NO HOLIDAY FOR SOME WORKERS

There are some people who won’t be on holiday today because we’ll need them. The bike-men, the public transport drivers, market traders, hawkers, nurses and doctors and the likes. I don’t know what you call them, I believe they are also workers.
Still in the spirit of Workers’ Day, I implore us to do something unusually nice to them today.
You could be creative in your own way, give tips or tokens and say something encouraging. Anything to spark a smile, I’d say.
Years back, I made it an habit to be as polite and nice I can be to the sets of workers that are especially earning low.
Before I board a bike, I say a simple greeting - if I forget, I do so while we’re on the way and strike any conversation.
I remember the day, when my lil gestures made real sense. I was returning from work myself and I boarded a bike to take me home, we were started on the journey before I realized I hadn’t done my usual thing so I apologized and greeted him properly. I was surprised at what he replied me with, he said ‘you dey greet okada man?’ I was like, Ehn now, he is older than me and courtesy demands it. Then he asked ‘which tribe you be?’, then which religion. I didn’t want to answer cause i felt my greeting him really wasn’t a tribe or religion thing but I told him I was Christian and Yoruba. He told me how he doesn’t really get such courtesy from his customers, either young or old, cause many of them don’t seem to recognize that they are also humans but just ‘okada man’ probably because he didn’t go to school, drives bike and is poor.
I could tell that he was surprised and pleased with me. I didn’t think it could come to that but I was happy that I created a better impression. You need to see the way he was praising me, my upbringing, and faith.
I can’t exactly remember whether I paid when I dropped but I tell you I’ve had occasions where I didn’t need to or got a discounted price just cause of the little things like saying ‘good evening sir’, ‘how is work?’ ‘God will help us all, it will be well.’ when they share their challenges.

That day onward, I knew I was doing something great even though it was really small, he encouraged me; I was encouraged and I have even extended this to other services that I am paying for, I don’t forget to say ‘Thank You’
Sometimes, I get a ‘no, I should be thanking you.’ ‘God bless you my sister’, ‘you are welcome’, ‘thank you too’, or ‘na my work’, some don’t seem to mind me. But it’s all good, I believe it’s a good vibe.

And today I advise you to do same and more if you can.

Although I dey ‘Broke-lyn’ right now. But I’ll be sure to do the other little things I can afford.
Share love. Appreciate!

HAPPY WORKERS’ DAY!

HAPPY WORKERS' DAY

First off, Welcome to May!

Today May 1st has been set aside to celebrate every worker in the world (differs in some countries though) . I am using this medium to say THANK YOU and WELL-DONE to you all for what you do. As long as your service is adding value to humanity, I celebrate you.

Why am I saying this?
Because it’s not easy, especially to those doing 8 - 6. chai!
Lemme tell you this story, when I finished secondary school and admission didn’t come in as early as I had thought. I worked.
Worked as a secretary (with some jara duties) and I liked the experience. Because as time went by I knew I was brought there for a purpose because within that year I became a totally different person (but not without flaws).

I would not say I struggled for the job cause I didn’t even go through the normal process. No application letter, no submitting CV, even my interview wasn’t hot. Shout out to my big sis Funmi that got me into computer school, and worked out finding the job and negotiating the fee.

My mummy didn’t like the idea of me working, ‘she was like you are not suffering, it’s going to be hectic, you need to prepare for JAMB.’ etc. But we all managed to get her to accept.

And if you asked my boss, his assistant pastors, his wife, my mummy, my sisters, my brothers, my cats, even strangers how I did as a worker.

They will say ‘odikwa worst’.
But if you ask me, I’d say ‘fair enough, just had a little challenge’
If you ask me to be truthful, I’d say ‘odikwa worst’ (maybe).

In punctuality, it was nothing to write home about. My resumption time was 8am, and I don’t think I ever resumed early enough except during my first week when I was still excited and enthusiastic.
Many times, I barely made it by 10!
Yet, I always felt stressed!
I have a big challenge with being punctual.
You could chalk it up to being young and without responsibilities.
My boss was very very very very very very lenient with me to take my nonchalant attitude to work 1 year plus few months (I was excellent at other things anyway).

MOST WORKERS OUT THERE DON’T HAVE LENIENT BOSSES!
They leave home as early as 4 a.m. to beat traffic and get to work on time but get stuck in traffic on returning home, they get home exhausted but still continue the cycle the next morning cause if you are late, your salary gets deducted and you stand a big chance at being sacked. Finding jobs is not easy.
Some are under the pressure of meeting a huge target yet earning something meagre. Some are putting in so much to the job but it goes unrecognized.

It’s not soft work.

We appreciate you on this blog.
HAPPY WORKERS’ DAY!

Let’s discuss:
1. Did you get a job in your early teens? If YES, How did you do? I hope I was not the only late-coming teen worker. If NO, why not?
2. What are the challenges in your current job?