I can't tell you how many times over the past two years that I have talked to loan specialists about a small business loan. The conversations have always varied with the age of the business and 2yrs is the most significant milestone, many loan people want to see at least two years. The problem is that the conversation starts out promising and then ends up in dissappointment, to the point now that I ask them to tell me upfront what my chances are so that we do not waste my time or theirs.

I just had another conversation this morning and said my piece, but these people seem adamant that we can move forward with this. Of course, I don't get my hopes up because I've heard no too many times. Oh but the possibilities. We could really use an inflow of capital. But even if we don't get it, we'll be fine.

I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman from California who owns a Catholic bookstore. His name was Victor something and he had done a show on Catholic Answers on how to start a Catholic Bookstore. I first listened to the show on the internet and then called him up. This was before I opened up for business. Basically, his line is that running a Catholic bookstore is an apostolate and that it cannot be a profitable business. So he cautiously advised against it. Well, I don't take being told that i can't do something I believe can and should done, well at all. So I opened up for business. In our two plus years of operation, we are still operating at a loss but we are moving forward and we could be profitable in 3-5 years and possibly much sooner. What I have found with some Catholic stores who struggle or even go about of business is that they don't treat their operations like a business and as a result do not make prudent business decision.

I was happy to read in a Catholic trade magazine, the story of a few Catholic stores that have reached profitability and in reading their stories, it is clear that they see themselves running a business. So that was encouraging to read. BTW, I launched into this reflection because a Catholic store, a couple of county's down from me, had to close down and it is sad because the lady was very helpful to me when I openend up, even though she could have viewed me as potential competition, even though we really weren't in competition.

Anyway, I just got a call from the biz loan person and I need to call back. We'll see...