Uneasy Lies The Head That Wears The Crown

policy¹

ˈpɒlɪsi/

noun

1. a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual

A good company should have policies. These are a set of rules that govern the operations of an organization.

Little wonder when my new client wanted a credit facility covering a team trip, I diplomatically offered alternatives.

Our "no credit policy" was a fallout out of a January experience.

The year started right. My firm got flight ticket deals worth millions in Naira. High risk with a short settlement plan (Friday - Monday). I went for it after obtaining approval from my board. This deal was from an old client, an upfront had being sent and daily remittances were being made.

Then came deal number 2. My dear European client referred me to his friend and was willing to stand in for his White South African buddy.

This went bad fast. Credit worth millions was given, cheque was collected, promises were made, days turned into weeks, and months and the police got involved and then immigration (because he was a foreign national) and then we had lawyers and then came threats and counter threats and there was diplomacy till we recovered what we could and counted our losses in September. A terrible experience.

So we agreed as a board that we would no longer give credit.
Of course you know, this was next to impossible. Especially if you wanted to play in the big league.
In course of our journey in 2017, we did make exceptions. This was to men of UNQUESTIONABLE character. In my reasoning that accounts to 1% of the 180 million Nigerian (home and abroad).

The very few times we tried to extend such privilege, it almost resulted in a wild-wild west gun dual. Reality dawned on me in this proverb that says "it is not the same mouth used in collecting a loan, that is used for repayment".

Having considered our peculiar Nigerian culture and behavior towards credit facilities, it is in my opinion to play safe as much as possible. This company is a brand associated with certain levels of expectations. We just had to make it known that credit was not in our offering. In fact, we had partnered with a Micro Finance Bank to provide the necessary collateralized credit while we offer our travel services.

So when a client came to me recently bragging of how big his house is and how I made him feel like a criminal for not giving him credit, I tried explaining benefits of our float or pay as you go options.

But of course, I had to drop diplomacy when reasoning was not an option. Having explained what the dictionary meaning of policy is, NO CREDIT needed no explanation.

Nobody should be bullied into things they are not comfortable with.
As an entrepreneur, you will learn to make decisions that safeguard your business interests. If you take a risk, it may or may not pay-off. You will bear that risk.

So as you go about your business, you have to understand that the longevity of your business is your primary concern. So stand firm in what you believe in.


Till we meet again, keep winning.

Mr David Chiaka
Twitter: @MrChiaka

The Winner In You: Nigerians are not fantastically corrupt

The Winner In You: Nigerians are not fantastically corrupt: Permit me to recall this phrase by the deposed PM David Cameron of Britain which I think Mr President- Buhari should not have accep...

The Winner In You: Nigerians are not fantastically corrupt

The Winner In You: Nigerians are not fantastically corrupt: Permit me to recall this phrase by the deposed PM David Cameron of Britain which I think Mr President- Buhari should not have accep...

The Winner In You: Cherish The Vision

The Winner In You: Cherish The Vision: Not everyone believes in your vision so lets not be deceived. The same applies in your personal life and business. I recall clearly t...

Cherish The Vision

Not everyone believes in your vision so lets not be deceived.
The same applies in your personal life and business.

I recall clearly the first time I tried to resign from my bank job 4 years ago.
My dad just could not wrap his head around it. So after  a very lengthy and unfruitful discussion, he got my dear Uncle B to talk some sense into me.

Anyway, I did not leave then because my dear boss - Aunty T convinced me to stay a little while after laying out a practical savings and business plan.

Recently, someone I respect a lot expressed his discomfort with my job. He just did not how I was coping as a Travel Consultant with all the abnormal Forex fluctuations. I was totally caught off guard, so I listened to his concerns. In the end, it would have been better if he asked me of my plans than to have concluded.

When you are unsure of a matter, ask questions. Seek clarity, keep your judgments at bay.

It is important to do what you love, especially when you are hitting your forties. And I love what I do. This translates to passion. I see opportunities in my business and that gives me room to continually innovate.

Having weighed all risks involved in my line of work, I have developed a series of business models that include reducing credit risks to people and corporations and innovating towards capturing the mass retail. Pardon my big grammar, what I mean is, if more people patronize my services, I can make more money from the 10 kobos.

So all I have to do is find out ways to make more people make their travel bookings themselves.
You see, it is impossible for everyone to share your vision.

Your staff will complain and cut corners but remember, only you are the custodian of your dreams and visions. The best you can do is share them.

You can only grow as far as your eyes can see.

If Judas could not catch the vision as communicated by Jesus, then why get upset?
For every 12, there will always be a Judas.

The onus is on you to set goals and ground rules. Then sanction staff that break those rules.
Maintain efficiency levels at all times and communicate the vision as often as possible and as clear as possible - always.

And, keep dreaming.
Never stop dreaming.
Your growth is dependent on how far you dream.

As far as your eyes can see...

N/B You can now make your flight reservations and hotel bookings at discount prices here or simply copy and insert this o n your browser http://cloudsurferstours.com/


Till we meet again, keep winning.

Mr David Chiaka

Nigerians are not fantastically corrupt

Permit me to recall this phrase by the deposed PM David Cameron of Britain which I think Mr President- Buhari should not have accepted.

It just dawned on me that this year 2016, I met with only 15% of my clientele to consummate actual financial transactions.

If you understand the travel business, you will know that each transaction culminates to hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

Now, do you know what it means to speak with clients in Owerri, Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, PortHarcourt, USA, Canada, Nairobi et al and receive funds from them (without physical contact)?

That is trust.

Some did lament about cases of fraud but that was just 0.5 out of 100.

My point is this, do not be deceived by the crowd of Politicians that loot the common wealth of Nigerians.

Of course you have to be careful when doing business in Nigeria. But above all, we are not all corrupt. Many of us are dependable.

I have never been a beneficiary of "money miss road" or free money.
I have earned every penny I make.
So I avoid money doubling schemes that defy common sense/financial logic.

In all, Nigerians are relentless (I know, I am). And we still trust each other to commit funds to people with whom we do not even know how they look like.

So do not be afraid of Nigeria or Nigerians.

We truly are good people, in a great nation.

#GodBlessNigeria

The Winner In You: Stay Away, Am Reading

The Winner In You: Stay Away, Am Reading: The arrow shot by the archer may or may not kill a single person. But stratagems devised by a wise man can kill even babes in the womb. ...