Typical Clients; Everyday Problems with Clients Perception towards Architectural Services.

 Client :- Idris pls I have a plot and want 3bedroom bungalow and 4rooms lettable self contain attached to it.

Idris :- So because I am so into advising on going commercial now means you people can be asking for difficult unique designs and una no go wan pay. Since you know I can deliver what you want, sha bring 150k make I run am for you sharperly.

Client :- I just want to start small, money no dey like that. I only want to do what I can start receiving rents from and maximize the use of the land. After all work no dey for all of you guys now, Buhari is giving all of you a hard time.

Idris :- So you want to play on my vulnerability, why not ask for a twins flat and let me give you that one self for free. Money to pay me no go dey, but to buy blocks and start the work won't be a problem. Well lemme know what you can offer and let's discuss. Drawings are not free and are our own intellectual property. So please call me and let me know when you are ready. And please don't promise me that you will do this or that for me in future dealings. Let's settle this one and when we get to that part we will talk then.

Client :- OK how much last because I will still ask if its possible to make mine 4bedroom as against the 3bedroom I was requesting for earlier.

Idris :- You see now, nna go dey ask for difficult tasks with plenty additional work here and there but to pay will be a problem. Anyway I will start this discussion after I see the survey.

Client :- I'll forward that to you later this evening and see how far we can go about it.

 

Moral of this story

Like my friend used to say, clients wants and wishes are like the size of a lion while the size of their pay can be equal to that of a kitten. How does that translate to effective service delivery?

No matter what happens, clients will always look for ways of exploiting you and get things for free. Holding your ground and demanding adequate pay for services rendered earn you their respect. I spent those number of years in school learning how to do that job easily as it appears and lots of energy and money has gone into that.

We must constantly find ways to engage our clients such that whenever professional services are required they would be more than willing to pay premium for it because they know who they are dealing with.

That's when one truly becomes a professional and not just a service provider. Learning to demand effectively due payment for services from clients such that they are more than willing and also relaxed to oblige makes you a true professional.

Its a continuous learning process and we can all achieve it... Cheers to a very beautiful week !!!

A night alone in the dark

A little over 5years ago a friend told me in order to fully harness and appreciate each other in a relationship, one might needs to take a break and see things in full glare. This is the story of my time at home all alone last night.

Wifey had gone to visit my in-laws for the weekend and it will the first time in six months. We have rescheduled this appointment more than five times looking for a weekend that I will be away out of town for them to be able to make such trip.

I don't know I have been spoilt beyond comprehension yet I don't know this neither do I see it as a problem. I am the type that complains almost about everything yet does so less to help. I will want my meal prepared fresh, I want the house tidied up before I return from work, I want the boys to stop crying and whining for once, I want the kitchen so clean to enable have access to it, I want my bed well laid, and if possible I want to be put to that same bed. Such is my laziness and I didn't know any of this till last night.

So I got home late and I had to imagine the stress I will go through in trying to open the gate that wifey would have rush to open for me. As if that is even the end of my predicaments, then comes to microwaving the Eba she's prepared earlier in the day before she left with the boys. The entire space was littered with school clothes and flasks. Obviously they were such in a hurry to catch up with Kabir who has been waiting along the road for awhile.

I was so so mad to later discovered that I will repeat the same process with the soup, ensure that the doors were locked, all sockets were unplugged it turned off. This are literally what I didn't even know how they were being done in this house. Yet I complain so bitterly they weren't done and still want that same woman to come to bed so happy and fly. Woe unto my type of man  I have been using my hustle to provide for the family for my laziness and tiredness.

I woke up around 4:30am to find out that I've been sleeping on the couch all night long and my phone was at 15%. I was so upset with myself, wifey would have woke me up to bed, helped me plug my phone and made sure she had one way or the other give me some medication that help me deal with hangover when I wake up in the morning. So I turned of the TV and moved to bed, I have an appointment for 8am but didn't forget to plug 🔌 my phone 📱 this time out.

