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"THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS”
My car, Leslie (that's her name) comes out of the car wash and I think to myself "she looks almost new! she has never looked this clean before. I wonder what happened”. I had recently changed the car wash I patronize and this was the first time Leslie was visiting these new people. The difference was remarkable, she not only looked clean, she looked new and renewed. What was responsible for this sudden change in the way she looked? What could these new fellows have done differently?
The answer was in the details. They (the new car wash fellows) had taken time to reach every nook and cranny of the car. They had not only washed the body, the tires and parts surrounding it, they had not only cleaned out the inside of the car, but had taken time to make sure that all these parts came out the best they could. The brown dust lines on the dash board were gone, the sand particles on the car floor were nowhere to be found, and the all the dust, grease, rust and mud on the car grill were all gone.
An eye for details, a need not just to get things done, but to see that they were done well, that the little details which may seem like they are not easily noticed, but which makes the job or task truly a job well done, is a virtue fast dying (if it is not dead already) in our society. Things are no longer done as well as they can be done, as long as what is seen as the major parts of a task are there, then it is considered that the job has been done. As long as the house has been built and it stands, then the job has been done. It does not matter if the walls of that house are crooked, or if the painting is lumpy. It no longer matters if the sewing of a new outfit is rugged looking; the important thing is that the dress is sewn.
The beauty of any work or task lies in the details attended to. As the saying goes tiny drops of water make an ocean, so in the same way the little parts of a task done well, make the finished whole come out beautifully. This virtue of taking care of the details is one that as a society we need to learn once more. It will not only make us happier and more fulfilled as a people, it will ensure increased competence, and increased standards in everything that we do.
The devil is in the details, it is in the fine line of things that he (the devil) is able to achieve his goals. This is a call, a reminder that in order to get perfection, we need to be able to offer it. If one cannot offer perfection, then it can be assumed that he or she really does not know what perfection is and so cannot demand it. We (each and every one of us) need therefore learn to seek perfection in all that we do by attending to the details. In this way we can all be sure that we can demand perfection when it is not offered to us.
You never know how annoying it is to see an unsaved work of yours being tossed into nothingness by an equipment that was meant to preserve it in the first place. That's what happened with my first blog-post of the MBA 13 journey. But progress we shall...
Today I learned something new, and really inspiring. Many times I've asked myself "where does truth begin" or "when do problems end?". Today I think I may have found an answer, and it's one that gives me some satisfaction. I learned that truth is often not embraced due to it's verity, but more often men view truth through the lens of convenience. We all find 'the answer' where (and not when) we decide to end our quest for the truth.
Here's to my first blog-post, to all that may read and be inspired by it (and those who would criticize its content, positively I hope ...), and to the many other posts to follow...
Blogfully yours,
T.F.E
You are king!
Can you imagine!
You are a resident in an estate, well-built and designed. Your car park is very neat and the lawns well-trimmed.
The drive-way has both sides paved with beautiful stones in an awesome array. You have neighbours in the next duplex. Life is what you wanted it to be. You're satisfied with your life...how far you have come.
Or,
You live in a slum where ghetto life is the religion. Your humble self, and dear family live in a face-me-I-face-you apartment in a regularly flooded area of your local community.
Your neighbours are in no wise better off than you; except for the fact that you have been trying to acquire the 'I-pass-my-neighbour' generator since two years ago. Your neighbours are all in the same category - the periphery of the social strata. And their worldview is a product of their environment.
Or,
You are that cool dude who lives down the classy close. The distance between your front door and your gate is about a minute walk. You live in an architectural haven. So are your neighbours.
You probably get to see your neighbours only when you roll out in your posh ride, with tinted windshields. And it has been so for quite some time now.
Or
You're this regular guy who lives in a block of flats. You are surrounded by a lot of people. You interact with them; thereby enjoy their best moments and shortcomings. You're aspiring to be better each day, so you appreciate diligent work and patience.
You are that nice student who lives in the same room with other students. You live on campus. Your house mates or roommates come from different cultural heritage. You don't actually have an option. You've got something to do with them. Every one of them has their reservations and dispositions alike of which they wear on their foreheads like royal apparel.
"The greatest sin in relationships starts with 'I'”
Their sullen behavioral traits are hidden underneath their pillows. You are seated at the edge of your bed virtually looking at them, slightly awakened from a wonderful time you had prepared your mind digesting the content of a book, this book. You wear a sad grin. And within the grin lies the expression; "How do I get along till the end of the semester?
I hope you're still imagining?
The estate resident, the slum resident, and the others and you have one thing in common. You live in a kingdom!
