The banker who read people, not paperwork

In 1994 my father walked into a bank with an accent, a business plan written in longhand, and no collateral anyone would recognize. Eleven banks had already said no. Mr. Aldrich said, "Tell me about your customers."

My father talked for an hour. Aldrich approved the loan that afternoon. Years later I asked him why. He said, "Paperwork tells you if a man can pay. Watching him talk about his customers tells you if he will."

Somewhere there is a person whose yes changes your family's whole story. Be that yes for someone, eventually.