A small warning. Many of the ideas that I’m talking about in this entry will make you say, “Uh, duuuh!” But sometimes that common sense is not so common. Within the last two years, I have watched a few Muslim owned business do two things. Survive by the skin of their teeth or crash and burn. Why? There’s lot of reasons. Muslim owned businesses are not unique from any other but what follows is a listing of issues that often plague some of our institutions. I’m not speaking from the perspective of an expert, just someone who is learning from the mistakes of others.
1) No business plan. Have you ever had someone come to you and tell you that they had a great idea for a business? They have all the ideas in their head and they just know that with the right amount of money and time, it will be a huge success. At this moment, you will have to be the killjoy and ask them if they have a business plan. “Business plan. I don’t work like that. I don’t need a business plan.” BIG MISTAKE. There are few business experts that would suggest that you start a new business without one. The only people exempt from this requirement are financial geniuses. For us average ignorant peasants, we must take our abstract ideas and try to apply numbers and words to them. As you may remember, doing the business plan for the gallery was quite annoying. But I’m glad I did it because I discovered that such a business venture would be too costly. At least, it’s not feasible now. It may be a reality 5 or 10 years from now. But it’s all too easy to go online and find free business templates. The hardest part will be the financial section of your plan, such as your 3 to 5 year projections of costs and sales. If you have any financial savvy friends, beg them for help. But the business plan is crucial. It will help you narrow down your target audience, figure out the demographics of your clients and gauge your potential for success.
2) Having no plan at all. I used to work for this non-profit organization. I’ll never forget when the director told me, “We don’t have a plan, really. We tend to put the cart before the horse.” Whaaaa? Well, that explained why everything so messy and chaotic. It explained why I was so stressed out and why certain tasks were never completed. It explained why I was called to do large, complicated tasks at the very last minute. “Well, how much time do you need?” “Gee, you could have told me last week when you knew you need this done. Not 30 minutes before I get off from work.” They seemed to be comfortable with this insanity while I was drowning and steadily looking for another job. Why couldn’t they had sat down and arranged a schedule of daily duties? It’s like they came to work and spent the morning trying to figure what they would do for that day. But issue leads to my third point.
3) No professionalism. Unfortunately, some Muslim owned businesses are notorious for this. Then again, I and many of my friends and relatives worked for city government so unprofessional behavior does not discriminate. Like that non-profit organization I mentioned above, there were so many unprofessional things going on that it made my head spin. The assistant’s six year old son running around the office. The mixing of grant funds for personal use like parties for friends of the organization (big, fat, NO-NO. It’s illegal and haram). An employee sleeping, no, SNORING at the desk. A secretary not knowing how to load labels into the printer or taking two hours just to put together a decent letter. Phone messages left unreturned. Marketing materials looking all hooked up or like my sister says, “Ooh, that looks like a hot mess!” Management showing up for important meetings 30 to 60 minutes late. Dissing visitors from organization’s that have given them grants. Worst all, not paying people on time. People, do you know what it feels like to have your paycheck bounce and having to argue with your boss over payment? I was placed in a position where I hadn’t been paid in a month! That’s right. A MONTH. I was actually considered unprofessional and irrational for not rolling over and letting them walk over me. It was the first time I walked off of a job. I hope it’s the last. I did get paid, two months later, and they accused me of not caring about the well being about the organization. Nice. If only they cared about me paying my bills or buying groceries. And yet, despite all this, they wanted to be taken seriously. If you care about being successful, you have to walk, talk and look like it. You can’t run things like a home business. And maybe I shouldn’t say that because some home businesses are run quite professionally. You know that Hadith about paying your worker before the sweat of his brow dries? These are the words of our Messenger (alayhi salatu wa salaam) and ethical business principles are enshrined in our religion. Read an English translation of the Mejelle, the Hanafi book of business ethics. I took a wonderful Sunnipath class on Islam and financial matters. Deal with people with equity, fairness and honesty. Whether you are Muslim employee or employer, your behavior and character is dawah. If people see Muslims having jacked up business skills or poor professionalism, it shines a terrible light on our religion. And remember that these ethics apply across the board to Muslims and non-Muslims. Don’t have one standard for this group and another standard for the different group. It stinks of hypocrisy.
