Tropical Pools: Honouring God In Business

By L.A. Nicholson

In 1995, a friend offered a corner of their office space to Delford Julal and his wife Michelle, to start their business in building and maintaining swimming pools.  Delford had one chair, and a desk under which the chemicals were stored.  The couple had gotten married that year and had decided that they would take on a number of firsts, including buying their own home and starting their own business. 

Today, they operate three branches of Tropical Pools island-wide. They not only construct and renovate pools and spas, but also provide plumbing and electrical repairs, pool chemicals, and pool equipment to home and business enterprises.  

In talking with Freedom Come Rain newspaper, Michelle Julal, who handles the financial side of the company, dubbed 1995 as the #Crazyfaithyear – they got married, bought a house, and started the business!

She stated that God is not bound by any restrictive circumstances occurring around us. “He can cause streams to appear in the desert,” she asserted. “Take Covid-19, for example. We were able to remain afloat as many of our customers were confined to home and spending more time enjoying their spas and pools. Persons suddenly found so much time on their hands — their pools needed servicing and we were just thanking God for His providential move. 

“When the community lock-downs started and we were “marooned,” so to speak, our workers chipped in and kept things going. They know how to work on their own and it wasn’t an issue at all.”  

“You had full confidence in their ability to get the job done without you being there?”

“We had to,” she smiled. “You see, when you start your business, you may not have a salary yourself, but you must ensure you pay your staff.  Big jobs won’t come every day, so when they do, you have to set aside funds to pay the workers as they are your bread and butter.” 

THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU

Michelle offered some words of wisdom concerning two major challenges for businesses. “Stautory payments can be a headache, but you have to view them like any other bill,” she remarked. “If you have rent to pay, it’s due at a particular time and you pay it; so, you should settle other debts due to Caesar, like taxes, etcetera.  They are just regular operating expenses and God may be testing your integrity in honouring them to determine your next level of blessing.”

In identifying cash flow management as another issue for many businesses, Michelle agreed that utilising an accounting software is an asset to any company.  “It’s saved us quite a bit being able to set-up and monitor our record-keeping and accounting systems,” she explained. “It’s really important to have those things in place from the start, as you’re better able to keep pace with your tax obligations and not get overwhelmed by them. 

“The buck stops with you when you head your own business. It is a very different ball game, and you have to be prayerful and careful about the decisions you’re making. If you don’t understand accounting, you can learn at least the basic, purchase an accounting system ,and get someone who is a specialist to help you.  Maybe someone in your family can chip in, a trusted friend.  Ask around, persons may be willing to volunteer when they know you are just starting out.”

FAMILY TIME

Family time is precious to the Julals.  “It has to be deliberately arranged and protected…fiercely,” Michelle laughed. “Our family gets together on Sundays; we start out with church and we ensure we have dinner together. And for our wedding anniversary, my husband and I usually vacation together.  It’s not always easy, but it’s important to maintain these kinds of traditions, because they help you to relax and re-charge.

“In addition, as Christians, it’s important to us to sow into God’s Kingdom. We do that because we know that He is the source of all we have and will ever acquire. We keep focussed on that because we never want to get ahead of ourselves and become filled with pride.  

“Deuteronomy 8 is a key Scripture for us,” she closed, “Especially verses 18-19: ^‘But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.’”