Rita invited 5 of her childhood friends, Halimat, Alero, J-boy, Bisi and Amaka over to dinner at hers. They had been communicating via BBM for a while now and every time she put up a picture of her cooking jollof rice or the jollof rice itself they always told her how they'd love to taste her jollof rice because it looked like she must really know how to cook jollof rice. All five of them were based in Lagos but Rita was based in calabar. Fortunately she got
a job and an apartment in lagos and decided to do a little house warming cum reunion at her apartment. So, she decided to invite them to dinner at hers.
In preparation for the dinner she sent them a group message asking them what their favourite meals were and what they'd each like for her to cook for them.
Halimat : "My favourite meal is beans but I'd love for you to cook your special jollof rice for me."
Alero: "My favourite meal is banga soup but I'd love to taste your special jollof rice so cook jollof rice for me."
J-Boy: "Cake all time, everyday but I'd love for you to cook jollof rice for me."
Bisi: "Afang soup but I really want to eat your special jollof rice."
Amaka: "I looove noodles but I'll go for your special jollof rice."
Being the perfect hostess and people pleaser she was, she decided to cook all their favourites plus her special jollof rice. She started off with the jollof rice and in no time she was done because that was her specialty; she could cook jollof rice blindfolded. Then she started cooking the other dishes. It was quite a struggle for her but she kept on trying. She had to give them their favourites as well as what they wanted from her.
By the time she was done it was already 5pm and her guests would start arriving at 6pm. She set the table, freshened up and sat down waiting for her guests with a satisfactory look on her face. She was on schedule. Then she remembered, "Shoot! I'm yet to pick up J-boy's cake"
She looked at her watch, it was 5:30pm. The pastry shop was less than 10 minutes away, "If I leave now I'll make it back before 6pm"
So, she headed out and got to the shop in less than 10 minutes and was excited she still had an extra 20 minutes to make it back.
Just about 5 minutes away from her house, close to the traffic light, she met a little traffic , so she assumed it was probably just the traffic light. 5 minutes later, it still wasn't moving, so she stepped out of her car only to discover there was an accident at the junction. She looked at her watch and it was 5:52pm. Her guests be on their way so she decided to send them a message and tell them of her situation so they could give her some time, then she remembered, she had left her phone charging in her room. 40 minutes later the traffic started easing slowly and she got home by 6:45pm.
She brought the cake out of her car, walked upstairs into her apartment. Just as she was about to turn her door knob, it hit her; nobody is here!.. whew! thank God they're late. She placed the cake on the table, walked into her room, picked up her phone to call them... That's when she saw all the missed calls. 43 missed calls! She checked her group chat and saw the messages from her friends.
Halimat: "I've known you for over 10 years now and I've never had an opportunity to taste your cooking. I was really looking forward to eating your signature jollof rice. Thanks for standing me up :)"
Alero: "Babe, you for tell me say you no get time to cook your special jollof rice for me na. No wahala, God dey. Later.
J-boy: "Rita, I'm really mad at you. the only thing that can make me feel better is if you personally deliver your special jollof rice to my house within the week"
Bisi: "I can't believe you stressed me like this all because of jollof rice. Don't bother calling me. mo'n binu gan!"
Amaka: "hmmm. jollof rice odikwa risky o. There had better be a good explanation for this act of yours."
Rita felt really badly about it. How could she have messed up this very important day. Then it occurred to her, they had all been looking forward to her jollof rice, her specialty. If only she had focused on the jollof rice, she'd have finished on schedule, saved a lot of time, resources and money, and still made her friends happy.
This is what happens when an artistes tries to do every genre of music in an attempt to have mass appeal. If you want to succeed in the industry, you must focus. What kind of music do you want to do? Focus on it. Listen to your fans. What do they want from YOU? You mustn't be all your fans' favourites. Some will just like your music, for some you'll be their favourite but what have you succeeded in selling to them? Focus on it. Your true fans would want you to do the kind of music you're comfortable with, so focus on it.
On the other hand, it's difficult to combine music with another profession at a time. It's easier to succeed in music and then diversify into other professions later. You must first succeed in music and that can only happen if you focus on music.
Focus directs your talent and helps you go very far in your career. Shut out every negativity and focus on your music career today.
Today's recipe for success: FOCUS
Photo credit: Google.com
Best wishes
Jesam.
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