Remember my post where I was told there was a 99% chance my loan would get approved?  Well, that 1% won.  My loan package was presented to the Board before the holidays and I was told that it wasn’t approved for one reason I didn’t see coming.  The curveball they stated was that I needed to have someone with retail food experience on my management team.  They also suggested that if I added this person to my team, they would reconsider.

All this time I’ve been so focused on my finances that I never saw this coming.  I have been consulting with many restaurant people but either didn’t present that well in my loan package or they want someone “officially” on my management team.  Although this news was extremely disappointing, I know this is something I can overcome.  I can get this manager.

I talked to my consultant at the SBA and he agrees that if I find this manager, he will try to present it as soon as possible.  The SBA is closed for the holidays so I am using these 2 weeks to secure this management person.

Prior to this news, I already had a meeting set up with someone that would be perfect.  I met with him on Monday and he really liked my business and we are working out the specifics of having him join my team.  I’m meeting with another potential person this weekend.  I know that I can make it work with one or both of them.  I’ll be talking to the SBA on January 5th and will hope for the best.

The good news is that my finances seem to have been approved.  That is HUGE!!!

In the meantime, I just hope the space in Glendale is still available.  If it’s meant to be, it will happen!  At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

This weekend, I went to two holiday parties. There was a raffle at the 1st one that 75-100 people attended. Guess what? That’s right, I won the raffle!!! I couldn’t believe it. I never wIn anything! I was shocked, but thought it was a great sign.

Then, at the 2nd party, there was a centerpiece that 1 person at the table got to take home. Everyone at the table was asked to pick a number from 1-50 and the closest one would get the centerpiece, I guessed 32 and that was the number!!! Once again, I was shocked.

Both wins felt really good, mostly, because I feel like I’m being encouraged to move forward with Yoga-urt. If I continue to trust my instincts, anything is possible.

I have some good news. I talked to the guy at the SBA that has my loan package. He told me yesterday that there was a 99% chance that it would be approved!!!! I can’t believe it. Has this day finally come? After 4 years of wondering how on earth I would ever have money to do this business it looks like that question might be answered.

I’m not completely there yet though. Either my loan package will be reviewed by the loan committee this coming Wednesday, or it will have to wait until the first Wednesday in January. I should know pretty soon which one. Of course, I’m rooting for next week. I would love to get the YES so I can start moving forward. I might do that anyway:) After hearing 99%, it’s hard not to feel that it’s going to happen. I’m so close and I want to keep this thing moving.

I really haven’t digested the news yet and that’s probably a good thing since it’s not official.

In the meantime, I’ll keep moving things forward as best I can.

Namaste!

Well, they are still reviewing my loan package. Apparently, it needs to be reviewed by one more person before going to the loan committee. I don’t know how long it is going to take. The good news is my consultant at the SBA is pushing for it (which I really appreciate) and the guy who is next to review it said his first glance was positive.

Thankfully, the space I want is still available so I just have to hope it remains that way. Once again, I have to surrender to the Universe and if it is right, it will happen. I have a feeling I’ll have to do a lot of surrendering as I move forward.

In the meantime, we did kickoff R&D on the flavors this week. I had a great call with my R&D team on Tuesday and we are working next on a chocolate base (my favorite) and the vanilla and strawberry flavors. It’s so exciting. I’m hoping to have at least these 3 done by the end of the year, but we’ll see. There are another 5 – 8 flavors in the queue that we discussed as well.

Sometimes, I can’t believe I’m doing this. I never in a million years would’ve thought that I would be creating frozen yogurt bases/flavors for a company that I own. It’s crazy. I know my family and friends feel the same way. However, something just feels right and I love it. I also love the team I’m working with.

When I think about the start of this journey 4 years ago, providing the right frozen yogurt product for my customers was the most challenging and scariest part for me, and it’s amazing how far I’ve come. I still have a long way to go, but I now know anything is possible.

The waiting game continues. All I heard before Thanksgiving was that the loan committee would be meeting on Dec. 3rd, and would most likely review my package then.

It’s such a weird place to be right now. So many unknowns.

I’m nervous about tomorrow. I don’t know if I’ll hear anything or if it will be positive. I really want it. I know there are so many challenges ahead, but I still want it.

In the meantime, I am talking to my R&D team today to kickoff the flavors, starting with chocolate (my favorite) of course 🙂 Hoping to get a few flavors done before the holidays. Hoping they are good (they have to be good).

Really hoping tomorrow is a good day for me.