The Business Creed: Better for You to Be feared, Than to Be Loved!

Spread the love

By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

Perception is the currency of behaviour. People behave towards you the way they perceive you. Truth is being loved is a very good thing.

It is good for the optics. It is perhaps the greatest feeling in the world, but it is also the most dangerous. Because People are likely going to plan against those they love than those they fear

As a Young Boy that followed and read Nigerian History, I studied the pattern of General Ibrahim Babangida (Head of State /President of Nigeria, 27th August, 1985 to 26th August, 1993), in my view, he was the most successful military head of state or president in Nigeria history. History is past politics and politics is present history.

He created the major elements and institutions that now run Nigerian State and changed a lot of institutional framework.

One thing I learnt from him is his benevolence to loyalty, but ruthlessness to treachery. He was a very kind hearted leader, who wanted every one around him to be happy, but woe betide you, if you planned against him .Ibrahim Babangida did not take prisoners of war, he took them out as soon as he got them in the balls.

He never cared how close you were to him. The best man on his wedding day who was alleged to have planned a coup against him was executed, despite the several entireties.

Once there is proof that you wanted to overthrow him, you will die and he made sure you died a painful death, that would be visible to others, to let them know that, that will be their fate if they planned against him .He survived 7 attempted coups.

Including the 2nd most bloody coup in Nigerian History that of 22nd of April, 1990. (The Gideon Orkah Coup, the bloodiest being the Major Kaduna Chukwumah Nzeogwu Coup of 15th January, 1966).

Truth is a person that has a propensity to be kind , also has a propensity to be wicked. The fact that he choose to be kind, does not mean he can not be wicked. So, people take your kindness for granted and forget that the rose that breeds a good smell has some thorns beneath it.

So that drastic action you are about to take against that person that betrayed you, that you are scared of the perception of people around you, take it and send a message loud and clear.

Perception of people do not affect the dead .Once you are dead, you are are dead Dead men don’t tell or listen to tales.

Those that want you out and you survived , do not relent until they get you. The fact that you have survived several attempts, does not mean you are invincible.

If you loosed guarded your protection they will get you down and that is the point you realise how foolhardy your “goodness” has become.

No matter how kind you kind to a monkey, a monkey will remain a monkey.Some times, the more kindness you show to people, the more they misbehave.

So just stick by your rules and enforce them. Rules are rules and once you enforce them, it does show kindness or wickedness, it shows discipline, which is the focal point of a success waiting to happen lack of it is the focal point of a disaster waiting to happen.

Being feared in this perspective, is being a sticker for rules. The rules of life has not changed. One good turn deserves another and bad turn deserves another. You do not sow cassava and reap yam. In life, you reap what you sow.

If they flout the rules and you keep forgiving them, there comes a time, you have no business to run or life to live. They will run you out.

Life is deep and the road is steep, just like the chances to gargantuan success are slim. Be gentle as a dove, but wise as a serpent Fly like a butterfly, but sting like a bee.