What’s with all these Promo Codes?

The only time a man gets a free pass is when he takes his child to the under five clinic. There, men are celebrated for taking their children for regular check-ups and immunization. You’re placed ahead of the queue to reward you for being a present dad.

Outside of that, men don’t get anything for free. 

You could have all the money in the world but it won’t count for anything if you have an irreparable relationship with the mother of your children. The point is, when it really matters, not even money will get you the most valuable things in life. I know miserable men with money.

Yet everywhere we look, we always have an amazing deal thrown at us. Non-collateral based loans, buy one whiskey bottle and get one free, you know the HR manager for your incompetent friend’s job interview. 

Life’s best promotional offers provide us the worst consequences.

This is why the man that isn’t taking shortcuts is seen to be dull. Slow. Not connected enough. Why is he still struggling? How come he hasn’t married? When is he upgrading his 2022 Hilux?

It’s because the discerning man knows that there is a price to pay for the glittery things. 

We no longer have the patience, if we’re employed, to get paid twelve times a year. Or to build a house in a timeline matching our money. Everything is supposed to happen in real time because we’re here for a good time.

The culture of promo codes has us thinking we can always get a discount in life. And it permeates our perspective on family, careers, money, friendships. Everything. 

We break down easier than our fathers because we think we should have a successful career as if it’s something you pick from the shelf of your nearest Rwandese-run corner store. 

Men have died of depression because their retirement benefits were the only real money they worked for. Times have changed and we have side hustles and businesses but there’s something admirable about a man who commits to something for his entire life.

When we’re not making the money we think our experience and education should rake in, comparison comes to steal our focus and joy. We look at the next guy and wonder how with less experience and education, they’re flying their family to a holiday in Cape Town or Dubai.

It’s because somewhere along the way, we began to believe in promo codes. A short term fix to reap where we did not sow.

15 percent discount to place a bet sounds great until it begins to play out in real life. Burning a bridge with your former employers, the business trip entanglement with a work wife, one lager or two shots of whiskey during lunch break. 

They all seem like great, fun discounts until you’re left counting the cost of the easy way out.