Examining Principal Agent Relationships

I often like to believe that my responses to most issues, challenges and tasks are temperate and measured. Well, I guess that would apply for the majority of cases, but of course like everyone else I have my turns. But that is not a topic of discussion today – thank God.

I had an experience at the bank last week which allowed me to enjoy (as a principal) the benefits of a principal-agent relationship, but also caused me to more closely examine some of my other principal-agent relationships and to ask how ‘temperate’ and ‘measured’ my responses to these relationships are – particularly in those relationships where I am not the principal. Get it? Well, try this.

So, I am at the bank. They had hand delivered one of my bank cards, but, I guess for security reasons, they had asked that I physically come into the bank to collect my pin number. I had considered how inefficient that whole process seemed, but… I thought to comply and not have a turn.

At the Bank (international bank, mind)
Me: I am here to collect my PIN Number for my bank card
Bank staff: Miss Sanusi? I am sorry but you will have to come back. The lady who can give you that information has just stepped out.
Me: When will she be back?
Bank staff: Maybe around 2 or 3

Note – it was 8.45am or thereabouts.

The mouth-off begins. Measured and temperate. But. With full force authority of a not too happy principal.

(i) Are you telling me she is the only person in the bank that can give me the information I need?
(ii) You asked me to come into the bank to collect my PIN and now when I am here you expect me return later – reneging from responsibilities that I may have between 8-5pm – only to risk this lady not being here? You cannot be serious. I don’t have time to waste. I want my PIN number and I want it now
(iii) What? You are now asking me to call your bank later and check if the lady is back? What sort of customer service is this? The least I expect of you is to apologise to me and then ensure that your colleague calls me when she returns to give me my PIN number
(iv) Can I see your manager?
(v) The manager is not here? Please can you inform me of the actual hours when people do business in this bank so that I can ensure that I come into your bank during those hours?
(vi) All I have heard from you today is a chronicle of what cannot be done. I am your customer. My money is in your custody. I want to access my money which is in your custody and I am not leaving here until I have access to my money which is in your custody.

Mouth-off, mouth-off and mouth-off I did.

A few hours later, I am thinking of my other principal-agent relationships. For example:
(i) God and me
(ii) My mother and me
(iii) My pastor and me
(iv) My driver and me

So, I am thinking. How does God feel and respond when I fall short of His expectations? Does He mouth-off about me to Jesus and The Holy Spirit? “Lord, have mercy,” I thought. For I know I give Him more opportunities than I’d like to admit for any such mouth-offs.

But… He is God and not human. Thank God again. So, He does not mouth-off. Phew. I can exhale.

And then my mother? My pastor? Well, I guess they may rant and rave, but at the end of the day they are usually motivated by love. So when I fall short of their expectations, they may mouth-off, but it is in love.

So why did I not mouth-off in love to my bank staff? Very simple. My relationship with my bank is transactional. I pay to use their services. They impose bank charges and the likes on my transactions, don’t they? Quid pro quo.

God? Ever loving, ever faithful. He allowed the one and all transactional act two thousand odd years ago. Jesus paid in full for my sins and misdemeanors. Thereon, our relationship is transformational. He, The Principal; Ruka, the Agent.

Phew.

Opportunities

There’s just something about this city called Lagos. I liken Lagos to New York, and although I have never been to Delhi, everything I have seen on television or heard recalled from the testimony of those I know who visit regularly, tells me that Lagos might very well want to twin with Delhi. Absolute chaos and absolutely electric exuberance all in the same breath.

I have been here 10 odd days now but I came prepared. Expecting little and expecting much at the same time. Expecting little in terms of infrastructural ease and expecting much, much more in terms of all kinds of business and personal opportunities. That is the spirit and the manner of Lagos.

In amongst the chaos, the potholes, the persistent and consistent power cuts, the erratic water supply and the absolutely implausible heavy traffic, every car number plate in Lagos comes with the slogan “Lagos State – the Centre of Excellence.” Unbelievable or what?

But then, on the other side of the coin, you have correspondingly mind boggling business opportunities and business success stories. The first African Forbes listed billionaire is a Nigerian. Then take a look at our sea ports - full of activity to the edge. The airports? Come and watch the jet queues for take off at peak times at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Please, come and watch. BA and many other European carriers fly out of Lagos twice a day, not counting the flights from Abuja. There’s something about Lagos.

But jokes aside, I think the Center of Excellence slogan is a prophecy. A prophecy that celebrates the spirit and the tenacity of Lagosians who, despite all odds, day in and day out survive, prevail, and triumph over and over again in their every days lives. “It’s my house, and I live here,” I hear Lagosians saying. I hear them saying “I choose to see the opportunities, I choose to celebrate our challenges even as I seek to live prosperously within the limits I find myself surrounded by.” There’s got to be something Biblical in that kind of spirit.

Watch this. Eko on ni baje is the political slogan of the new Governor of Lagos State. For my non-Yoruba brothers and sisters that translates into something like ‘Lagos will not go to ruins’ or ‘Lagos will not ruin.’ I say a huge amen to that. Mega city status that Lagos has now, the challenges for making this city work in terms of public services are humongous. But rather than shy away from these challenges the new administration in Lagos is taking the bull by the horn. Check them out on the official website – yes, there is one.

I say a huge big ups to the social, economic and political aspiration of every Lagosian. What are we aspiring to do, what have we achieved? I hear some ask. Go to London, go to Accra, go to Cape Town and see what is being achieved in the midst of order. Come to Lagos and watch the exuberance of many, the many committed to pursue happiness, wealth and opportunities in the midst of much, much less order.

Spring 08

Sometime in October, I wrote about The Coming Spring. I guess in the depth of Autumn and the beginnings of Winter, I was kind of looking forward to Spring. Bouncing Spring. Hope-filled Spring. Colourful Spring.

Well, somehow prophetically, a new and good beginning comes this Spring. Who says Jehovah does not see, hear, or knows?

And in exuberant expectation, I commissioned a painting under the theme of New Beginnings. The artist, Nana Anoff, presented me with this delightful hope filled artwork.

Even the frame Nana used to hold the piece, a replica French window, is symbolic of open doors. The artwork speaks volumes to my spirit every time I look at it: 8 Golden Eggs - eight, the number for new beginnings -even in 2008. Eggs - representing opportunities. Green grass - representing fertility. Baobab tree in the background - representing stability. Skyscrapers - the sky is the limit

This spiring, I am embracing new and good beginnings, new opportunities, fertility, stability and reaching forth to what's before me in Christ Jesus.