Normally it takes me 15minutes from bed to when I will leave the house every morning when I have such early appointment. This time I woke up on the dot of 8 and wondered how to rush and tidy up and still probably make the meeting in an hour time. I would have wanted her to boil water to take my shower, ask her to make tea, help me find my socks, my wallet, my this and that while I only prepare for shower only. Obviously she's been the reason behind my 15minutes movements. Don't forget to Note that she'll be doing all this while she's still preparing the kids for school and yet another little toddler who doesn't like to be alone might be strapped at her back.

Before I could turn the gas and boil water alone I was already feeling so miserable to myself. It was obvious I can beat that time. I missed breakfast, I miss my phone being fully charged, I miss those boys with their whinnying, I miss my house being the same way I had always wanted it and yet I still miss the appointment. Now I've got dishes in the sink to wash, I've got the house still in disorder and exactly the way it was since yesterday and I feel so scared right now to go back and meet the house the same way.

I miss Rhoonie and wished I can cut short this trip, checked my phone and I had messages of my wife missing this devil of a man. She's been gone for just one night and she's been complaining of how she wished she could take me with her on this trip. I replied that such trip won't happen again except she wants me dead. My wife already knew I can't live by myself any longer. Imagine being reminded that I am suppose to eat before leaving the house and what I need to do for launch. Such kindness to a lazy bone like myself and an unapologetic Taurean that believes he's always gonna be right. She loves me just like that, just like that. Hiaaaan, this woman deserves better and I promise myself that I'll be better with helping henceforth.

Time and space might just be all we need to see and appreciate each others differences...

A whole new beggining

Good afternoon everyone,

About a week ago I was contacted by an old friend of mine and talks was long on how he had dreamt of reading my posts every  time. He had complained that what he's been seeing on my status can be put together as a blog post. I was encouraged and moved by this reviews. What he actually didn't know is that I already have a blog address with WordPress for over 10years where I post my ideas and thoughts ranging from sports to politics to socials to poems and all that.

Then about a month ago or there about I created this blog for a whole different purpose. I had wanted some where I can keep my thoughts and ideas on relationships, courtship, marriage and my day to day activities. In line with his request, I felt I should just be free with my write ups and don't bother to edit it. I will be dishing it out as I see and feel it.

Here won't be fabrication of stories but truth and real life events. I want to use this medium to appreciate and motivate those I get involved with on a daily basis. It's going to be personal expression of my experiences and challenges.

While I use this medium to welcome you on this ride, I thank Nnamdi Garry for encouraging me reactivate this blog. This is indeed a whole new beginning for me.

Happy reading y'all....

OSUN ReRun : The political parties failed to capitalize on the opportunity to make a lasting statement on ideologies

So on Monday, the gubernatorial election in Osun state was declared inconclusive. This is in compliance with INEC’s election guideline made pursuant to Section 153 of the Electoral Act stipulates a rerun if the margin of victory in an election is lower than the number of voters in units where elections are cancelled. 

Later during the live broadcast the resident electoral commissioner declared Thursday 27th September for a rerun in the affected area. Majority of this areas fell within the stronghold of one the losing contender in person of Sen. Iyiola Omisore which can be a decider should he pitch his tent with any of the top two political parties running for the rerun.

Senator Iyiola Omisore declaring his decision to support the APC in a press conference with is supporters

Between Monday and Wednesday, we've seen pictures online of visits from delegates of both parties going for the rerun to the house of the senator trying to get him to their respective sides. This is a disappointing coming from my own point of view and I once told a friend after his declaration to support the candidate of the ruling party. Osun state should have been a model but we the masses did our best but then the political parties failed us again. 

Senate President leading the PDP continent to pay a courtesy call on the SDP candidate soliciting his support for Sen. Nurudeen Adeleke in the Thursday rerun

APC party chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole leading other party delegates to solicits for the support of Sen. Iyiola Omisore in the forthcoming rerun election

Below are summary of our major talking points, 

1. The government on their part tried to put all security apparatus in place to organize a peaceful election.

2. INEC also worked to ensure rigging is prohibited or can I say reduced to the minimum.

3. The masses came out en mass at they did in Anambra to chose their most preferred candidates but, this time we have two top candidates. So no winner emerged.

