I vividly remember after my NYSC (national service), I worked as a secretary in an advanced school of learning. The center has various classes for students seeking direct entry admissions to 200level in tertiary institutions, those writing professional exams and for fresh secondary school students that is, those writing UTME (entrance exams to Nigeria Universities) and the center also sells textbooks.
The proprietor of the learning center also has a secondary school which was far away from the learning center, so he needed someone who can help him handle the center. So when I was employed, he told me he is looking for a competent person who will help him handle the learning center because lots of people based on their familiarity are taking him for granted and he doesn't want to quarrel with anyone of them, so he was running frequently at a loss.
Normally I'm a very hard person and I always frown, so I know for me to have success at the learning center I need to be strict so that the place will be coordinated.
When I started the work in just a week, almost all his friends had been complaining about where he got me from. I was never rude to them but the fact that I don't take nonsense and always mind my business at work makes them wonder the kind of lady I am.
I don't mix business with emotions at all, I make sure the students pay their fee at the right time and remit the money at the appropriate time. For other centers that purchase textbooks from us, I don't sell textbooks on credit, mine is bring your full payment and collect your books.......no money no books. I don't listen to I've called your boss please send me books I will send the money to your boss....I don't do it.
I don't sit aimlessly with tutors to joke with them or my boss friends or his close relatives that came to the office...... I don't take nonsense at all, mine is just strictly business.
I made sure all tutors follow the time table for their classes and I paid them at the end of the week according to the period they attended because once they are through with their classes they sign on my table so as to have evidence of their attendance, no cheating at all.
I can see the joy in the faces of some tutors because they are getting their pay on time while some people aren't happy because they were unable to cheat on my boss and also buy our textbooks on credit.
I believe my boss then didn't define his business on time that was why he was having difficulties in managing the learning center. I did my best for him before leaving the work for a better placement but I learned a lot from the work.
Business is business for me, emotions shouldn't get in the way because when it does, it ruins the business. And those people you think you are helping by selling on credit to them, will be part of your back biters once your business run down.
So because someone is your friend or family member doesn't mean you should treat them differently, though there might be preferential treatment but it must be minimal. Always make sure nothing comes between you, your people and your business. Once you have established that, then your business will keep thriving. So for me, if it's business then it's Strictly Business
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