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Ali Baba and the forty thieves 6/9/2010 5:54:27 PM
I caught my first supposed break into employment in 1992 as a sales rep selling textured painting by knocking on doors of people that owned houses that were more than eighty years old. Each lead closed by a sales rep earned them ten pounds. I caught my first supposed break into employment in 1992 as a sales rep selling textured painting by knocking on doors of people that owned houses that were more than eighty years old. Each lead closed by a sales rep earned them ten pounds. The job was tortuous especially during the winter as we entered into December and we tended to rely upon the solidarity in the friendship of our partners on ground to keep our enthusiasm in full flow. We worked the isolated rural neighborhoods in pairs, two down each side of the street approaching each house in succession allowing us the opportunity to draw on each other for support in making each sale. I hadn’t been in the company for long before I realized the back stabbing nature of the job. There were very few people one could trust and it was wise to choose your friends with caution. I found success in winning leads by working with two other new employees who joined in the same week as I did. In alternative days I had been paired with a young nineteen year old Chinese girl named Annie and an Ethiopian man in his early twenties called Nahim. I found them the only two in the group I could trust as we walked the cold streets of north London heading out to Edgware. Annie didn’t seem to need the money and from what I could gather she did the job out of defiance to what her parents expected of her.
Nahim, on the other hand could have done with every penny he got. He needed the money to bring over his sister from Ethiopia, and I was constantly being reminded every time we worked together of what a beautiful bride she would make for any man. I think because of the similarity in our ages we got on well without competition as having decided that we both needed the money we weren’t going to pass on any help that we could get. With my two new friends I was able to support my sales pitch each time I stood before the owner of a house, as we always managed to convince them by our innocent charm and desire to succeed. My days went by easily and I enjoyed the quietness of the deserted streets at night learning more and more of the ever interesting lives that we led. To add character to our day there were times when we would all meet up for a short break and pinch milk that had been delivered to some of our customers. Taking these bottles of milk was a dangerous affair but it was worthwhile after walking the cold streets for two hours especially when we faced treacherous weather. In a way these little escapades helped strengthen our bond and trust for each other and enhanced our chances at whatever career progression was available.
Looking back to those days now makes me wonder how we managed to survive. Our manager, Ali and his sidekick or assistant manager Roberto were as crooked as they could get in the business. They trained us to make the sales but never turned up on site to show us a demonstration. They talked of worldly experiences, times when they had started out as we did with nothing and risen within the ranks because of their ambition and determination. I never trusted either of them but believed that one day I would get the opportunity to seek employment with the degree I had. However as life would have it before my wish would be granted in the future it seemed as though I would first have to pass another remarkable spiritual encounter.
One day I had returned into the office from site and was immediately rushed into Ali’s office. I was told to sit down and wait while Ali exited whatever computer program he worked in. Meanwhile Roberto sat perched on his desk looking at me in a peculiar manner. After making me wait in anticipation for what was to come hoping that I shall be intimidated by my surroundings Ali turned and faced me from behind his desk and asked me if I trusted Nahim.
‘No one would call you a grass if you tell the truth.’ Roberto added as if I hadn’t heard the question. They both eyeballed me as if I was in an interrogation chamber and I felt the walls close in upon me.
‘We believe that Nahim is falsifying some of the leads to make up for his sales figures and we wanted to know if he had mentioned this to you.’ Ali continued.
‘It would be in your interest to tell us because he would score more than most of you and be given the money for the leads when we all know he is not very good at this job.’ He said.
‘You can come clean and tell us everything, this way we know that you are not part of the scam.’ Roberto added.
I listened to them and knew I had a difficult decision on my hands. I knew that in Nahim’s desperation it wasn’t inconceivable that what they were saying was true. However it would have been speculation on my part to say he was cheating on his leads. He had mentioned this to me once or twice but I hadn’t seen him sign any of the leads in place of his customer’s signature. To say he had done this now was to give away my friend to these hawks. However there was my own integrity to consider.
‘Have you asked Nahim directly?’ I asked to buy some time.
‘No we wanted to ask you first because you usually work with him and then we would be able to decide whether or not he was lying to us when we asked him.’ Ali said.
‘Isn’t that unfair of you guys, maybe you should first speak to Nahim and get his answer. Besides it is not my place to keep an eye on the other employees. I am not their leader or manager so I do not control what they do in the field. I think it would be unfair of you to make your decision before speaking to Nahim.’ I responded feeling the blood rise in me. I decided not to tell on Nahim because even though he may have cheated, these two were worse than him for putting me in this situation where I had to sell my friend to further my own position. I chose to stay neutral and keep my silence allowing them to seek the answers themselves even though I knew it won’t do any good for my own position within the company.
In the end to Nahim’s credibility he confessed to having cheated on his leads and I was freed from having to sell him to the managers. In the spiritual world identity is important as it defines who you are and what stance you would take in any situation in life. In my life there have been many different circumstances that I have had to decide where I belong or which side to choose, what I have found on every occasion is that choosing the side of the Lord has always granted me success in the outcome. In the spiritual world this success does not necessarily have to be positive in man’s view, it can be a negative outcome of events. However what is of importance either way is that in any event in life when given the choice we should choose to follow the Lord.
