Thread by @idede_oses

Still on counsels and counsellors, sifting the wheat from the chaff...

Let's continue the discussion as I share my experience with you on this street.

It happened barely a year ago in Benin City.. #Thread

#TuesdayThoughts #tuesdaytonic .

I wanted to venture into fish farming on a business scale. I consulted my friends who were into the business in two different locations in the country, with the mind of getting a balanced perspective of the opportunities and challenges in the business.

After a proper consultation, ( now I doubt how proper the consultation was anyway 😂🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️), I decided to go ahead with the business. The first step was to get a fish pond.

At the place where I intend to locate the pond, someone who does not own a pond and has never worked at a fish pond was hellbent on recommending someone for me. I rejected the recommendation and the accusation of me being stubborn started.🤷‍♀️

"You don't take advice, that is your problem. This man can do it and it will cost you less, you want to go and get someone who will charge you unnecessarily higher".

I knew who I was dealing with, unless she has her way, she won't let me rest.

And with the mindset that I already have a design of the pond that I wanted, I acquiesce to her pressure and asked her to call the person. Now, I was a good guy, and everything seems ok.

The mason came and I gave him the design of what I wanted. He examined it & started the familiar line
"This your design na waste of money oooh, the person just want to waste materials. Dem get the way dem dey do am and e go still work but it will be cheaper"

My friend, that is the best #red flag you can ever get. Once you hear that, run for your life and resources! Till date, I am regretting why I did not run!!! 🏃🏾🏃🏾 @Tendermartin @AmbyDiplomat #TuesdayThoughts #TuesdayTip

While I argued with the man, to make him understand what I wanted. He too tried to convince me that he was only helping me do more with less. "Is it your job? Why can't you just listen to advice from people older & experienced than you?" She counselled. 😂

The moment you start to question your previous conviction, your mind will start to play a fast one on you.
"What if they are right?
Why would you spend more for less?"
At that point, you are likely to cave in as I did.

Long story short, after the man had built the pond "the way dem dey do am", the thing collapsed wasting my time, resources and if not for God, I might have lost my legs too as I was few feet away when it crumbled with a loud thud!

The fact that someone is older than you does not mean he is all-knowing; get that fact handy in your subconscious. Let it be at the table of your heart. 😁😀

The first rule of thumb, don't take advice from someone who has not walked the path! No matter how much they cover their ignorance with many talks of what they have heard or seen, it is not the same thing with someone who has done it before.

The second rule, "na so dem dey do am".
Ask; who be dem?
Who made 'dem' the standard?
If you are sure of your consultation, stick with your initial plan. Better still run away from the counsellor before he makes you start to doubt your previous position.

The third rule, if things go wrong, who will bear the brunt? If you are the one to suffer the loss, then learn to be in charge. After all, they won't share the suffering with you, so learn to stand with your guts and to trust your instincts.

Above all, always consult professionals even if you are to pay for it. The cost of taking every '#wind of doctrine' can be catastrophic in the long run. It might end up being far greater than the little amount you should have paid for consultancy.

My dear, it is not everything that they label as counsel that you should take.

Be vigilant, be watchful, be wise!

I hope this helps.

Idede Oseyande
#tuesdayvibes #TuesdayThoughts #TuesdayMotivation #TuesdayTip

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