In a busy part of Lagos, there was an okada rider named Emeka who had one unusual habit. He never honked. Not once. Even in heavy traffic. Even when other riders were impatiently pressing their horns. At first, passengers found it strange. “How do you survive like this?” they would ask. He would simply smile and keep riding. One afternoon, a young passenger asked him why he avoided honking in such a noisy city. Emeka slowed down and replied. “Because I want to pay attention, not add more noise.” The passenger laughed. But Emeka continued. “Most accidents happen when people are reacting to noise, not observing carefully. I choose to see clearly instead of reacting loudly.” That statement stayed with the passenger. Over time, people began to notice something else about Emeka. He rarely got into near-misses. He was calm. Patient. Focused. While others rushed and reacted, he observed and anticipated. His quiet approach became his strength. Years later, Emeka had built a small transport fleet, training other riders under him. His rule remained simple: “Don’t just react to the road. Understand it.” Many people believe success requires speed and noise. But sometimes, clarity and calmness achieve more than urgency. The loudest person in the room is not always the most aware. And the fastest person is not always the most careful. Emeka proved that silence can be a strategy. Not everything requires a reaction. Some things require awareness. What is one situation where staying calm has helped you make a better decision than reacting quickly?
