In a busy market in Kano, there was a provision store known for one unusual thing. No matter how slow business was, the owner never closed early. Never. Even on quiet days when customers barely appeared. His assistants often complained. "Oga, nobody is coming." "Let's close." But he always refused. One evening, just before closing time, a woman rushed into the shop. She needed baby food urgently for her sick child. Most nearby stores had already shut their doors. Only his remained open. The woman bought what she needed and left grateful. The assistants thought little of it. But the owner turned to them and said: "That is why we stay open." Years later, one of those assistants started his own business. He eventually understood the lesson. People don't remember businesses only for their products. They remember them for their reliability. For being available when needed. For keeping promises. For showing up. Success often comes from doing small things consistently well. Not because every effort produces immediate results. But because trust accumulates over time. The shop owner wasn't staying open for the customers he could see. He was staying open for the customers who might need him. That mindset changed everything. In life, many opportunities arrive disguised as ordinary responsibilities. The people who handle those responsibilities faithfully are often the ones who earn lasting trust. And trust is one of the most valuable assets anyone can build. Looking back, when has someone's reliability made a significant difference in your life?