Okay, I am back in school again after the really good weekend(I wish it didn't have to end but it did.*reallysad*) and of course, I came back to school with a lovely souvenir from mother nature, a cracked voice. It is a harrowing experience for me and nobody knows how annoyed and exasperated I am.
Firstly,I can't harass everyone that I joyfully delight in my heart to disturb.The people that are worthy of harassment like Mabinuolami, (she loves me but she doesn't know how to express herself so she decides that being evil is the way to go."Mabyyyy, *in Chioma's voice*(Chioma, you know i am teasing right?*reallywidegrin* stop being evil, I am nice to you so I am perplexed and just can't understand why you enjoy being mean.),Aliu(I still "beef" you because you didn't give me sallah meat.You decided to share the meat with everyone and left me out. God is watching you in 7D, if there is any viewing mode like that),Ayodeji(His name is Timothy ooo, all those type of people that their parents will name them "Bilikis" and they will get to school and choose to bear "Kiss-Kiss" or something like that. Ayodeji, confess to everyone and let us know what happened to the Timothy name.) and Adekunle(my sweet overly composed friend that tends to make everyone else feel like they are not even close to being composed. Kunle, you know I am not "hating" right?*brandishingasmilejustlikeyours*), just to mention a few.
Secondly, everyone seems overly concerned(although that I know that they are just being courteous*eyesroll*) and some other people made it a point of duty to come to stand right in front of me and mimic me.People like Malik(You know, I said that I will deal with you. I mean it. Just watch out for nails on your chair or sand in your bag. I am all out to make you pay*straightface*) and Kene(aka assistant course facilitator and My precious "enemy" that makes everyone in class feel like they will never get marks for class participation. Kene, this is payback time.*tongueout*)
To bring this day to an end, we end up in a session on family-life issues. LBS never ceases to amaze me. From analysis of business problems to management communication to how to manage finances in your marriage.What should I expect next?How to make "puff-puff" in a different way? Weird.
I really hope tomorrow is better than today and that my voice becomes magically restored overnight. I will be that sweet young lady and take back my statements about the people I have picked on.Till then, I need to take out my frustration on people and then, unfortunately or fortunately, who knows who will be next tomorrow?*mischeviousgrin*
Yours-in-love,
Moi et moi seulement.
It's a new week and as expected I'm to continue my blogging work, irrespective of the 12 cases remaining to analyse this week. I love to write but I didn't envision myself to be a daily writer, it is well ooooooo... Anyways I signed up for it so I guess it's the price I have to pay...Phew! I have a couple of things to write this week, but I thought it wise to write a few things and let you all in on the things you probably didn't know about me. Enjoy!
THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ME
·My middle name is Joy....though I don't tell people; I guess it's because almost everyone answers the name.
·I'm the first child in a family of 6. I still don't get why people assume I'm the last child, do I act like the last child is a question I still ask myself. Ooh well... I am the first child and now you know.
·I was born in the early 90's in one certain area in Lagos. I guess I look a little older than my age, well not my fault, blame nature and family gene.
·I am a very caring person, maybe to a fault sometimes.
·I used to have anger issues, it was bad I must say; but thank God for God who delivered me..(heheeheeeeee)
·I love to be pampered.... Serious pampering oooo, so if you are a guy, and you are far away from achieving this qualification, stay clear (Loool).
· I'm a potential makeup artist. If by definition one knows how to exhibit his/her painting skills on a face and draw a well curved line on a face, then I guess I fall into that category.
·I am a romantic person....But err I only unleash it to well deserving people. Sehinde you do not fall into that deserving category.
·I have the cutest smile ever (yels yels... haters go smash your head on the wall) looooool. Errrrr well at least my mirror helps me to think so.
·I'm a fire dancer, I basically know the latest dance steps; from shoki, to sekem, to azonto and the rest of them. (Yimu). I only dance in front of my room mirror.
·I could eat Golden Morn all day, still don't get my addiction to the food. Olawale says she believes I put love portion in it because I keep offering it to her whenever she complains of hunger.
·I used the word sorry as much as we eat every day because I believe in the phrase of doing what you want others to do to you.
I have given you guys a sneak peak about me, now it's time to get back to reading my cases. See you tomorrow, same time, and same place. I'm out!
I was not really hungry today, okay that was a lie, I think I was quite hungry and secretly looking forward to the overrated LBS cafeteria. At the declaration of 'break time' by our dear Thad Enyinna I sprinted down four flights of stairs to get to the ATM machine, only that I could not sprint because of the heels I was wearing, hence I had to walk like 'a lady'. After getting my cash, I cat walked to the front desk to get my meal ticket (regular 1500 weekly).
