Yes, you read that right—“Tems & Condition.” I know the “R” is missing. Ever since the rise of Afrobeat star Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, Nigerians on the streets gave her a playful nickname: “Tems and Condition.” That mix of humor and cultural creativity got me thinking.
It made me wonder—do celebrities even know what people really call them on the streets? Like, does Cristiano Ronaldo know he’s called “Ororo” in Lagos? Probably not. But let’s shift back—not to Tems the singer—but to Terms and Conditions, the legal stuff we all skip without reading.
One of the biggest mistakes I made early in business was not having clear Terms and Conditions. I used to be like many people—quick to click “Agree” just to get things rolling, never reading the fine print. But those legal guidelines? They aren’t just formalities. They’re boundaries, expectations, standards.
Over time, I’ve learned something deeper: you don’t just need Terms and Conditions for your business—you need them for your life.
How do people treat you? How do they engage with you? What do you tolerate? Your personal T&Cs are the standards you hold yourself and others to. And no, they might not make sense to everyone—but they need to make sense to you.
There’s a Yoruba adage that says, “Bi oni’gba ba se pe igba e, be’e naa laa maa ba pee.”
“How you present your bowl is how it will be filled.”
In other words, people will treat you based on how you present yourself.
This past weekend, my wife and I had a deep conversation. We realized something powerful: the people who constantly ask you to bend your rules will keep asking until you have nothing left to give. If you break your boundaries once, you’ll feel pressure to break them again—and again.
So here’s the truth: Your Terms and Conditions should protect you, guide you, and reflect your worth.
Let them be clear. Let them be firm. Let them serve as a standard—not just a defense.
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Michael Okunloro | Elevate Your Style 