With the benefit of hindsight, if I knew what I know now, I figure that there were things I said no to in the past that could have been a yes. Likewise, there were times I accepted what I should have rejected if only I had the privilege of a second thought. Tarry before you judge me. This is so that you can have an open mind to process my message.
In an internet driven business world, where everything travels at the speed of light, one of the potent weapons employed by fraudsters is creating an artificial emergency situation that leaves you no room to think through a process before you act. If you act too fast, you become a victim of speed. Cyber Security experts will tell you that the human firewall is the thickest firewall if only you tarry before you press the green button.
I used to be a spontaneous responder but I have learnt some hard lessons that taught me that some things that are made to look like emergency situations are tricks employed by manipulators to get you to act before you have the opportunity to think through to make an informed decision. Any question that demands your answer without a working sheet is like a multiple choice test that gives no room for discretion.
Some occasions leave you with no room to think twice, those are real emergencies. Your decision at that moment could be right or wrong but it will be obvious that your choices are limited. However, it is dangerous to leave all critical decisions to the eleventh hour when you are left with no choice but to choose between yes and yes or no and no. Great leaders envisage problems from afar and start profering solutions before they become emergencies.
Every human being is a social animal, either giving or receiving but usually for a consideration, even if only for self-fulfillment. Be it in business, office environment, marriage, family unit or social circle, your bargaining power gets impaired whenever you are under pressure. Make no mistake about it, some people intentionally force conversations to the last minute to anchor you to do their bidding. Ability to Identify such moments is a skill worth learning.
Brilliant people, sometimes, hold the shorter end of the stick and become their own victims because they are eager to be heard. They speak quicker than they listen and add little to what they already know. Be slow to speak, not because you are less intelligent but because it allows you to hear yourself before you speak and enhances the quality of your judgement.
Resist the pressure of instant judgement when a lot is at stake. Ask for more time before you commit yourself when you are not sure to preserve your integrity. Having enough time to think through helps you, not only to weigh the impact of your decision on yourself, but also on all related parties. Moral of the story is not to leave a critical matter unattended until it becomes an emergency.
Think about it…; If possible, think again. Your judgement may be different, or even better.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr.
27 July 2026
