There are moments in life when no matter how strong you think you are, life will hit you so hard that giving up feels like the only option. Your chest becomes heavy, your heart can’t hold the pain, and your mind begins to question everything. If you’ve ever tried to run a business in Nigeria, especially with little or no support, then you may understand what I’m talking about. This is not just a story it’s a real-life experience that broke me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I never saw coming.
After I graduated, things were really hard. I hadn’t been invited to Hive then a platform I later found helpful but at that time, I was jobless, broke, and just looking for a way to survive. That was when the idea to start a perfume business came to my mind. I had always loved perfumes, and I noticed how students in school environments love to smell good. I figured if I could sell to them, I would do well. It felt like the perfect idea.
I shared the plan with my family, and they supported me as much as they could. I added what little I had, but it still wasn’t enough. So I took a bold step and applied for an online loan. My plan was simple: buy the perfumes, start selling immediately, and repay the loan before the due date. I wasn’t afraid I was hopeful.
I had been talking with a vendor in Lagos. She sounded nice, professional, and gave me the impression that she knew her business well. We spoke many times, and I trusted her. She promised to get all the perfumes I needed and send them to me as soon as I sent the money. Everything seemed so perfect. I imagined myself already selling and making profits. I had pictured the business in my head. I was excited.
Then I sent her the money ₦300,000.
She confirmed receipt, and I waited patiently. I expected to get my goods in a few days, but nothing came. I called her, she didn’t answer. I messaged her, no reply. Before I knew what was happening, she had blocked me on all social media platforms. Just like that, she disappeared.
At first, I didn’t believe it. I kept trying to reach her, hoping it was a mistake. But as days passed, the reality hit me hard I had been scammed. I lost ₦300,000 just like that. Money that wasn’t even fully mine. Part of it was loan, and the other part came from people who believed in me.
I cried. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that way before. I cried out my life. Things were already tough, and this just made everything worse. I was in debt, I had disappointed my family, and I had nothing to show for it. All the excitement, the business plans, the hope it all went down the drain.
I gave up. I didn’t want to hear anything about perfume again. Even the smell of it reminded me of pain. I avoided anything that had to do with business for a long time. I was too broken to try again. I don’t blame myself for trying. My intentions were good. I wanted to do something for myself. But I also learned
Even in the middle of all that failure and heartbreak, one thing kept me going which is hope. I told myself, “This cannot be the end of my story.” I knew that if I stopped trying, then the scammer had won twice, first my money, then my life. I couldn’t let that happen. The desire to make something out of my life was stronger than the voice telling me to quit. That desire became my fuel.
Also, the love and support from a few close people gave me the courage to start again, even if it meant starting from zero. I learned to take things slow, to ask more questions, and to trust my instincts. If I had given up at that point, life today would have been full of regret. I wouldn’t be here, sharing my story with you. I would still be sitting in silence, blaming the world for something I could have overcome.
Instead, I’ve learned that failure doesn’t mean the end. Sometimes, it just means you’re being redirected to something better. I may not have all I want yet, but I’m standing today because I refused to let failure define me.
This is my response to this week's episode of #smp-w15 prompt
