Everyone has a unique skill they are really good at. As I have grown as a business person I have learnt to focus on getting the right people for particular jobs and often avoid crossing roles. it saves on so much time. It is not that I do not appreciate multi skilled people, my regular staff are all multi skilled team members that can handle several roles in our system. However there is always a time you need an advanced level of expertise to do a specific job fast and efficiently and this is where I often get a special team of people. For a couple of years I paid so much for little loses that came up as a result of inefficiencies in our system and production. Once we got where our problem was, we had experts come in and fix the problem. What would have taken my regular staff a half a year to sort out was done in less than three weeks. They were not the regular guys you would hire. since then 'The Team' as I call them has been growing. ...
Having let her sisters refresh
before they meet at her house for dinner, Elan goes to the bar area of the
hotel and waits for Dela. It’s been a while since they met each other and they
are glad to have some time to chat. The two, having had a close working
relationship, had established a routine of briefing each other of their
different perspectives on the previous day’s happenings, and business
environment. Dela always had the 411 from what their major competitors were
dong thanks to her chairing the PA Association. They both have missed their
morning talks.
While Dela often briefed Al he
had a different routine and source of information - his boys at the club. Often
by the time he mentioned anything to Dela it was more because he needed a
sounding board he could trust.
They catch up for a while before
they move on to discuss business. Dela passes on Elan’s tablet to her while the
waiter serves their drinks.
Dela, ‘James installed some
software said he will explain to you when you meet’
Elan, ‘Ok, interesting.’ However
she is more concerned about why Dela really needed to see her so urgently, this
was not urgent. She could have picked it on Monday. Dela liked to spend her
Saturdays with her sons – it was all the time they actually had together to
discuss their business especially if she was not attending one wedding or the
other.
‘You sounded anxious when you
called and you really look worried right now. What’s wrong?’
Dela, ‘Well I could be worrying
for nothing but I thought I’d just bring it to your attention. Yesterday there
were some people hovering around the house. I believe I have seen one of them
around this hotel as well.’
Elan, ‘What do you mean hovering?’
Dela, ‘I first saw him the day I
came to check on your sisters when they arrived. He was at the parking lot.
Then I saw him yesterday in a vehicle that had been parked beside the street at
your house. It was the same van I think, black or dark blue - it was rather was
dark both times’
Elan, ‘Is this yesterday when you
were coming for the party or leaving?’
Dela, ‘When we were coming. What
got me worried is the vehicle was parked in the dark – it was like they were
watching the compound.’
Elan, ‘They?’
Dela, ‘There were three may be
four people. It may be nothing but I wanted to let you know so we can decide
whether or not to talk to security.’
Elan, ‘Hmmm! So you have not told
James yet - it could be nothing but it could also be someone with ill intent.’
She sighs and summons her head of security on phone. ‘James? I am at Lekki
Suites and Apartment hotel. Please come over.'
James, ‘On my way Mum. Give me 20
minutes?’
Elan, ‘Sure’ James was a snappy
guy, kind of like her. Specific, precise to the point. Often their phone
conversations were o more than 10 words though hours with Dela. ‘He should be
here in about 20 minutes. Did you see the person when you were coming now?’
Dela, ‘No. I looked through the
vehicles in the parking lot but did not see anything. Does the hotel have
another parking?’
Elan, ‘No, so most likely they
are not specifically trailing me. Anyway instead of guessing let’s get James to
get some facts then we can move on from there.’ They continue talking about Dela’s
sons and their businesses and how they are doing hardly noticing the time pass
by.
James finally comes, a tall,
slender but well-built guy in glasses. He is dressed in a sweater despite the
hot Lagos weather as he spends a lot of time in a cold server room. He looks
pleased to meet Elan as it is well over a month since they last spoke and
longer since he saw her – at least face to face. He has a respectful aura
around them though one can obviously see he is fond of both ladies. He carries
a laptop bag, wears little but expensive technical accessories; a smart watch,
camera ring, and a bracelet with enough data for him to work from anywhere and
hack most business, banking and security systems. But that is not how he uses
his intelligence now, though there was a time the idea of hacking a bank just
got his adrenaline rushing – before Elan both the business and the woman.
Elan, ‘Hi James nice to see you!
How have you been?’
James, ‘Very well Ma. He sits
down as they joke about his warm clothes and ask him if he wants a drink which
he gladly accepts.’
Elan, ‘Let’s grab something to
eat as well. I am already hungry and James I am sure you have not eaten a thing
since morning. Bachelor, I know how you are – once you get in that server room
you are lost in your own world. How are the guys?’
James, ‘They are great. They have
been a great addition to the Elan technicians as they are better qualified. I
have been able to develop a number of new software, caught up on repairs and services
with them. We will be back on schedule by the end of the week.’
Elan, ‘Sounds good. That means no
more monitoring for pilferages and therefore more productive time as all that
is automated and we can focus on more intelligent and innovative work. You put
me in the loop?’
James, ‘Yes, Ma and I also added
an app on you tablet.’
Dela’s phone rings and she steps
aside to speak to her son before coming back to excuse herself. Having conveyed
her message having much to add to what will happen moving forward she leaves;
her elder son has just come back from a long business trip and he can’t reach his
brother.
Elan, ‘Desmond is back? Hope he
was successful. Do say hi and remind him of our meeting Friday.’
Dela, ‘I sure will but you really
don’t have to. With the babies, you have a lot on your plate -’
Elan jokingly justifies her mentoring.
‘Oh they don’t incapacitate me! And he may be the one who passes on what I
teach him to my children so there is no loss. But let him know the venue is my
house not the office’
Dela, ‘Oh, ok will let him know.
Thank you very much ma’ Dela hugs both Elan and James, picks her bag, and
leaves.’
SEE YOU TOMORROW
