Effective and proficient business practice requires that products and services should be made to meet the needs of targeted customers. This entails that production and marketing activities have to be aimed at providing solutions that should enhance the productivity and profitability of the customer. Both the producer and the customer should find the solution beneficial to their businesses. It should be as a win-win arrangement. Indeed, the producer should be consistent in their business strategy to seek to be fair to all, this is the win-win strategy.,
Sadly, in the real world, some businesses seek to take advantage of the weaknesses of the other party, whether customers or even producers, to cheat and rip them off. They practise a win-lose strategy. This is an unethical and unhelpful business practice and does not augur well for a continuing business relationship.
The practice of a win-lose solution, a strategy which is here described as a negative customisation, is not limited to business but it is practised in international, national, public and private relationships and interactions. Whenever we take advantage of another person and discriminate against them and deny them justice, equity and fair play, we are practising negative customisation.
In the national politics of a developing country, before the current administration, they had the a Moslem president administration, interested observers pointed at the shortcomings of his administration which included failure to observe the federal character requirement in his distribution of national benefits and in making appointments. He ignored all the corrections and unfavourable press and continued in his efforts to Islamise the nation. Probably, his worst offence was closing his eyes to the influx into the country of bandits, Boko Haram, and Moslem invaders from the Sahel region whose main objectives were to kill the nationals, especially Christians, and occupy their territories.
It is reported that the current presidency and the administration who have taken over the country through dubious activities clearly do not have any credentials to justify foisting themselves on the nation. What is sad and is in consonance with the subject of this writeup of negative customisation is that a lot of people, including national Christian leaders, who had condemned the failings of the past presidency, have kept mum, buried their heads in the sand, and refused to speak up. Christians are still being slaughtered in some states. Not even a squeak of protest is heard from the leaders to protect our Christian brothers and sisters. Is this duplicity, double standards, or double faced dealing?
The premise of this writeup is not actually to criticise our Christian leaders but to warn all of us who are being led not only to avoid copying them but also to be careful that at our own level, we do not practise the same. For example, are our public lifestyle and comportment the same as what we do in the privacy of our homes, outside the glare of the public and our favourite fellowship or church group? Are we also guilty of negative customisation?
The Lord Jesus warned : “21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” Matthew 7: 21- 23.
The Lord also stated ; “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”, John 10:27-28” . The Lord is our standard and Master. We have no excuse to disappoint Him by copying any other human being. We read: “ Wherefore seeing that we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrew 12: 1-2.
Concluding remarks
In many countries, including ours, Christians have a bad press. Our testimonies and witness are blunted by excesses of our leaders, rightly or wrongly. However, we have a responsibility to live for the Lord consistently and not engage in negative customisation “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” Titus 2: 11-15.
Thank you.