For those of us who live in the West; Most wealthy people here do not flaunt wealth. Mark came to Lagos and he is comfortable doing ordinary things because earned money is different from stolen money, money from slave labor and oppression.
Are you surprised at the blandness of his wardrobe? Don’t be. Mark attended Philips Exeter in New Hampshire; one of the best college preps in America. They teach these things early in prep schools; character, learning and selflessness. In these schools, blandness is normal; formal dress is an Oxford shirt over plain khakis and penny loafers. Informally, you wear polos and boat shoes. The emphasis is not on what you wear or who your father is but on rigorous academic curricula, athletics and etiquette. America separates their thinkers and creatives early and nurture them. More on this someday.
Real money is not loud. When money is earned, people work not because they need money but because they derive joy in doing what they love and contributing to the body of knowledge and to humanity. They know relaxation is a fluke if the contrast of challenging work is absent. They don’t waste their lives in hollow pursuits of pleasure, material acquisition and conspicuous consumption.
How many rich people in Nigeria have earned their money by contributing to humanity? I am not surprised at all. Mark is comfortable in his own skin and has nothing to fear when jogging on Lekki Ikoyi bridge or navigating puddle ridden curbs in Yaba without the ridiculous immensity of sirens and armed escorts. If you check out their charitable giving you will be in awe. It is in their character; they don’t oppress. They build. They invest in people not things. They make dreams come true not shatter them. Real money have a strong sense of privilege and the responsibilities that comes with it. Take some useful lessons and use money, be humane and put yourself to good use, don’t allow money to use you.