If there is one thing that really and truly hurts in this world, it is failing at something that you have put in so much time and effort into. And why this hurts is not actually because you failed due to inadequacies on your part, but because someone somewhere else had a particular leverage you did not have and used it to their advantage. Effectively putting you out. It is like working hard to secure a contract, spending money, and doing a lot of things just to be able to get that contract. And with all you have done, and with the kind of reputation you have built, you are sure you have it in the bag already. All that is left would be the formalities of signing the paper. And then, one of your rivals who doesn’t even come close to you with regard to efficiency will clinch the contract right from under your nose just because he has an uncle that works in the government. Yeah, it hurts a lot. Even more when you lose to someone that is obviously not as good as you are. There is something humbling when you lose to someone better than you, at least you can comfort yourself with the fact that they are better and for you to beat them you would have to become better than them. But when someone you are better than beats you, you would definitely be furious because most of the time, there is nothing you can do about it. That is the power of connection in our world today. People make use of whom and what they have to get what they want, it is a characteristic that we all might have to embrace eventually. Because if you go on keeping to yourself, trying to be the good guy, you will realize that most good guys don’t go far in life. The ones that do, have something secret they are doing that is not so good. But then, using connection does has its unhealthy side effects, because it is something that does not come without consequences. And every time, it is others that suffer for it. Whether you are the best fit or not, every time you use connections to secure a job or contract, you deny others an equal chance to that job or contract. Something you would also be pissed at if roles were reversed. In the same way, when government offices are handed out based on who they know rather than who is best, the masses suffer for it because most of the time “who they know” might not know jack about holding that office and might simply be all about the money. Having said all this, what then? Should we fold our hands and struggle when we can make the process easier with just one phone call? Should we fight and struggle when we have someone who can just say the word and what we want will be handed to us? We literally have a way to make our lives easier, why not just use it? It is not like the world really cares about you, the only reason every other person would be mad when you use your connection is that they get to suffer that consequence. But should that bother you? If you can answer these questions, you might be able to decide what your next call to your connection will be. I am not trying to say that having connections is good or bad, my dear country is a prime example of how deep such a system has eaten into. You need to have either money or connection before you can do anything of substance. Many times, people even use the money to buy the connection. I have seen how connections have destroyed the lives of the masses like we are suffering today. And I have also seen how it has elevated some people who decided to think of themselves first. Because in the long run, it is what you make up your mind to do that you will eventually do. So, will you refrain from using your connections and try going the neutral route? Or will you go ahead and use them, consequences be damned. It all boils down to what your conscience can allow. So, my dear friends, it is easy to criticize something because we are not in the situation, so seeing it from the outside makes it easier to point fingers. But once we find ourselves in the situation, we would find ourselves more likely to commit those very things we once complained about and criticized others of. That is just life for you. We live and learn more things about ourselves every day. Borderimage credit: @deimage.
Fauxels
Nesrin Öztürk
Andrea Piacquadio
Ketut Subiyanto
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, I would love to know what you are thinking. Till we meet in the next post.
Man, your posts are a soul check point and a source of cleansing. You write our suffering out in such a beautiful way.
Hehe... I try my best.
Thank you for reading.
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In the Yoruba adage, there is a saying that says they used the hand of wealth to hit your face, won fi owo ola gba e loju... That is the life we are in! Connections are the order of the day and it´s so painful seeing how much you have put into the work and almost getting there, someone who does not even meet up with your ability is granted the job at the snap of the fingers just because he or she has someone who could help do that.
It made me remember when my younger sister was seeking for a job in a big company in Lagos. my uncle works there but he refused to help her. According to him, he wants my sister to put in her effort to get the job so that they can know if she is truly worth it or not. Isn´t that how it is meant to be especially when you know the person you are trying to manover ways for isn´t efficient in such area?
Of course, there are those who will prefer to go the normal route, as it should be. But they are ridiculously few compared to those who have no qualms using what they have to get what they want.
Thank you for reading.
You are most welcome.
Oh well, you have a valid point up there. I can't say for sure what I'd do in a situation like that until I am in the scenario in reality.
Well... I guess it's all when that time reaches.
Thank you for reading.