One of the great things I admire about my father is that you can take his word to the bank. I am aware of lucrative personal and business losses he has suffered because he kept his word. It is little wonder then that I am put off by people who say things they do not mean, but that is a story for another day.
Growing up in a middle class Nigerian family, I remember a particular incident. I had asked for a pair of shoes and my father had agreed to buy them, but a family that he had promised some money to for their children’s education stopped by. He called me into his room and explained the situation to me; I was only seven and barely aware of the intricate details he was trying to explain.
He asked if I would mind if he gave the money for my shoes to this family and said he would replace it at the next opportunity. After I gave my consent, he gave the family the money they needed. The incident was then overtaken by events and I forgot about it completely, but he hadn’t. He gave me the pair of shoes months later proving that he had not forgotten.
This is the example I grew up following. My word is so important to me that I rarely make a promise, which drives my friends crazy. That is because if I promise something I have to do it.
This has caused some major conflicts for me because I have been involved in various business transactions and have insisted on people keeping their word. Often this leaves a sour taste in my mouth not only when they do not keep their word but also when they see nothing wrong with reneging on their promises. The truth is that one can deny saying anything or claim he was quoted out of context. These are valid reasons given today, but when a person keeps their word, it breeds confidence in the people around him and that is something I like immensely—people to have confidence in me.
