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So last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the 6th annual Umu Igbo Unite (Igbo People Unite) convention here in Houston. Let me tell you I had a blast. First, it was great to meet lots of Nigerians from all over the world. I tell you Nigerians are everywhere. They say that if a nuclear bomb hit the world, that the cockroaches would survive just because there are so many of them, and I’m not saying that Nigerians are like cockroaches but we are everywhere, so I’m sure we would survive … lol. And of course the food was off the heezy! Anyway, during the convention we had a speed networking session where we got to meet people and in 30 seconds answer some interesting questions about each other. Questions like where are you from in Nigeria … what do you look for in a mate … I can’t remember them all. But the question I do remember had to do with feet.

Now I can hear you saying, dang Vic what is up with you and feet? Well I just don’t like them! As important as they are, they are probably the ugliest part of the body. Anyway the question was “what is a deal breaker in a relationship?” So I’m thinking to myself and answered like this … “Hi my name is Victor Ifeanyi Ike, I live here in Houston and I’m from Anambra State in Nigeria. My deal breaker for relationships are a womans feet! If they are not on point then it’s not gonna work!” My networking partner looked at me and asked if I was serious. I laughed and she smirked but then quickly responded with “my deal breaker is a man without a relationship with Christ!” It got pretty silent in the room (at least to me) and I asked myself, “did I really just sat that?” Yeah it was bad, I bet at that moment I seemed to her like a shallow-minded typical male. I could see the look on her face, and I sank about 2 inches in my seat … it was time for damage control. I opened my mouth and said “you know my deal breaker is really the same as yours, a relationship with Christ is the most important!” But that didn’t work either, it was a typical “me too” moment … ok guys you know those moments when you might be out on a date with a girl and you say “I like mountain biking in the snow,” and the girl, in an effort to try and win your affection says “ME TOO” … that’s where I was.

Our time was up. I spent the rest of the weekend trying to repair the damage I did on my image, and I think I eventually convinced her that I wasn’t shallow, and that feet don’t really matter. Moral of the story is that first impressions are everything. Sometimes … actually it’s always good to think before you speak cause you never have a second chance for a first impression. Think twice before you put your own foot in your mouth.