Hello, my name is Dede Nyansapo. I am an entrepreneur who also participates in Accra’s burgeoning gig economy as a Dede. My love for meeting fascinating people and my curiosity about how they think usually places me in the midst of some very entertaining conversations. Invariably, these conversations lead to some key learnings that may be useful to anyone on their business journey.
Episode 29: The Curse of Early Success
It was one of those gloomy afternoons, the kind where the drizzle made everything look blurry, like the world was caught in a half-wake state. I didn’t mind it though. The light tap of rain on the windows of my car was soothing, and with the radio playing soft music in the background, it felt like just another quiet drive through the city.
I had picked up my latest passenger, an older man, from the central business district of Accra. He looked sharp—well-dressed in a crisp shirt and blazer, with an air of calm that you only see in people who’ve lived through a lot. He settled into the back seat with a quiet sigh, gazing out at the rain-soaked streets.
We hadn’t said much at first. He seemed the type to enjoy the silence, and I was happy to oblige. But then the music on the radio was interrupted by breaking news.
“In breaking news, music mogul Diddy has been arrested on serious charges…”
I felt a jolt of surprise. Diddy? Arrested? I shook my head, my thoughts swirling. I couldn’t help but react.
“Wow,” I said, glancing up at the rearview mirror. “Diddy arrested? I didn’t see that coming. He has everything… all that money, all that success. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”
My passenger leaned forward a little, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. He had a kind but serious face, the kind that made you feel like whatever he was about to say was worth listening to.
“Yes, it does make you wonder,” he said, his voice steady and thoughtful. “But perhaps we should ask ourselves a different question.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious.
“What question?”
“Why is it that having ‘everything’ often leads people into trouble? What is it about success and wealth that sometimes brings more pain than joy?”
I hadn’t expected him to take the conversation in that direction. I mean, sure, it was a big deal that Diddy had been arrested, but this guy was making it sound like there was some deeper issue at play. I considered his question for a moment, my mind shifting gears.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “You’d think having money and success would solve your problems. It should make life easier, shouldn’t it?”
He nodded, but not in agreement. It was more like he was acknowledging my point before offering another perspective.
“It can make certain things easier,” he said. “But there’s a deeper issue. What do you think happens when someone acquires immense wealth and power, especially when they’re still young and perhaps… not fully grounded?”
I glanced at him again in the mirror, trying to piece together where he was going with this. He seemed to have an answer already, but he was waiting for me to figure it out.
“I guess… they might not know how to handle it?” I ventured. “Maybe it goes to their head?”
He smiled, as if I’d hit on something important.
“Exactly. Money and power can amplify what’s already inside a person. If there’s insecurity, it amplifies that. If there’s a lack of self-control, well, that becomes amplified too. But what’s most dangerous is when success comes before character is fully formed.”
That made me pause. I hadn’t thought about it like that before—success coming before character. I shifted in my seat, glancing back at him, curious now. This guy had some deep thoughts.
“You’ve got a point,” I said slowly. “When you’re young, you’re still figuring out who you are. So, if you get all that money and fame too early…”
“It can be a recipe for disaster,” he finished my sentence with a knowing nod.
I was impressed by how calmly he spoke, like he’d thought about this a lot or maybe even lived through something similar. It was about time I knew who I was speaking to.
“I’m Dede, by the way,” I said, offering a small smile. “Nice to meet you.”
He smiled back. “Serebuor. Mr. Serebuor. The pleasure is mine, Dede.”
Now that we had introduced ourselves, it felt like the conversation flowed even more naturally.
“So,” I said, picking up where we left off, “what about the people around them? Shouldn’t they have friends or family who can keep them in check?”
Mr. Serebuor leaned back in his seat, his face growing more serious.
“Ah, now you’re getting to the heart of the issue,” he said. “Sycophants.”
“Sycophants?” I echoed, confused.
“Yes, people who surround the rich and powerful, but who aren’t there to guide or support them. They’re there for what they can get. They say yes to everything because they want to stay close to the wealth and fame. They’ll tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear.”
I shook my head, disgusted at the thought. “That’s horrible. You’d think friends would tell you the truth.”
“You’d hope so,” Mr. Serebuor replied. “But imagine you’re young, rich, and successful, and everyone around you praises you no matter what you do. You never hear the word ‘no,’ and no one challenges your decisions. What do you think that does to a person?”
I frowned. “It probably makes them think they’re invincible. Like they can’t do anything wrong.”
He nodded. “Precisely. And that sense of invincibility can be dangerous. You start to believe you’re above consequences, above accountability. The people who should help you stay grounded—your friends, your advisors—instead, they encourage your worst impulses.”
It was starting to click. I’d seen it happen so many times with celebrities. They start off humble, grounded even, but after a while, it’s like they’re living in a bubble, completely disconnected from reality.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ve seen that happen. They make bad decisions, and no one around them stops them.”
Mr. Serebuor gave me another approving nod, like a teacher satisfied with his student’s progress.
“It’s one of the great tragedies of success,” he said. “The more successful you become, the harder it is to find people who will tell you the truth. And without truth, you lose your way.”
The car was quiet for a few moments as I thought about his words. He was right. The higher you go, the harder it is to keep your feet on the ground.
“But there’s another element to all of this,” he continued after a brief pause, his voice softening a little. “Something we rarely talk about: the pursuit of excitement, the need for an adrenaline rush.”
That caught my attention. “What do you mean?”
He shifted in his seat, looking out the window before turning his gaze back to me in the rearview mirror.
“Well, think about it,” he said. “When you’ve already achieved so much, when you have all the money you could ever need, what’s left to chase? For some, it becomes about finding new thrills, new ways to feel alive.”
I nodded, starting to see where he was going. “Like taking bigger risks?”
“Exactly,” he said. “Some turn to extreme sports, others to dangerous relationships, or even illegal activities. And for many, alcohol and drugs become an easy escape—a way to feel something, to fill a void that success alone can’t fill.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. His words were so simple, but they hit hard. I’d seen that spiral with celebrities too, where the pursuit of thrills led them down a dark path.
“So, it’s like they’re always looking for something to fill the emptiness inside?” I asked quietly. “Even when they have everything?”
“Yes,” he said. “Success and wealth can bring comfort, but they don’t necessarily bring meaning. And when a person doesn’t know who they are—when they haven’t developed a strong sense of self—it’s easy to lose themselves in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures.”
The rain had slowed to a light drizzle by then, the city outside moving along as usual. But inside that car, it felt like we were having a much deeper conversation than I’d expected.
“So, what’s the solution?” I asked. “How do you stop someone from going down that path?”
Mr. Serebuor smiled, a warm and wise smile that made me feel like I was about to hear something important.
“It all comes back to character,” he said. “Character is what keeps you grounded, what helps you navigate the ups and downs of life without losing your way. And character takes time to develop. It takes reflection, humility, and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to learn from mistakes.”
I nodded slowly. “But if you’re surrounded by people who never let you fail, how do you learn from your mistakes?”
“Exactly,” he said. “It’s hard to learn when no one holds you accountable. When the foundation is weak, it doesn’t take much for everything to come crashing down. Success without character is a fragile thing. It may look impressive on the outside, but inside… it’s hollow.”
As I pulled up to his destination, a quiet street lined with trees, I felt like I had just gone through a mental workout. This wasn’t your average Uber ride.
“Thank you for the conversation,” I said, offering him a small smile. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
He smiled back as he opened the door. “Thank you for listening, Dede. Take care.”
“You too, Mr. Serebuor.”
I watched as he walked away, disappearing into the light rain. As I drove off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that his words would stay with me for a long time
