Resources

A Bigger Truck?

Take turns reading the following paragraphs.

Two men formed a partnership. They built a small shed beside a busy road. They obtained a truck and drove it to a farmer’s field, where they purchased a truckload of melons for a dollar a melon.

They drove the loaded truck to their shed by the road, where they sold their melons for a dollar a melon.

They drove back to the farmer’s field and bought another truckload of melons for a dollar a melon.

Transporting them to the roadside, they again sold them for a dollar a melon.

As they drove back toward the farmer’s field to get another load, one partner said to the other, “We’re not making much money on this business, are we?”

“No, we’re not,” his partner replied.

“Do you think we need a bigger truck?” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Focus and Priorities,” Ensign, May 2001, 82)

Back to page 34

Don’t Close Your Business

Choose roles and act out the following.

JOSEPHINE: What’s the matter, Grace? You don’t look very happy.

GRACE: I don’t know what I’m going to do. My business was just starting to make some money and then this happened.

PRISCILLA: What happened?

GRACE: The guy I buy clean water from raised his prices yesterday, and now I will have to close my business.

PRISCILLA: I’m so sorry, Grace. Why?

GRACE: Well, I can only sell water for 10 a bottle. Customers won’t pay more. And I used to buy my bottles for 7.

GRACE: But now my supplier has raised his price to 10. And so there’s no profit! What am I going to do?

PRISCILLA: Have you spoken with your supplier? You’re one of his most important customers.

GRACE: I haven’t. I don’t think I can. His price is his price.

PRISCILLA: No. You need to talk with him. He needs to see he will lose an important customer. He can change his price to keep you. You should always talk with suppliers to get the lowest purchase cost you can.

GRACE: Well, okay. I’ll try.

JOSEPHINE: And you should also have other options. I know someone who will sell you water at 5. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t know you were paying 7—and now 10! I’ll introduce you to that person.

GRACE: Really? Oh, Josephine. Thank you. Yes, please introduce us. And, Priscilla, thank you. I’m going to push harder to get the lowest price for the water I buy.

Back to page 36