13) Last Friday

The week went by sort of slow, and sort of fast. I finally got the answer from Finnvera the previous Friday 29th: ”No”

The reasons were explained randomly by the financial manager I was assigned to (the same way as the interview). In this kind of situation, I could have understand it for so other reasons (too high loan, no bank warranties, ME, etc.). However, I was told straight certain points:

• ”The project is wrong!”: Noup, the project is extremely good!

• ”The project is too big for you!”: In that case, how did I manage to write it all by myself?

• ”The logistic is wrong!”: Yes, it's not perfect. I agree, but it was a part that can be worked out once the operation is going to start, since I need specific quantities to weigh and to measure for shipping (among other details).

Something that I absolutely disagree. I can understand other reasons, specially about me, but that my project is wrong? That's something I can not accept. This business plan was extremely well planned, if not perfect. There were tiny details that I couldn't polish, but the general estimates were, not even correct, they were real! They were given to me by the manufacturers, they were official information that I found on Internet and other sources, and they were rectified by the people, professionals in their fields, who have helped me in the whole research.

I certainly wait for the written report, which I think it should be based 100% in other reasons, but absolutely not the business idea, business plan and the presentations of the project.

The 3 financial managers, who heard and reviewed with me the whole project in the interviews, were surprised by the good ideas and the business plan.

I replied what if I tried to do it into a smaller project, until the company takes off. Then, I was also told that ”they can't forbide me to re-send the same project again, but it's not likely I will get their approval”.

I was not sad, but shocked about the news. However, there is Plan C, not my favourite and it was though for an emergency. I regret not just the waste of time waiting, but also the though that Finnvera is really committed to create companies. To look after the banks interests is nothing new, because they work in cooperation, to land big projects like mine into a lower level, to borrow money to key projects that really need help, but to reject good projects in the false ground that ”is wrong”. Everytime you hear on the newspapers' headlines ”support for the small and medium enterprises!”, I certainly understand it now much better.

A friend, Sören, came to visit me and give me some support. I explained him all the project and he was also shocked by it, which doesn't surprise me. He also brought me a book :) “Vägen förbi NEJ” in English “Getting past NO” by William L. Ury. I want to thank Sören for being such a good friend all this years, 2 years ago he visited me every day when I was in the hospital and, on Friday after I told him, he went to the library to loan that book for me.

I knew I wasn't going to give up, however, what comes next are a couple of crazy measures. I hope to count again with my friends and family's help.

I know I can do it!

As for now, sauna...