Building A Business On Zero Corruption

My wife, Annie, and I are Quantity Surveyors running a consultancy business together. Our income is tied directly to the work we take on, and that income supports our family. We started the business in 2002 with no projects lined up. Most of our early work came through fellow professionals, along with recommendations and introductions from friends and clients. Even so, we stayed busy and were able to sustain ourselves, though often living hand to mouth.

As the business gradually grew, we began taking on larger projects, some of which came with special fee arrangements. It felt like progress, but deep down we knew we weren't fully satisfied with where we stood, in either life or work. Through it all, we remained committed to our faith - regularly attending church and cell group, which kept us grounded as we navigated the pressures of the business and raised our four children, who were growing up fast.

In 2010, our church ran a sermon series called "God at Work." Through it, we were introduced to principles that would change how we saw our jobs: being intentional in our work, seeing ourselves as workplace ministers, and understanding that there is no sacred–secular divide, that our work itself is an act of worship to God. We were also struck by the emphasis on integrity and excellence in everything we do.

A pivotal step in our journey came during a Sunday sermon when Pastor Philip preached on "Journey to Zero Corruption." The message hit deep for both Annie and me. That very afternoon, we talked it through and decided to take a leap of faith. We committed to no longer accepting any project involving corrupt practices or "kickback" arrangements. The next day, I told a lead consultant of our decision, that we would no longer take on projects with those kinds of fee arrangements.

Deciding was one thing. Living it out was another. God, in His way of strengthening our resolve, tested us almost immediately. Within that same week, we turned down more than three project opportunities that came with similar conditions.

It wasn't easy, but because we stood united in this decision, we found the strength to hold firm. From that point on, whenever proposals involving unethical arrangements have come our way, and they still occasionally do, we've been able to turn them down without hesitation. On one occasion, we were awarded a project with no mention of any such arrangement upfront. Only after accepting did we learn that a portion of our fees would need to be returned to a middleman. Despite the significant value of the project, we formally withdrew and declined the appointment.

Over the fifteen years since committing to honour God through integrity in our work, we've been entrusted with projects we could never have imagined — including several high-profile developments in Sabah. It has also allowed us to give our children the opportunity to pursue their education overseas.

Truly, God is no man's debtor.

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