Case One: Business Start Up.

CASE ONE: SMALL BUSINESS START UP

By Mike McLoughlin,
Youth With A Mission, Marketplace Mission
Visit the Scruples Small Business Forum at www.scruples.net for more information.

Daniel James Makuri (DJ) was twenty five years old when he was hired by Mr. Muleko as lead farm hand on Mr. Muleko's home based hobby farm. DJ had received his General Certificate of Education several years prior to his new job. He had been unemployed for a short while after finishing high school but he was an eager worker and had worked part time for a number of the local farms. He soon landed a steady job as a farm worker and now his new job was a promotion. With his first months wages he bought an engagement present for his girl friend, Marlene. Because he had a full time job with responsibility, Marlene’s parents finally agreed to let the two be married. The wedding took place several months later.

DJ had a lot of ideas about the best way to manage the broiler chicken concern that Mr. Muleko had going on the hobby farm. However, Mr. Muleko had been in the business twenty years and DJ's ideas were not well received. After six months on the job DJ and Mr. Muleko were not agreeing on very many of the decisions that DJ was making concerning the business. Finally, Mr. Muleko said to DJ, "Either you do it my way or you're out of here!" DJ could not see himself working well under these conditions so he reluctantly resigned his position. Later that day, he found out that his wife Marlene was pregnant.

With their first child on the way and the loss of his job, DJ's future looked very bleak. He went to see his friend Mark who had graduated from Secondary School with him and was now taking a course in accountancy. Mark had a strong faith in God. His counsel to DJ was that no matter how bad it seemed God had a plan for DJ's life. DJ had always shrugged off Mark's talk about God before, but now he was listening because he needed help. Mark invited DJ to attend a meeting being conducted by a missionary at their church. So DJ and Marlene went to the meeting. The missionary was speaking about God's Plan of Salvation and at the end of the meeting he gave an invitation to the people to receive God's salvation. Both DJ and Marlene responded to the invitation and decided to follow God in their lives.

DJ was very excited about his new faith in God. He wanted to know more about following God so he and Marlene applied to attend a Discipleship School run by the Missionary's Mission Organization. It was a three month school followed by a three month mission outreach. However, with the loss of his job DJ did not have the money to pay for the school fees. Much to his surprise an anonymous donor at the church supplied the necessary funds.

DJ and Marlene spent an exciting three months in the Discipleship School learning about the Character of God. They learned that God had created them for relationship with Himself and to serve His purposes on the earth. During the outreach phase they spent time sharing what they had learned with other people. After the school was finished they came home eager to serve God in whatever way they could. Marlene's baby was about to be born and their most pressing need was for some income.

In the meantime, Mr. Muleko had not found a replacement for DJ at his work. So when he saw DJ was back he asked him to return to his position. DJ accepted and did so with the condition that he agree to Mr. Muleko's way of doing things.

Case Problems:

1. What factors lead to DJ's resignation from Mr. Muleko's Poultry business?

2. Why did DJ seek out his friend Mark in his time of difficulty? Do people seek you out when they find themselves in difficulty? Why?

3. What problems do you foresee in DJ's return to Mr. Muleko's Poultry business? What can DJ do to avoid or solve these potential problems?

CASE ONE SOLUTION
1. What factors led to DJ's resignation?
DJ not submissive.			Boss not flexible.
DJ too independent.			Boss too authoritative.
DJ too proud			Boss too proud
DJ not patient			Boss not patient
DJ misunderstood			Boss takes advantage
2. Why did DJ seek out his friend Mark?
Solace & Comfort.			Mark was a Christian.
Advice & Counsel.			Needed spiritual help
Mark was his friend.			when crisis occurs.
3a. What problems will occur as DJ returns?
DJ will compromise.			Has different values.
No Job Satisfaction.			Loss of Dignity.
3b. What can DJ do to avoid/solve these problems?
Pray!			Avoid Compromise.
Tell Boss about faith.
Exercise Wisdom.			Stand firm.

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