“Will I Ever Wake Up From This Nightmare?”


No, I am NOT referring to the current struggles in our Country.  

Surprisingly, this is a quote from George Bailey, the main character in a 1940’s era movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  Just like Ebenezer Scrooge in “The Christmas Carol”, George’s Guardian Angel Clarence makes it possible for him to visit the world as it would have been if he had never lived.

As you might imagine, his town, family, and friends were not only unrecognizable to him, his own Wife and Mother did not know him to see him. George had worked for the family business, The Bailey Building & Loan, which had provided home loans for most of the townspeople and as a result, the town prospered and became a strong community of citizens who cared for their city, Bedford Falls.  

He soon learned that without his presence, the town had faltered and had become a cesspool of corruption.  George was convinced he was experiencing a nightmare and pleaded with Clarence to return him to the Bedford Falls he knew and loved.

Why am I telling you this story? In some ways, I feel there are some similarities between myself and George. Both of us manage a family-owned business, have built personal relationships with our customers, and we are both in the credit business.  

George Bailey woke up from his nightmare after he had come to realize that his business and life’s work had enabled his customers to achieve their dreams of home ownership. He knew his customers personally and, as a result, there was a mutual trust between them.  

Even though I did not have the benefit of seeing if the world would have been different without me, we like to think that our equipment finance service has allowed thousands of businesses to grow and succeed over the past 63 years. Our customers are more than just names on a contract. Some have had dozens of leases over the decades and have thanked us for taking a chance on them.

On the contrary, we are indebted to them for taking a chance on us!

Happy New Year,

Kevin F. Clune CLFP
Clune & Company