Thank you, 11 Capital Finance
I could hear the news broadcast on the
television from the living room reporting the latest unemployment figures. I
had nothing to complain about, I felt thankful that I was able to work from
home. Minutes later with my cup of fresh coffee sitting next to me on my desk,
I started to make my first phone calls of the day. It was beginning to feel
like such a chore as I left voice messages one after the other for applicants
that had submitted requests for the SBA Relief Funds.
I reached across my desk for what felt
like the hundredth time, picked up the phone receiver and dialed the phone
number that was typed on the Intake Form. “Doesn’t anyone answer their phone
anymore”, I thought. I preparing to leave another voice message in someone’s
voicemail when I heard a live voice on the other end. This time it wasn’t a
recorded message, it was a woman with a pleasant voice. I could barely get the
words out to tell her why I was calling. She had seen my name come up on her caller ID. She must have recognized
it from the previous email I’d sent the day before.
Excitedly, she thanked me for letting
her know that I had received her application. Then she started to tell me her
story. She and her husband had been in a business of over twenty years,
everything they had was tied up in their catering business. Now, with all the
restrictions on group gatherings and social distancing, her family business
could no longer operate. She broke out in tears as she told me that she had no
idea what their future looked like. “How long will this last?”, she said. “How
will we survive?”, she added. “I have two young children. This is all very
frightening”
Her next deep breath was followed by
what felt like a sigh of relief, “Thank you!, Thank you so much for all the
work you are doing to help us get the money we need to try to keep our family
business!” She went on, “You are helping so many people! I can’t thank you
enough! You are doing such a good thing!”
With that, I began to well up with
tears as I realized how truly, grateful she truly was.
After the phone call, I sat back in my
chair, took a deep breath and I couldn’t stop myself from sobbing as I
reflected on her words. It was at that moment I no longer had a job. I now have
a mission!
My mission is to help as many
people as possible get the money and resources they need to survive and thrive.
That typed -up list of unfamiliar names and random phone numbers I’d been
staring at for days on my computer screen suddenly came to life.
With a new-found enthusiasm, I
continued to make more phone calls and I spoke with others who had the same
type of reaction as Julie.
I also spoke with Brian who said that
he’s been laid off for several weeks and had no idea if he’d ever be able to
return to his old job. Yesterday, when he woke up early his wife asked why. He
told her that he’s going to work at his new job as a Relief Fund Agent. He said
he has lots of calls to make to people who need help!
I heard more thanks and sensed much
gratitude!
Honestly, the truth is that I am just
as thankful for them.This morning when I woke up, I had a
whole new outlook. I didn’t think about all the TASKS in my CRM, I thought
about the people who are waiting for me to call. People who need hope that help
is on the way! I even bypassed the coffeepot. I didn’t need the caffeine.
Evie H.
