Article November 4, 2002 Issue

A family business vs. a corporate behemoth—can it be a win-win outcome?

By Janet and Jeffrey Clements

STORIES OF CORPORATE FRAUD, CEOs who take the money and run, and overly aggressive competition, have shaken the confidence of both workers and investers. But these conditions are also furnishing opportunities to demand of business a higher standard of conduct and accountability—opportunities that, if acted on, will establish business on firmer ground and help steady our individual and collective economic progress.

As small business owners, we've based our motives and actions on spiritual principles, and have tried to stay with those principles even in the midst of economic turmoil. We believe that these principles come from the divine Principle, from God. Something that happened to us several years ago showed us that there are spiritual laws—laws of God—that, when understood and practiced, will both protect one against being victimized by others' wrong-doing and produce beneficial ripple effects in the larger economy.

After the company Jeff was managing was sold and new management was brought in—and after a lot of prayer and listening to God for direction—we invested in a new franchise that was based on providing a unique setting for energetic, quality family recreation, an indoor playground called The Discovery Zone. This opportunity came along shortly after we had our second son, and we loved the family-centered nature of the new business. The substantial investment for the franchise included equipment, build-out expenses, and a long-term lease. Because of the uniqueness of our operation, the opening in the Chicago suburbs drew much publicity and attention, locally and nationally.

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