Ouch! I Did Not Just Miss That!

A few days ago, it was like an answered prayer. Out of nowhere, there was this business opportunity that was so irresistible. And although I thought that I didn’t fit enough to get the business, but this marketing officer for the company insisted that I tried. It was almost informal conversation the way he asked me to provide him all the prices and quotations. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t specialize in this field involved although I could manage to do it. He kept pushing and pushing me to provide all the details so that he could forward it to his boss. It was kinda funny but I complied anyway. The only thing that I had in mind was – this guy was purposely trying to help me, or what? I mean, I never talked to him, or met him directly, and I never tried promoted anything to him, and suddenly, he was “pushing” a good business deal to me and asked me to make myself fit to get it done. I get the idea that this guy knows me.

Unfortunately, I know I couldn’t come up with the best prices. The reason for this is because it wasn’t my main field so I didn’t have all the equipments that can give me the edge of cutting cost – and offer such a low price. I definitely would lose this project. Almost sure. But I still did all the procedure because I didn’t want to look ungrateful having someone to help me. I thought he was helping me although I didn’t know why.

So this morning, this guy finally called me. “256, your price is way TOO high.” (Hahahaahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha) I almost laughed. I mean, it was predictable. I knew it that the companies who concentrated on this field would definitely give much cheaper price. I knew it but I couldn’t help it because my production cost is already more expensive than the price they offered. So the guy asked me, “How come?” I mean, he sounded a bit upset because I just made myself lose this project after what he did to help me. Logically, in business, it’s all about money. Even if you want to keep a good relation with certain party, money still wins. It’s silly to pay more. And “More” in this case is almost 6 times more expensive. Gotta be kidding me.

So again, he’s being polite to me. Although I didn’t know him, he made it sound as if he was guilty if I lost the project. So he called just to let me know and maybe he would wished I could adjust my price, but I COULDN’T. “There’s no way I can give you that cheap. It’s ridiculous. Even the cost is more than that.” So I made it easier for him by saying, “You guys just go for the best price, ok?” And that, I made myself clear that I didn’t mind to lose the project. It’s all business here, nothing personal. I am being very rational that the best price wins. I mean, he doesn’t have to feel sorry because it wasn’t me who come to him and beg. He came to me first and asked me to try, so I tried. I wasn’t qualified enough, so I lost. As simple as that.

Why should I feel bad? Suddenly I feel like I lack in fighting spirit. I mean, why does it feel okay to miss a chance like that? It’s not a small job. Is anything wrong with me? Have I lost the fire to achieve something good? Ok, stop it!!! Hahahahahahahahaha. My justification is that – chances can come in many ways. In this case, I don’t purposely try to miss it. It’s just not in my capacity. I’m sure, there are things I can qualify more than any competitors out there, and this chance is not one of them. This is how I look at it. I shouldn’t feel bad at all, and I shouldn’t feel bad for NOT feeling bad :) The right chances will come at the right time, at the right hands. When those right hands are mine, I’m sure the rest of the competitors will react the same way as I did for this one :)