On my way from church on October 22, 2023, I observed a man from whom I always bought newspapers every Sunday in Lagos some years back. I always saw him at a particular traffic point and he knew the newspaper I preferred.
I continued to patronise him even when I had read all the news online. I just bought the newspaper because I felt a sense of loyalty and the man also had to eat.
After a while, I didn’t see him at that traffic point again until that Sunday. He had moved to another location within that axis but this time, he was selling ‘small chops’ and no longer newspapers. I honked at him and saw the excitement as he recognised me.
I told my wife I would make sure I talk to him the following Sunday if I saw him at that point again.
There are also two guys who are security guards where our church is located. I’ve observed that they wash all the cars at the parking lot before the service is over. At the time I made the observation in October 2023, they had been consistent for three weeks and each time I dropped 1k. I’m sure others gave them money too.
As I discussed the disposition of the former vendor with my wife and how impressed I was at the way he pivoted when newspaper sales dropped (newspaper vendors are a dying breed), we spoke generally about work and how it’s easier to assist someone who is already doing something.
The first step to gaining support is proving your capacity. It's easier to assist someone who is already doing something. Share on XI have since realised that you often waste your resources when you try to help someone from ground zero. They haven’t demonstrated any capacity and they end up squandering whatever help you render to them in many instances.
The starting point to receiving help is helping others to see that you have capacity to maximise any support you receive. And that starts with your work.