The day I wore my slippers to a VI meeting and nobody noticed

Two years ago, my first proper Lagos tech job. The kind where they put 'Senior' in front of your name but pay you like an intern. We had a client meeting at a fancy place in VI. Big deal. I ironed my only good shirt the night before. NEPA took light in the middle of ironing, so I finished with a hot spoon and candle. Desperation has a smell, and it smells like burnt cotton.

Morning of, I'm rushing. Traffic on Ozumba was its usual self, a slow-motion funeral. I get to the office car park, jump out, and only then look down. Slippers. My brown bathroom slippers. I had changed my shirt but forgot my shoes at home.

I froze. My guy, the panic was real. I couldn't go back, I'd miss the whole thing. So I did what any rational engineer does. I ran the numbers. Worst case, they notice and I look like a madman. Best case, nobody looks at my feet because everybody is too busy looking at their phones.

I walked into that meeting with my chest out and my toes on display. Sat down fast. Kept my feet under the table the whole time. Talked about API latency like my life depended on it. Nobody said a word. The client even shook my hand at the end.

Lesson? Half the things we fear, nobody is even watching. They're all stuck in their own heads. I still keep a spare pair of shoes in my car trunk till today. Trauma is a good teacher.