The 50 Million Naira Test

A while back, during a conversation about books and reading, I mentioned that I had just finished a 400-page novel in two days. It felt really good because I had missed reading. For a while then, I had been feeling gloomy and couldn't bring myself to pick up a book. So finally getting back into it felt like a small personal win.

Chidi looked at me in shock and said, "You read 400 pages in two days? I never see wetin go make me read that kind thing sha." He went on about how he didn't like reading and would rather learn through short videos and other forms of content. As the conversation continued, I said, "It's not that you don't like reading. You're just not motivated enough to do it. Maybe you're being lazy, but these reasons you're giving sound more like excuses."

Much later, as I reflected on that conversation, I remembered something my friend, Valentine, always says whenever I complain about a task or project. The moment I say, "My guy, abeg I no fit. This work too much," he immediately asks, "If them tell you say after this project them go give you 50 million naira, you go still say you no fit run am?" That question has always stopped me in my tracks.

It forces me to think beyond how difficult the task feels and ask myself what I stand to gain. How will this stretch me? What will I become if I see it through? More often than not, I realize that the problem isn't always the work itself. Sometimes, I just haven't found a good enough reason to do it.

I think that may be true for many of us. We naturally avoid difficult things and gravitate towards what feels easy. But the things that shape us rarely come easy. Many times, when we say we can't do something, it isn't because we truly can't. We either don't see enough value in it or we simply don't care enough to make the effort.

Maybe that's why it helps to question our excuses every now and then. Not every "I can't" is a lack of ability. Sometimes, it's simply a lack of motivation, perspective, or willingness to do what growth demands.