In 2015, I went to learn shoemaking.
I had a teacher and several younger apprentices. I called them my “smaller ogas.” 😂
From day one, I told my teacher:
“Don’t look at me like one big man. I came here to learn work. You are my Oga. Teach me.”
Part of my training was following him to Mushin leather market to buy leather, soles and other materials.
One day, while moving from shop to shop, we entered a store selling industrial shoe-sewing machines.
My Oga looked at one of the machines and quickly walked away.
I asked him, “Oga, how much is that machine?”
He replied:
“Ah! Those machines are for big people. I can never afford that kind of machine.”
I said, “Okay.”
But I took note of the shop.
Two days later, I returned to that same market.
I bought the machine.
Not for myself.
For my Oga.
When it was delivered to him, the prayers that man and his mother prayed for me that evening—I will never forget them.
I went there to learn from him, but I also had the opportunity to add something to his life.
That experience taught me something:
Never become too big to learn from people, and when God gives you the capacity, never become too big to lift the people who helped you grow.
Your teacher today may not have everything you have.
That does not make you greater than your teacher.
Stay humble enough to learn.
Become successful enough to give.
And never forget the people who added something to your journey. ❤️🙏🏾