The Dirty Customer
I moved to Samburu county when devolution was taking shape.
The county had no tarmac road.
I had the opportunity to move around Samburu county every day.
I have been in Maralal, Partuk, El-Barta, Lekuru, Baragoi, Archers Post, South Horr, Wamba, Lodosoit, Kisima, Barsaloi, Sirata, Poro, Suguta MarMar, Ngano, Longewan, Olmorok, among other places.
I have been in Yare Camel Derby.
I have been in Samburu Manyattas.
I have taken tea with a lot of sugar.
But, though Samburu county is a good place for doing business the local people and bathing are divergent.
The local people have money to spend but when dealing with them your nostrils must suffer.
The water problem in the county contributes to people being dirty.
As we did business in that county some people from ‘Kenya’ avoided local people who were smelling like sewer line.
When you are in Samburu county you do not count yourself among the Kenyans.
The place is so remote such that when people are travelling to Nyahururu, Meru and other parts, they say ‘I am going to Kenya or I am coming from Kenya.’
Back to business tip.
Because of the local people smelling like garbage during market days, a friend of mine used to tell me;
1. The smelly customer is the one who feeds us and our families.
2. The smelly customer is the one who pays our rent.
3. The smelly customer is the one who buys us suits.
4. The smelly customer is the one who makes us accumulate wealth.
Those words are a big lesson in business.
Never demean or shy away from a client because of dirt.
Never chase away dirty customers from your business.
Never avoid talking with customers who look or are illiterate.
A customer does not bring dirt in your business.
He or she brings money.
I have been in Samburu Manyattas.
I have taken tea with a lot of sugar.
But, though Samburu county is a good place for doing business the local people and bathing are divergent.
The local people have money to spend but when dealing with them your nostrils must suffer.
The water problem in the county contributes to people being dirty.
As we did business in that county some people from ‘Kenya’ avoided local people who were smelling like sewer line.
When you are in Samburu county you do not count yourself among the Kenyans.
The place is so remote such that when people are travelling to Nyahururu, Meru and other parts, they say ‘I am going to Kenya or I am coming from Kenya.’
Back to business tip.
Because of the local people smelling like garbage during market days, a friend of mine used to tell me;
1. The smelly customer is the one who feeds us and our families.
2. The smelly customer is the one who pays our rent.
3. The smelly customer is the one who buys us suits.
4. The smelly customer is the one who makes us accumulate wealth.
Those words are a big lesson in business.
Never demean or shy away from a client because of dirt.
Never chase away dirty customers from your business.
Never avoid talking with customers who look or are illiterate.
A customer does not bring dirt in your business.
He or she brings money.
