Ngozi started makeup in secondary school a lot of times, she had plenty of clients whenever there was a party at school or an awards night or just socials generally.
During these times, customers are usually too much and everyone is rushing. After trying to handle like four to five people for an event, she decided that it will never be me again!
So she made up my mind that she would always shortlist customers to like two or highest three just so she can do it in time and still deliver excellent work because rushing makeup isn’t my thing.
As usual, an event was coming up and several ladies had reached out to her to do their makeover and as much as she wanted to accept all because I mean she needed all the money she could get, She is not greedy and she just didn’t want her customers to be disappointed or dissatisfied because she’ll be doing rush work.
So she stuck with her decision to shortlist them and cut them down to two. One lady who had already paid ahead and another was her friend’s sister. They were seniors in the same department so she just used friendship bias to pick his sister.
She sort of liked him as well…. to be honest she actually did really like him and what better way to prove she is a lady that should be considered than to do makeup for his own blood sister.
However, it wasn’t free. She gave her at a very discounted price. she gave her for 2,500 instead of 4,500 that she normally charges.
So, she did the makeup. She loved it. After the makeup was done she was expecting her money but the girl was like she shouldn’t worry, her mom would pay when she came. Because of Ngozi’s ‘intention’ or friendship with her brother, she just decided not to be a cry baby about the money and wait for her mom to come.
Finally, her mom arrived. So, Ngozi came around, greeted her, her brother and then her mom. So, she used style to just ask her howfar? Asin Howfar with my money?! So she told her mom I was the one and what happened next left a permanent scar
Her mom looked at Ngozi and then went, “so you’re the one, this small girl? What are you using 2,500 to do?” Then she said, “my friend just take 1k and go jare.” Then she opened her hand, put the 1k inside and sent her on her way.
Ngozi didn’t know what to say, do or even how to feel. She was shocked. She didn’t understand at all. Why? Her work was amazing. She loved it. Everyone else loved it…..
She thought about her life. Very well. She was so hurt. She still thinks about it right now and is like, “wow!” Hard to believe it. If they had told her in a story she’ll never have believed it. But it happened right before her eyes to her and not anyone else.
Her work was downplayed and undervalued. It was like her value was thrown in her face… She stopped doing makeup for a while. It took a while to get over what happened.
She definitely made up her mind not to use friendship to cheat herself again. she’ll charge what she charges as the same for friends and foes. She won’t try to reduce just because She wants to please people who probably don’t even care or know she is seeking to please them.
After a long time of dwelling on it and making my decision, she decided to pick herself back up and keep going. In this life, not everyone will value you or your work and that’s okay. Ngozi learnt more about makeup, she keeps improving herself and serving her customers the best.