A few days ago, I was speaking with a German friend who visited Nigeria recently. He said something that stuck with me.
“The hotel was nice,” he said. “Staff were polite, the food was decent — but the shower knob was broken, one of the lights didn’t work, and the AC remote had no batteries. It felt like no one cared enough to check the small things.”
That’s when it hit me. We’ve normalized mediocrity so deeply in Nigeria that we don’t even see it anymore. We expect people to “manage.” And when someone demands better, we act like they’re being difficult.
Everywhere you turn, you can feel it — in restaurants, offices, delivery services, even in professional spaces. You call a business line, nobody picks. You send a message, no response. You pay for a service, and the person doesn’t follow up. If they finally deliver, it’s late, rushed, or missing details.
And when you complain, they tell you, “At least we delivered now!”
At least.
That phrase captures the heart of why we struggle with excellence. Too many people are satisfied with doing the bare minimum — showing up late, cutting corners, giving half-effort — and then expecting to be thanked for it.
But here’s the truth: excellence is not luxury. It’s not Western. It’s not “doing too much.” It’s the foundation of sustainable business.
You can’t build trust, growth, or reputation if people can’t rely on your consistency. Whether you’re a tailor, tech founder, consultant, or restaurant owner, the game hasn’t changed — details matter.
Excellence isn’t about marble floors or fancy fonts on your business card. It’s about doing what you said you would do — on time, professionally, and with care. It’s picking your calls, following up with clients, packaging properly, communicating clearly, and taking feedback seriously.
One of the most frustrating parts of our business culture is that we often make the customer feel guilty for expecting value. If you question delays, you’re “too demanding.” If you ask for updates, you’re “disturbing.” If you point out mistakes, you’re “never satisfied.”
But that mindset is killing opportunity.
Because the truth is, the world doesn’t reward effort — it rewards excellence. And right now, in a global market where Nigerians are competing with people in Dubai, Germany, Kenya, and India, we can’t afford to be casual about value.
As entrepreneurs, we need a mindset shift. Excellence is not about perfection — it’s about attention. It’s about caring enough to notice what others ignore.
Check the small things. Does your product look well-finished? Are your emails or invoices professional? Do you deliver when you said you would? Do you follow up after delivery to ask for feedback?
These are not “extra.” They are the basics of a business that wants to grow beyond survival.
And it’s not just about what we give — it’s also about what we accept.
If we keep tolerating poor service as customers, we keep reinforcing it as a culture. Stop letting people make you feel guilty for demanding quality. Whether it’s your mechanic, your bank, your tailor, or your government — demand better.
Because until we start valuing value, nothing will change.
Final Word
Excellence is not about showing off; it’s about showing up — with care, with attention, with pride in your work.
My German friend didn’t care about the fancy lobby or the smiling staff. What bothered him were the little details that no one else noticed. That’s what separates good from great — the discipline to care about the small things.
So the next time you serve a customer, deliver a project, or even post your product online — ask yourself: “If this went to Germany, would it still hold up?”
If the answer is no, then there’s still work to do.
