![1001058433.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRPfR4Va4b9yYbrJKfrLZR7xu2hTjobtpr6Lv61ou6dCh/1001058433.jpg)^{The Gown Sample sewed but not used - Scr Samsung A05}

*Don't be too sure of plan “A” if the proposal is not within your control. Anything you do that involves others, you must have other plans in case it fails.*

On the 9th of June, my boss was looking for a good tailor to sew academic gowns for the National Association of Biblical Studies (NABIS) that was coming up in almost a month's time. We checked places but couldn't find one. I then suggested a man who sews religious gowns and all of that. He showed us his works and promised to deliver what he wanted in about 3 weeks. My boss was satisfied, not just by the good jobs we saw but the assurance and confidence. The man needed 560k for 8 gowns with accessories.

After the agreement, 300k was transferred from my boss through me to him. I was saddled with the responsibility of following up and seeing the job done in about the weeks and days before the NABIS Conference. The calls went smoothly, and materials were bought. A very beautiful one the tailor got for us. I really appreciated and admired his high taste in the fabric.

Along the line, there was a change in the design after he sewed one. My boss asked for a color that would go well with the emerald green we chose. A design to make it a pure academic gown was needed. It was from there that the tailor was unprofessional in his dealings with us. He felt nothing would have been changed. We told him “that's why we asked for a sample before you continued.” The man reluctantly accepted. We were pleased to do other preparations as we were hosting the national body of NABIS in Akwa Ibom State University.

![1001063184.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWZ1SVZyvWmeEn66g6iEeeGHD15KT9TM8z6g9VhMSurYZ/1001063184.jpg)|![1001060768.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdYtXddJEaRWUeKmTT7zTD5S6n9dPDh6JVghbza2n2jcY/1001060768.jpg) ---|--- ![1001060760.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUzFPPaZgvVL3FRW4gf7DKYYSpw5qrV4X4JCmq1xyrTD1/1001060760.jpg)|![1001060605.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcy3KEPLupoAYynyKoKNQtNoJcRo7eD6bA9C1wEvsbcuo/1001060605.jpg) ---|--- ^{During the Official Opening, and the Plan "B" Decorations that saved the day - Scr Samsung A05}

A week before the event, I went to check the sewing, and the tailor had cut all the materials and kept them in wraps. He boosted my morale that he would finish before the expected date. The next time I visited, he had sewed the gowns without joining the hands, we pleaded that we have just 5 days to go, that he should employ the service of other tailors to assist him, we even offered to pay extra, but he didn't. He only struggled with his wife.

At some point, he was complaining about his health. I noticed he had a problem with his legs, and it was painful. I understood what he was going through, but he, on the other hand, was very stubborn. He doesn't believe that any other person can sew better, therefore delaying delivery.

Until the day the conference commenced, he didn't finish the clothes. The official opening that needed the gown was on the second day of the conference. However, I missed the first day because I was left in Uyo to come to Obio Akpa in Abak Local Government Area l, the venue of the program with the gowns.

I waited patiently until afternoon, that was when I picked only 7 gowns with 3 caps, leaving in his hand a gown and 6 caps. It was very disappointing, I felt the pressure, the pain, the disgrace it might be out there with my boss whom he needed to present the gowns to professional fellows of NABIS for their decorations.

![1001054353.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWJECR3cQZfFbrfQCqAF3uWobDorfA1PGUcfJK3tprNtb/1001054353.jpg)|![1001049736.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaiSetceUCkWmdTq8wc6v5wZZmUergkYf8N2wkU3PXQBr/1001049736.png) ---|--- ^{The Plan B Sample Design Before Printing}

## THE PLAN "B"

I didn't chop this part in while I was talking about the disappointment from the tailor. About 3 days to the event. I discussed with my boss the need to have sage and label for further decorations on the NABIS fellows. I chose a color that will practically blend with the gown. As he accepted, we called another fashion designer, who used 3 days to deliver to us with the organization logo on it, and I printed the label too.

When the event was going and I couldn't meet up with the gowns, it was the sage and the label they used to decorate there and my boss in his wisdom told them that they will be decorated properly with gowns in the next conference except those who will be left until the conference is over.

What if I didn't come up with an alternative and believed that the tailor would deliver? I was able to save my boss from embarrassment. I got there when they had concluded on the decoration part. And even if I was there with the 7 gowns I carried from the man, it means one of them wouldn't have gotten, but the sage was enough for all of them.

I joined the conference almost on the closing part of it. I didn't feel anything, I was destabilized and emotionally drained, but I remained composed that only my boss knew what was ongoing.

Has plan “B” ever worked for you? As for me, the plan “B” that worked was the sewing of sage and printing of labels, which were used to decorate the NABIS fellows in the place of the “unfinished gowns”. The tailor was disappointed, but the plan “B” worked the miracle no one noticed.

ALWAYS HAVE OTHER PLANS!

FreshGrace