Caleb Kudah writes: Invest in people

You could drive 5mins and still be going past someone’s house in my neighborhood.

I have counted often in admiration, more than 10 properties that sit on land that is bigger than my alma mater O’Reilly Senior High School.

But what is frustrating is that most of them are empty. Empty of life. Well, there is life. Weeds are living things right? Snakes and lizards too should count for life. Shouldn’t they?

But clearly, no one invests millions of dollars to build a dream house for reptiles and weeds. No.

So why are they empty?

Many of the owners who had what my friend calls ‘old money’, have died. But where are their children, you ask? The children of most of them have traveled abroad. They have made their families there.

Even though, these dream mansions are the lifetime pride and achievement of their parents, their children don’t value them as much. And well, I am not sure if they are not able to find buyers who are interested in old architecture for as much as the family might quote when there are newer styles elsewhere – like prime areas. Even though I must say the landscape and greenery is to die for here.

Importantly, some of the properties are plagued with family litigations. Recently, on my way home I was shocked to find that a parcel of land that had a thick vegetation was cleared to the bare earth with the speed of light. I detested it so much. I loved that patch of vegetation anytime I took walks or went out jogging. ‘But whom mam I?’

I was later informed that the owner had won a long standing court case. See, in a matter of minutes, all the trees were felled. A new wall and massive metal gate was erected.

Recently, a property was sold. If I had money erh? Hooo ma gaaad! It’s such a thing of beauty! The location alone! It sits on an uphill with a gentle bend on a smooth asphalted road just next to it. It has well manicured lawns around it. And the lights around the wall at night makes for scenic viewing. The ornamental plants around it! Eish!! No wonder young lovers are always trying to make memories around that property, taking pictures at least.

But what those young lovers don’t know is that, there is no love lost between the owners of that lovely mansion they so eagerly pose by. What the young people who make music videos around the property don’t know is that, there is no melody nor harmony in the music of the owners of the mansion they so eagerly flaunt! They sold the house. Possibly for a song.

They divorced.

So as you work so hard to build your business, the cold truth is that one day you will die. Make all the money you need. You will die. Of course, not yet, at least we all pray to enjoy our sweats some more.

What will be painful is that we will do all these, only for the people we love and toil for to be those to tear them apart. Why? Because we didn’t invest in them. Because we didn’t spend time to imbue in them, the values with which we built. Because we didn’t share the faith that kept us going even in trying times. Because we didn’t teach them the fear of God that our parents were careful to instruct us in.

What a sad tale that would be?

On the contrary, I can tell you stories of people I admire to the high heavens! They don’t have much. In fact, once my heart broke hearing the story of a man I revere so much. It rained as it is now. And his home was flooded. In fact, it happened often. Why don’t they just move? I wondered in pain. As I grow, I know too well not to ask. The answer is obvious.

On day, this my knight in shining armour was reported to have carried his last daughter on the shoulders and the other at his back while he held his wife’s hand trodding through floods least they die. They fled home for their lives. They sought a shade over their heads, because the roof over their heads was under the siege of floods.

If you tell me to be a man of value because it will save my life, it will give me substance and what not, this example will convince me otherwise. Being a person of integrity doesn’t always give you a life of dignity. I am sure you can think of several examples!

But wait for it. Here is a family you’d envy. I don’t know how they do it. But I can bet [not sure how the odds business works], but I can bet my last coin, here is a family that invests in its people both in the ways of God and in the disciples of life.

I am unable to say here, the heights those children have reached, the gates they have walked through and the people of honour they have become because their parents invested in them.

You know what, take some of that money you’re saving against a rainy day. Put it in the training, hustle or we’ll being of someone who can’t repay today.

Erm, you see all the time you’re expending chasing money because you need to put food on the table nu, cut some off, spend them with your family and the people to whom you’re the world.

What’s the point in being a hero to the world when those you love most can’t say same for you?

Invest in people.

You don’t always require money to do. Sometimes, it is simply recommending them for that gig, linking them to that opportunity or simply sharing their hustle on your timeline.

But erm, before you share this to shade someone you think you deserve to be supported by, be calming down, especially if he or she is not your parent. No one owes you anything. They chose who they want to or are lead to. So, lower your expectations. But when you are lucky to become the center of someone’s hard earned investments, don’t be a fool.

Who is a fool?

A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. – Proverbs 14:1.

Recently, some of you suffered haircuts on your investments. Investing in some people will mean, a haircut because as you have just read, there are fools.

But keep on investing in people. You would be proud you did.

By Caleb Kudah