely an opinion to sleep on...