By now I was already panting secretly and salivating but I still kept my cool and went to the first floor to eat, but what I saw stopped me in my tracks! The queue at the cafeteria was 'spiritual' to say the least-the subsidiary(as I usually call the small table set up to reduce the long queue) was not left out as there were at least seven people on the queue and we had less than 20 minutes to get back to class.
Finally, the server asked me in her usual tone 'what would you have', and her voice drained what was left of my appetite at that moment. Well it was too late to turn back so I replied almost in a rhetorical manner 'two servings of rice with chicken *drum stick and sauce on the side please in my fake oyinbo accent*' trying my best not to show the extent of my hunger.
The first spoon of rice finished the equation for me, as my mouth struggled to 'crack' the cold rice with my tender teeth and I almost chocked on the dry chicken (tasted like it had been in preservation for a year!).
My stomach was full, but I was still hungry.....Enjoy!
It was a pleasant Saturday morning with the glaze of the morning sun beckoning good tidings to my sleepy black African skinned face. It's time to get out of bed, to bead the Friday fiesta spirit goodbye and say hello to the cleaning and laundry spirit of Saturday. It had been a week of stress and fun each in its own appropriate measures but now, it has come to the weekend I have long for all week.
The chores before me I quickly itemised so as not to leave any undone I mean all the laundry, cleaning and of course the hair making, nail polishing, not forgetting the dress picking. But top of the list is quickly getting some groceries for the house as I am also out of detergent. Muhammad would have been wonderful in this regard if his kiosk has not been recently demolished for security reasons.
I quickly picked up the car keys hoping to get everything on my list in an imaginary jiffy so I can be done with everything and carry out the most important task of the day, sleep. I do know nothing beats the much widely awaited Sunday afternoon sleep, but this in my definition with the way I was feeling, would describe it even more.
I drove out the house with the beautiful voice of oceans drive Tunde Bayewu soothing my spirit. I felt even more soothed when the next track started with the wonderful John Legend appealing to my pleasant side. Amidst this confluence of rhythmic pleasure I was having, saw I a police check point with one of our supposed Nigerian finest flapping me to the side of the road.
I stopped as instructed by the man in black who already had his riffle pointed at me like am a criminal at the firing squad or worst of, a member of the salvage boko harm group. He came to me asking the usual check point question 'where are your paper's'.
Confidently, I presented him with the papers of the car together with my driving licence hoping to be set free to be on my way as they usually do. He went through the documents in his hand page after page he turned looking so assuredly like someone who has just recovered a stolen vehicle. Minutes later, he turned to me and said madam, where is your tint permit.
I was stunned by this question as I know that this man with an Oyo artwork on each side of his cheek now has me by the wrist. I muttered awhile before finding the courage to respond with the question, 'I taught that isn't necessary with a factory installed tint'.
This is it, officer Taoffek Olanihun as got me. He responded with his voice raised like that of a hunter who just killed an elephant. 'Ha madammu it ishz ferri importanti o, infact iff you get to hour stasion u will know how important it is'.
The taught of going through the police station stress quickly ran through my mind. I should be almost done with washing by now and soon preparing to go meet mama preye my hair dresser but now it's the police station that is eminent. No joining the multitude of people flooding twitter about the previous night or surfing through facebook checking out the pictures of newest couples and various aso ebi worn.
I remain seated in the car with my papers and license still in Olanihun's possession. He walked past the side of the car expecting me to say something or do something which I was hoping will come from him.
After some minutes, the true descendent of Oyomesi came by and said the magic words I have been praying for. Madammu, wetin we go do now? I responded with slow and frustrated tone to show the dilemma I have been having since I was pulled over by him.
He said madam, the tint permit dey very necessary o but as this one come be now, wetin you get for us make you dey go. As this words came pouring out of his lips, a part of me wanted to hush him and tell him all the things I have always said regarding bribery. I wanted to tell him of how he is contributing to the downhill of our great country and of how he is stomping on his own dignity but I couldn't. I am guilty as charged. I do not have a tint permit though I didn't know it is now necessary but as they say, ignorance is not acceptable before the law.
I succumbed to the temptation before me. I told the officer of the little I took out with me and of how we can split it. I gave him what he requested and was soon asked to be on my way. I left the police check point after spending some forty five minutes with them. I left feeling lucky that I don't have to go through the horror of going to the police station to get my car out.
Later in the evening as I was about to jump into my bed, I had a flashback on the day. About my encounter with officer Olanihun and his people. About how I have on that day contributed to the societal decline in values, but alas I consoled myself with the thought that everyone is doing it though it doesn't make it right.