Drama King Teejay's CORNER

A wise man once said, "Whatever that's worth doing, is worth doing well." Again, "What you buy is as good as who you buy from."




When it comes to learning a craft(skill) I often advise people to put in their very best effort to learn the nitty gritty of any skill they are going into in order to become professional in the field of work. Making a sustainable living through skill work is the goal; being passionate about what you do is the driving force in achieving great results. Passion on what you do to make a living should come first before monetary interest. That's the only way to be good at what you do. Passion leads to innovations and productivity.

Last year, I was contracted by someone who got a job at Ughelli, Delta State. I didn't know this guy, he was connected to me by the man whose shop he had gone to buy the materials for the job here in Port Harcourt. I knew the seller very well for I do buy chemical and oxides for my jobs from him.

He called and enquired if I'm free? Which I said yes. He said I should come over to his shop and meet someone that need my service. Also I should prepare my equipments, for I'm likely to travel after the meet. I got my bags ready and met with them. After discussion, I accepted the sum of N280,000 he insisted on paying me, saying it's just an assist I will be rendering to him on the job.

We left Port Harcourt and got to Ughelli at night. I was given a room to stay for the period of two weeks which was the estimated time duration for the job. The next morning, I came out and saw the square metre he told me for the job wasn't true. It was more than what I was told. Ordinarily I wouldn't have accepted that amount. I kept quiet. When it was time to commence work, I watched to see him throw the level and to my greatest surprise, this man who brought me all the way from Port Harcourt don't know much about the job, yet he said I'll be assisting him.

Obviously, he tricked me into accepting that amount. At best he would have sublet the job to me and I'll engage one or two of my boys to go along with me.

I set the range and level. We began work proper. I noticed he didn't even know how to handle the tools. First he lied on the square metre. Secondly, from I'll be assisting him, I'm now the one doing the main job. "I have a plan" I said to myself. I worked for three days and decided to stop. I parked my things and was ready to leave. I was given N100,000 the first day we started the work as part payment. I told him to keep the balance, I'll be leaving to Port Harcourt. I hate deception and I can't work this way.

As I was about leaving, a young guy whom I later found out was the owner of the house called me and pleaded I shouldn't go. He told me he saw all that happened and how I was the one doing the job. He asked how much I was paid? I told him 280,000 but had only received 100,000. It was then I learnt the guy who brought me took the job for N3.4million naira. Coldness ran down my spine. I shivered for some seconds. Do you now see the greed in an average Nigerian?

He pleaded I continue, he'll add some money on what I was offered by the contractor and a promise of connecting me to jobs. This he did at the end of the job by giving additional money to me. Equally, I've gotten two referral jobs through him which I was so grateful for. The last one he connected me last December was really beneficial to me at the time I must say.

Just be good and professional on what you do. Be innovative, creative and humbled, you'll go places and far in life. Above all, be responsible and trust worthy.