Working through emergencies and the rain
1. When someone sends you some money or airtime (that they do not owe you) via mobile money, be courteous enough to say thank you. It does not matter if the amount is less than you had hoped. Or that they have sent later than you wished. Or that you do not have airtime to call. Find a way to convey your thanks. Beep them if you must. Send a Whatsapp message. Ask your friend to give you their phone to call or text the sender. They have a million other uses for that money but they have given it to you.
2.If a customer wanders into your premises, be polite, courteous and attentive. And this is not just for the shop attendants in malls, arcades and boutiques even though these men and women do seem to have mastered the art of customer care. This is for the banks too. And the schools and clinics and telecom companies. A potential customer must never be treated as a potential customer. They must be treated as a customer. They might not buy today but they will likely buy tomorrow, or spread the word of your good services. And that begets other customers.
3.Should you be caught up in an emergency and do not see yourself making it to work, do not call your supervisor to “inform” them of your troubles. Call them to ask for an hour or the day off. It does not matter if your supervisor is understanding, or if your absence might go unnoticed. That employer pays your salary. You and them have agreed that you will come to work every day and deliver on your daily, weekly and monthly targets. When anything disrupts that, you need to alert them at the earliest and ask, I repeat, not inform them, of time off needed.
4. Frankly speaking, “the rain” as an excuse for not coming to work on time, or making that appointment is becoming old. I say this only because two weeks ago, I decided to stop the rain from hindering my plans. Of course if it is pouring hard, one can only sit and wait. But once it recedes to a drizzle or light rain – which it almost always does, then get moving. I have driven to a friend’s mother’s funeral through mad pouring rain and across little rivers on the road. I have shopped for food for my house in Nakawa market even as it drizzled relentlessly (I learnt by the way that this is not such a bad idea, because you are almost the only customer at that time and since the vendors know few people will shop because it is wet, they are willing to give you good bargains!). I have travelled home by taxi a good number of times even as the skies let up.
Having a sturdy umbrella, good sneakers and a waterproof rucksack helps a tonne. More importantly, my daily routine goes on despite the rain (which I am thankful for). We have had rain seasons for as long as all of us were born. Surely we should have found ways to work through it by now. Plus, the meteorology department has said the rains are going to go on till December. So stop the excuses.
