Hello friends and Hivers. The weekend is here again, so let's get it started with the awesome prompts from 
Honestly or not
Honestly is a costly commodity that you must not expect cheap from anyone. It's a factor in life that test our integrity both in public and in private. When given a chance, most people often fail the honesty test. Some chose to fail purposely for personal gains, while only a few will actually take a stand for honesty for their integrity's sake.
From my childhood days up to today, I have had several occasions or incidences that try my integrity in terms of honesty. I have had to return a wallet full of cash that I found on the ground to the owner several times. I have had to hand back mobile phones I found on the ground to the owners. These are things that I could easily convert and no one would ever find out. But, for integrity's sake, I chooses the path of honesty even though no one saw me when I picked up those items.
Honestly is an attribute that is learned in secret. If you fail the honesty test in the secret, you will likely fail in the public. As a business owner, I have had occasions when I have to return goods that were delivered that I didn't pay for. One of those occasions was when I traveled to Lagos to buy goods at the popular Oshodi international market about 2 years ago. I am into men's fairly used fashion retail business. These clothes come in bail, and they can be very costly based on their grades.
I got to the market that fateful day and located the dealer that I want to do business with. I told them about the clothes that I wanted to buy, a bail of T-shirts, and a bail of Jean Trousers. The bail of T-shirts cost around $150, while the Jean Trousers bail cost about $200 at the time.
I checked the bails myself to ensure that what I ordered was what I have been given. I paid for the goods and the receipt was issued. I traveled back home without the goods because I can't carry the goods along for a long journey of that nature. It's now the responsibility of the dealer to waybill the consignment to me at a later date.
Two days after returning from the journey, my consignment was delivered via a public transport company as promised by my dealer. I felt very satisfied with the dealer and was happy that I have succeeded in making a business connection with him. This means I will not have to travel whenever I want to buy goods. I will only need to order what I want and send the money over, while the dealer waybills the consignment over via public transport. This will save me from traveling stress and transportation cost.
As I tried to check the goods to see if they were what I have chosen and paid for, I found out one of the bails was not what I paid for. Instead of the T-shirts a bail of long sleeve shirt was delivered. The selling price for the long sleeve shirt bail is twice that of the T-shirt.
Three options immediately come to my mind. Should I return the bail? Should I call the dealer to inform him about it? Or should I keep it to myself and sell the clothes for much profit?
My integrity was on the line, and the test of honesty was upon me. Keeping the goods would make me a great profit and the dealer will never know about it. But, my conscience wouldn't allow me to do that. It's not possible to return the goods because that would incur additional transportation costs for me. So, the only option left was for me to inform the dealer and see what he will tell me to do about it.
I picked up my phone and called the dealer to inform him about what I have found. He was full of praise and thankfulness, and also apologize for the error. When I asked what should I do with the Long sleeve bail, he told me not to worry and that he will send the t-shirt I paid for in two days, but I should help him sell the Long sleeve and send him 80% of the selling price, while I keep the 20% for myself.
Just like he said, two days later, my bail of T-shirts was delivered. He didn't wait for me to sell the long sleeve shirts and send his money over before sending my t-shirt bail to me. For a little act of honesty, the man begin to develop a strong trust towards me, and in return, I ensure that I didn't fail him either.
Our relationship soon grew to the extent that he started giving me some goods in advance, and I will send the payment to him after selling the goods. I was always prompt to cover all my sides of the deal.
That was how honesty helps me to build my business and raise my capital over a little period. Since then, I have never had to travel again to the market to buy goods. This man has been helping me to buy goods and waybill them to me. Even when he doesn't have the type of goods I needed, he will buy from other dealers in the market and have it delivered to me.
If I could find myself in a similar situation again, will I still choose to be honest?
Definitely yes! Not because of what I got from the experience I shared above, but because honesty is life. And, that's why you cannot get it cheap, and I choose not to be cheap.
The attached pictures are mine.