These are my own expectations.

1. I didn't expect any one to approach Omisore. First the ruling party failed us to have approached someone they once called criminal all in the name of politics. Just for an election they might still loose, thereby losing the credibility of a party worthy of someone like myself.

APC candidate Mr. Gboyega Oyetola

2. PDP also didn't expect themselves to have come this far and I expected them to risk it all again and see where this will get them. Worst case scenario, continue mobilization underground and take a stand of not backing down. They probably might get a sympathy vote from people like myself if I were from there. They lost it at the very first start of what could have been a reformed party but obviously we are still back to where we don't wanna be.

PDP candidate Senator Nurudeen Adeleke

While we pray today that the candidate with the interest of the masses at heart wins this context, it is noteworthy to state it once again that the masses were disappointed by this politicking and alliances of personal interests.

Thanks for having a good read. 

SADAQAH GONE WRONG

Asalam Alaekun

I was a bit tempted this morning not to write on this subject matter due to how complicated and bias we all are when it comes to public discuss of religious matters. Most importantly by some of us that were regarded as not to be scholars in the chosen knowledge of the Quran. But for moral conviction I woke up on a side of the bed that allows me the courage to do so after three weeks that the event I will be discussing here happened.

Couple of weeks back I was in Ibadan and decided to see a friend of mine around Ibadan City Academy, so I joined a taxi from Challenge going to Iwo Road to drop at Academy under bridge. The time is 11:15am and as we approach the place I was suppose to get down from the taxi I saw from a far Three men with one of them dressed in a jalabia and the other two in Buba and Shokoto with a white reflective jacket on top of it. At first I had thought they are road traffic warden helping with traffic control along the bye pass that goes to Olomi axis, only to see them with small bowls running after motorists seeking what in Islam is termed "sadaqah".

Just then I wonder how we got to the part where our Muslim brothers will be running after motorists and passers bye to request or can I say demand for what was suppose to be a voluntary contribution. This was suppose to be a practise that should be done with all willingness from the kindness of heart to the course of all. This hurts me so bad that I had to engage one of them why he and the rest of the boys will have to be running after motorists and passerby to request for "sadaqah" and he said most people don't want give alms until they are forced. I now wonder how can he force me to give what I don't want to give all in the name of you guys running after me and others.

What is "sadaqah" ?

Sadaqah or Sadaka According to the Quran, the word means "voluntary offering", whose amount is at the will of the "benefactor". It is otherwise known as charity or benevolence. 'Sadaqa' literally means 'righteousness' and refers to the voluntary giving of alms or charity. But in Islamic terminology; Sadaqah has been defined as an act of "Giving something to somebody without seeking a substitute in return and with the intention of pleasing Allah." Meanwhile, according to Ar-Rageeb al-Asfahaani “Sadaqa is what the person gives from what he possesses, like Zakat, hoping to get closer to Allah."

Running after to people give alms to me is like co-opting to give by force, which is against the back drop of what "sadaqah" means. Some of them will approach you in the midst of friends and if you don't give they make you look bad to people you are standing with. What happens if they were run over by a speeding motorists in the course of this their action, along the express for that matter. Their is so much question I really want to ask but for the sake of not wanting to draw too much conversation and preventing divisive opinions, my submission is that such actions of these men is a bad image to our dear religion.

There is no better than way than have these men in a safe spot close to the mosque and have people come to them to make such donations. Islam is a very decent religion guided by conduct and a very good way of practise. If the religion forbids practises that contradicts the ways highlighted by the prophet, I just need one person that will tell me where such action above happened in the Quran and Hadith. May Allah guide our steps and accepts our supplications on a day like this.

Barka Jumah.