4) Keeping it in the family. This may get me some flack. But if you are going to hire a relative, please make sure that you are hiring him/her because s/he is qualified. There’s a lot of fitna with hiring relatives—at least within an American setting. It is not the best environment to be in when you’re not related to anyone. Suddenly, you become the reason why the organization isn’t doing well. It’s not because the son is placed in a position in which he has no experience. It certainly has nothing to do with the fact that relatives come and go as they please while non-relatives are expected to be the epitome of professionalism. @@ Hire people who know what they are doing. You’re not doing your business or your relative any good. Because one day, your son or daughter will have enter into this unforgiving job market and Mommy and Daddy won’t be there to overlook your screw-ups.
5) Grandiose expectations. If you’re just starting off, please don’t assume that your business will take off like a rocket. One brother told me that the only thing Muslims will buy, indefinitely, is halal meat. Well, tell that the owners of halal restaurants that have closed down because few Muslims were patronizing them. The Muslim American market is the fickle thing and you better steel your stomach in order to handle it. It’s still being developed but business experts say that this market will boom within the next few years. It’s largely untapped but corporations will soon get over their fear of marketing to Muslims when they see the potential gains that they’re losing. Whether it’s hijabs, halal meat, Islamic books or art, you’ll have some difficulties. So if Muslims don’t jump up and down at your latest project, don’t take it personally. That’s just business and consumers are fussy. And you MUST be in it for the long haul. One brother contacted about a great business plan and he was really enthusiastic. So was I until I asked him the killer question, “How much debt have you accumulated?” The business had been around for few months and the debt was roughly $15,000. I said, “Look. The debt needs to be taken care of before anything else.” He was spending money that wasn’t there in the hopes that his ideas would generate huge revenues. In that same year, he declared bankruptcy. There’s something to be said for starting off small and testing the waters to see if your idea is even feasible. You may think it’s the best thing since Coke but others may turn their nose up for all sorts of reasons. This brings me to my next point.
6) Debt! Please, try to avoid debt. Of course, there’s almost no point in me talking about interest because Muslims seem to be quite divided on the issue. We already know what the Qur’an says on the matter. I know of some businesses that aren’t using interest and they’re doing okay. Of course, there are issues but doesn’t everything have issues? At least they don’t have the $100,000 sword of Damocles waiting to cut their necks.
7) Annoying potential investors. I love how some people pray for rich Muslims to invest in their enterprises. Then, they don’t offer said rich Muslims a business plan. THEN, they actually get upset when rich Muslims refuse to invest. “What about fisabilillah?” I love this phrase but I hate how some of us use it. We use it to guilt trip others into lowering their prices. We shame them and try to make wealthy Muslims feel bad for not giving enough when some of them give until their wallet screams “uncle.” Potential investors have every right to know what you will be doing with their money. Talking about your plans mean nothing. If you want the money bad enough, do the research. Put together that business plan. Show a slick PowerPoint presentation to prove that you mean business. Give numbers and back up your information with studies and if you can, focus groups. Stop thinking that people should give you cash just ‘cuz. “Muslims should help each other.” Well, help your rich brother or sister by giving them more than some convulated speech about how your business is the best thing since slice bread.
Fisbillilah discount. Our beloved Brother Baba Ali covered this topic very well. How can our institutions and businesses survive if we are not willing to pay the fair price? I try my best to stay away from the bartering and guilt talk when it comes to my art. I will offer discounts but don’t ask me for them. I will donate paintings to charity but I will give on my own terms. Don’t try to make me feel bad like one sister. “This costs too much.” It didn’t cost too much for everybody else. This item cost less than the many DVDs she owes or the clothes she has in her closet. I notice that when it comes to things like art and writing, everyone wants something for free or at a huge discount. One organization wanted to use 10 of my paintings to decorate for a fundraising event. So I put together a contract staying that any damages to my work will be paid by the organization, so will the shipping and handling. Plus, the organization had to pay to use them. After all, it’s a whole bunch of paintings. After that, I got no response. The words contract and fees are a great way to determine how serious a client is. Your product and services are important and should be treated as such. You wouldn’t ask a non-Muslim to sell you their product for less. Why do that to your brother and sisters in Islam?
There’s so many more I can add but I’ll stop here. Insha’Allah, this American umma will raise its standards and lay down a foundation of strong business informed by true Islamic principles. Ameen.
