HOME DRIVE.
www.skytyms.blogspot.com
Coming down the flight of stairs at the office his legs felt like heavy bags of cement, he'd been on his feet for more than two hours trying as hard as he could to convince his biggest client not to terminate the retainer ship that in fact contributed more than 75% of his company's total annual revenue.
It was a difficult task, she wouldn't just see reasons with him, The MD and owner of this cosmetics company didn't just see the sense in investing so much in advertising while sales keeps slowing down.
At the end of the day, though not officially stated, it was clear the retainership arrangement was over. And the subsequent arrangement would be payment per job; an arrangement where proper planning would become really difficult as one cannot tell how much one would really make or expect as revenue.
His Advertising Agency was a fledging one; just three years old and Sam had invested everything in finances, energy, emotions, sweat and network in getting this business off the ground and sustaining its survival and growth.
Sam began to think and worry, owning and growing one's own business is obviously not a piece of cake.
How will I survive without this big account he continued to worry and wonder as he entered his car and began to drive home that hot evening. It was a quarter past eight and of course he would usually brace himself for the long drive over a short distance due to the very bad traffic congestion.
Tonight, he didn't bother about the delay in traffic as he wanted to spend enough time thinking about his current challenge and the way forward.
He remembered the business and personal bank balance and chuckled to himself sadly, shaking his head.
The rent for the office was running due; house rent was also due, he just paid his staff salaries a couple of days earlier, his two kids would soon be back in school after this long vacation; school fees waiting to be paid. All the proposals he sent out were still being kept in view by nearly all his prospects. Life can be tough, he began to think, it's not easy being a man, he concluded as he drove into the compound of his premises after about 90 minutes in traffic.
As he turned off the ignition, he heard his wife Susan chatting loudly over the phone with of course her best friend Anita; his heart skipped a beat and he became angry at himself. ‘Why should she begin to scare me’ he muttered to himself with now a scowl on his face. This is nonsense! I am the man here, she is my wife and I must stand for what is right. This insensitive woman can't continue to control, manipulate and distress me. Talking about distress, he suddenly remembered he had a hospital appointment with his doctor that morning and he completely forgot to go. His blood pressure had been very scary lately and he was being monitored subject to certain medications to decide his daily dosage of regular medication.
He sighed and made to come out of the car but again his heart skipped a bit and he was now really angry at himself. ‘Why am I so scared of this woman, this is absolutely disgusting, this is just terrible he continued to think with all kinds of annoying expressions on his face, yet not verbalizing his thoughts. He sat back in the car and decided to control his feelings, and calm himself before going into his house.
Thinking about his house; he remembered again the stench that would usually greet him every time he arrived home. Sam a very neat and tidy man began to struggle adjusting to his wife's very dirty nature since she had their first baby. Dirty clothes, towels, underwear, unwashed dishes, baby laundries, decomposed food from the kitchen, burnt meals, and sofa soaked in baby urine all produced a very offensive stench that welcomed anyone into his once upon a time very neat and clean apartment.
He remembered his wife the very cute and attractive dark girl he married five years ago now looking five years older than her age; fat, shapeless, dirty, with unkempt hair and sweaty, dirty and smelly body.
Sam suddenly became depressed as the thoughts and memory of the several and severe quarrels they've had flooded his mind.
His very cute wife suddenly became consumed with eating; she ate everything in sight and consequently became very big and shapeless; still she doesn't care as in fact her appetite for food has continued to grow day after day.
Just two children, yet she looks very old. What's worse is her unbridled tongue, she nags 24/7, always complaining and always demanding. She is extremely selfish and doesn't really care about Sam or his problems and challenges. As long as he pays all her bills, there would be peace, if not there is war!
The current battle has been over her demand for a fabric to use for her best friends cousin's wedding. She doesn't really know the bride but if the bride is related to her best friend then she must be involved. The fabric is 85 thousand naira for five yards and Sam must buy it for her if he wants peace in the house. Yet she has refused to take on any job or start any business.
Just then, Sam's phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He looked at the caller ID, it was Ronke. Ronke is a 35 year old sophisticated lady; very beautiful, intelligent and exposed. Lived and schooled in the US and UK for about 25 years and only returned three years ago to head one of her father's businesses.
A friend introduced them at an event and since then, Ronke has been on Sam's case; she likes him a little too much for comfort. A couple of days ago, she opened up to Sam about her feelings for him and actually asked that they begin to date and in return his advertising agency would handle all the communication of her father's entire multi billion naira business - a very tempting offer; Sam had promised to meet with her this night and only remembered after seeing her call. His first inclination was to pick up the phone, ask where she was at and go meet up with her immediately, but then decided against it. He looked at his phone still ringing, looked at main door to his apartment, looked at the ringing phone again, looked at his entrance door, suddenly he picked up his briefcase, picked up the phone got out of his car and went towards the entrance to his apartment, he cut the call and decided to go into his house instead. I'm a man, I can't run away from my challenges and responsibilities, I must take charge and control, I am stronger than all these challenges and temptation, I will do what is right, I will overcome.
Dear friend, we daily face challenges, problems, difficulties, frustration and disappointments in life. Many times we pray, plan hope, work hard and anticipate good returns but unfortunately things don't turn out as planned. We expect friends and loved ones would be supportive, understanding and caring and alas, we find we're all by ourselves. Being a real man at times can be tough and daunting.
But do you know my friend that life is like that? Life and nature don't take it easy on men of great worth and value. If you will ever become great and outstanding in life, you must go through tough and challenging times. The purpose is not to destroy you; it's actually to prepare you emotionally and psychologically for that great position of responsibility.
Life through difficulty seasons you and equips you with the capacity to make tough but right choices. Life builds you to lead and overcome opposition, treachery, loneliness, rejection and frustration. Success is not for the weak, timid and soft, it's for the tough, rugged and determined who in the face of great challenges and temptation still decide to do what is right not what is easy and pleasurable. Doing what is right even when it hurts my friend is an attribute of the real man.
Would you be a real man today?
Think it, do it, achieve it and be the ultimate man, it's all in your mind!