How a girlfriend saved her broke boyfriend
The $2500 that saved me (97/365)
My last day working as corporate lawyer for the 7-Eleven Mexico company was December 5, 2012. After that, I used my vacation days, and left the company before the year ended. Because I was paying for my college debt, my financial situation was tight. I had only been able to save three months worth of expenses.
After that, I was on my own.
My big bet? Astrolab.
For almost a year and a half, Óscar and I had been thinking, designing, talking, writing, and pitching Astrolab to every friend, family member, and fool that would listen.
By the end of December 2012, we were about to close our first deal. The client? OXXO, the huge convenience store company part of FEMSA, one of the biggest Mexican conglomerates.
As the year came to an end, we sat at the edge of our seats, waiting for the final project approval.
2013 arrived, and still nothing.
Then, a couple of days later, they told us that they had approved the budget—around $40,000 USD—and wanted to start working with us asap. I remember what I felt when I got the news: euphoria, basically.
It was a huge win for us to know that big companies were open to trust us, and to believe in our promises—because we didn't have any success stories to show, nor any decent IP. It was Óscar, a girl named Leyzel, and me. Gerardo joined a couple of weeks later.
By mid-January, we sent our first invoice, and they told us that they usually paid vendors ninety days later.
O.K. whatever. They'll probably make an exception for us, knowing how dire my financial situation is at the moment, I thought.
We got to work.
By the end of March, that first invoice hadn't been paid yet. As April 1 loomed, I discovered that I wouldn't be able to cover the monthly payment of my Corolla, nor buy basic stuff like groceries.
I called Vivi, whom I had been dating for less than six months.
Hey. I need money. Can you help me?
Yes, of course! How much do you need?
She transferred me what I asked for.
Then April 15 arrived, and still no payment.
On April 23, Oscar and I were on our way to the airport. We were going to run a couple of workshops in Mexico City the next day, as part of the project.
Gerardo, who's always been in charge of Astrolab numbers, texted Óscar and me something that I won’t translate:
Ya cayó el pago.
Óscar and I probably shouted.
At 1:10 pm that day, I received an email from the bank, letting me know that Gerardo had transferred part of that payment into my account (around $2500 USD).
I immediately paid Vivi what I owed her.
I’ll never forget what she did.
Thanks for reading!
#day97