In a busy market in Ibadan, there was a woman who sold tomatoes and peppers. Unlike other traders, she never shouted or chased customers. She simply arranged her goods neatly and sat patiently. Some traders mocked her. “You will not sell anything if you don’t call people,” they said. But she only smiled. One day, a young trader asked her how she managed to survive in such a competitive market. She adjusted her basket and replied calmly. “I don’t chase customers. I focus on keeping them.” The young trader looked confused. She explained. “When someone buys from me once, I make sure they want to return. I greet them well. I don’t cheat them. I give them fair portions.” She pointed at a woman walking toward her stall. “That woman has been buying from me for five years. She brings others too.” Then she added something important. “Noise brings attention. But trust brings return.” The young trader stayed quiet. Over time, he noticed something interesting. The woman’s stall was never the loudest… But it was always busy. Many people focus on attracting customers. Few focus on retaining them. Yet in business and in life, consistency and integrity often matter more than visibility. The market woman understood that reputation is built slowly, one honest interaction at a time. And over the years, that reputation became her strongest advertisement. What is one principle you believe helps people trust you over time?
