It’s so beautiful when I see people doing something simply because they love it. Whether it’s a business or a career path, the money and the profits are not really at the top of the checklist.. Even though they still have to make a living out of it, they are just contented with the fact it's what they love they are doing. It doesn’t matter how many times people tell them it’s not worth doing because they’re not cashing out big time, they don’t mind. There’s something honestly special about doing something out of passion and not because of the gains.
Growing up in a society well known for people being business-minded, choosing passion over profit isn’t very common. I guess it only exists in movies, probably. People will literally do anything as long as money comes in and their pockets get fatter. Now, when you add a really bad economy to the equation ,one where everyone is hustling like there’s no tomorrow, an economy that redefines what it means to make ends meet, survival becomes non-negotiable. It’s not even up to you to choose to survive, you just have to. And while that’s understandable, it still doesn’t justify what’s happening around us. Life has indeed gotten a hundred times tougher than it used to be when I was a kid. I understand that people must give their best to make a living. But what I don’t understand is why most people think it’s okay to live off other people’s suffering.
Everywhere you turn, people are finding ways to turn opportunities into exploitation. Especially when they know you’re in dire need of what they provide. Almost everyone must have had an experience with the healthcare system, where hospitals seem more focused on making sure you spend your last dime, than putting your health first.
I remember a particular time when my sister went for an eye check. After several tests, she was told to come back for her prescribed glasses, which they said would cost ₦30,000. On her next appointment, a different doctor attended to her. While going through her records, he claimed she had two different eye conditions, one in each eye, and that she’d need separate lenses that cost ₦45,000 instead of the original ₦30,000.
It was an unexpected turn-out of the situation and she didn't keep quiet about it. She made an issue out of it and got the attention of the head doctor. It turned out that the man trying to charge her extra was a junior doctor attempting to add an additional ₦15,000 for his personal gain. It was both shocking and disappointing. Why would anyone want to make money off someone in need, especially when they have the power to help? We ended up paying the original ₦30,000, but imagine if she hadn’t spoken up , that man would have smiled home with the extra cash.
And it’s not just hospitals, it happens everywhere. Take the markets, for instance. My mom sells fabrics but sometimes I have to go and patronize other fabric sellers for a particular type. You walk into a fabric shop, and the moment they sense you don’t know the real price, they inflate it beyond reason. Some even go as far as saying, “I’m giving you my best price,” while smiling at the profit they just made off your ignorance.
So, in the end, I don’t think the economy or tough times are the real reasons people act this way. It’s just greed, pure and simple . The loss of human values. Somewhere along the line, people began to believe that integrity doesn’t pay. Why be honest when you can tweak things up and make a fortune?
Being business-minded is admirable. There’s nothing wrong with wanting success or profit. But when it’s built on deceit, or exploitation, it’s destructive. That’s the very mindset that’s eating away at society, the same one that drives politicians to hoard funds meant for the public, turning positions of service into personal banks. It’s selfishness disguised as ambition.
Still, I believe the can be different maybe not by everyone, but by those who still value doing the right thing over price tags. It starts with the simple decision to do right, even when no one’s watching. Because in the end, all that money will be left behind someday, but integrity stays, and that’s what gives true meaning to all that we do.
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