I’ll tell you a story…
When I was between 11 and 13years, was still in junior secondary school, I hawked several stuff for my momma depending on the season but that’s not the story..
You see? My mum had a shop in the old umuahia market, and after school as usual I go to hawk stuff, now in that market, there was an old woman called Daada❤
Daada was a rice seller(cooked rice, beans and their associates)
They had a line where they sold, many rice sellers were on that line, then the next line had Agidi and stew sellers..
The story is about Daada the rice seller, as at when I was 11 or thereabouts, she was already old and wrinkled, with her ‘pancake’ and badly drawn eyebrows😂😂 but one thing stood out! Her STEW!
Daada had this fine touch to her stew that no one could replicate.. I mean NOBODY COULD..
Early in the morning, you would see, women who left their houses, came to market but must branch at Daada’s shop to eat rice, men too weren’t left out! Infact you had to wash your own plate if you want make the rice sure for you ooo, she no get girl wey dey help her, so once she comes to her shop, the plates she comes with are already washed and soaked in clean water, after use, subsequent users must wash their plates because once she sits she’s not standing until she’s done selling🤗
And boy was the rice good? Stew I mean? Damn right, although it had too much unhealthy oils but it was a delight to the taste buds.. this was when you could buy a plate of rice for 20 or 30naira 10naira beans meat 20naira and plantain if you’re feeling like a king😂😂😂
The thing is, from morning till maybe around 2pm in the afternoon, the crowd doesn’t wane until she’s done selling, the other sellers would have to wait for her rice to finish before those who couldn’t buy from her will then patronize them and yes it made them envious
Anyday, Daada is having a bad market day, imagine, what the other rice sellers are having?? Infact most people who would patronize the agidi sellers on the other line would be because they couldn’t buy Daada’s rice!
She’s late now, May she RIP..
My point? You can, distinguish yourself no matter how many are in the same field with you, everyone on that line cooked rice like she did but they didn’t have her recipe..
And for everyday we ate her rice, the taste was ALWAYS SAME!
When you make a clear cut path for yourself, don’t become the ‘typical Nigerian’ and water down your product or regimen…
Daada kept her quality untainted, she didn’t have to beg for customers for one day while that market existed.
If you’re doing business be consistent, if you’re offering services don’t reduce your standards once customers start trooping in, because that was what brought them in at first..
I hope this helps you today and beyond..
Have a great weekend dears❤❤
