Writers 
A handsome, gentle man came to buy men's loafers from me the day before yesterday. He used to be my customer, but he often comes around to print and leave. But that day, he was willing to buy a shoe. He already sent the document he needed to print, and I was printing it. While I was printing, he entered my store and looked at some shoes. He picked one, asked for the price and the size, which I told him. His reply: “I am coming”. A doubting part of me said this man is not coming back. So I gave him his printout and he left.
Let me tell you a little story about this shoe. I actually got this particular shoe for a man who intends to gift his son. When I received the package, I messaged him, and he demanded the picture, which he later sent to his son. His son replied, I DO NOT LIKE IT. “The man told me he won’t be needing it, so I can sell it to someone else. Selling it will not be easy, I know that, considering the amount. This will tie down my money, and I really need both the capital and profit to flow. So which option do I have? I start marketing it and hope I see a buyer quickly.
Then customers will come to check what I sell, and they will see the shoe, haha, this shoe is too heavy, look at the iron in front, I can’t even wear this shoe, Na Burna Boy fit wear this shoe, na million be this shoe, where I wan dey wear ham go, I know it will be expensive, the sole is too high. God knows I was quick to sell that shoe to avoid all these comments. But for now it’s my market, and I must sell it.
Around 1pm, the man that promise to come back came back, in the rain. I was not expecting him at all. I was surprised that I mistakenly asked him why he came inside the rain, can you imagine? Anyways, he checked the shoe, checked another one, and he sent it to his wife. They both like the two shoes, and just like that, he paid a reasonable amount for the first loafers, that as been in my store for a while and also took another one, and he paid for both at once and he left.
I was so excited, I needed the capital at the moment. The money is beneficial, but I promise you, the lesson learnt is important. I wish to share the lesson with you.
You see, sometimes in life, gathering some information and seeking knowledge seems like a waste of time. People who don’t like knowledge or don’t strive to seek information will always talk you out of it. I don’t think any knowledge is a waste; I don’t assume good information can be too much or useless.
Painful regret doesn’t come from having too much information or knowledge; the regret kicks in when you don’t have it. Not all information or knowledge is useful now, just like the shoe I got was not useful to some, but the moment the right buyer came, everything changes. He do not ask how long the shoe had been sitting there, he do not ask if I got it for someone, he just asked how much.
When it is time for people to pay you for the information and knowledge you have, they won’t ask you how much time you spent learning or how long It took you to learn; they simply ask you how much you will charge for what you know. That is how you control. Let me say this, then you can ask for help, and not beg for help.
You cannot find out everything in life, but find out all you can. I mean, doors open when you are trying; there is an inner peace you have when you understand that you are trying your best.
Don’t join people who say a book is meant for the rich or some for the poor. Read the one on the poor, why they are poor, and read the wealthy one, because you will soon be part of them. You see, he came even in the rain to get his shoe, which other people called worthless. That is the exact way people will sort for you, if you work on yourself, if you remain loaded with values of knowledge and information. Absorb the knowledge. Some information is not useful to you now, but store it in your mental hard drive. Let me tell you what wisdom is: wisdom is the right application of the knowledge that you understand. So tell me, what do you apply if you fail to acquire knowledge? I mean, your standard of living is based on what you know. Application is easy when you are vastly knowledgeable. Learning is the beginning of freedom, peace, joy and every beautiful thing in life. Be curious, and note “after all curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back to life”.
No knowledge is wasted, no information is useless, just like I later sell my shoes, the time for the right application of that information and knowledge will come, and people will call you smart or wise. Why? Because you have chosen to store data in your mental hard drive. So don’t get lazy in learning, don’t give up on learning, and don’t mind people who discourage you from learning; that information and knowledge will save you one day, maybe not yesterday, maybe not today, maybe tomorrow or for others around you.
