A small entrepreneur walks the talk

WHILE walking through a mall located in Metro-South, I happened to notice one particular store that brought a happy thought. This store -- I forget its full name -- is called San Jose and deals in kitchen cabinets and the like. It is owned by a neighbor and his wife, casual but good friends. Why did the sight of their store evoke a pleasant thought? The couple started typically as small entrepreneurs in a related field. Then, they ventured into this other field and encountered the usual problems that budding enterprises fall prey to. They managed to grow over the past few years, however, and their success is evident in the opening of new outlets like the one I saw in the mall. What distinguishes this couple from others like them? The owners, Oscar and Mel Chan -- who have no idea at all that I am writing this piece about them and their business, thank goodness -- are a God-fearing couple who do not merely mouth platitudes about social responsibility. They put it into practice every single day. For example, each working day starts with a group prayer, offering the day up to God and thanking Him for His many blessings. The Chans share their profits with their employees, and make every effort to let them know how the company is doing -- and how much it is earning -- so that each feels like a personal stakeholder in its fortunes. As a result, the company enjoys high employee morale and a great sense of involvement and achievement. Perhaps, because of their sense of social responsibility, the good Lord has seen fit to reward the company with increased business even during tough times. This is yet another example of how business persons can walk the talk without much fanfare.