Information flow (33)

It is November 1995 and I am on one of my many trips to China. Often leaving Sweden for three weeks each time to have enough time to do my business in Asia. In 1995 there is no internet over the phone, no Instagram, no Facebook and no fast flying news. To get world news I have to turn on the fat TV in my hotel room and watch CNN or BBC to know what is going on around the world.

Imagine my surprise when I one evening, the 17th of November, hear news about Gothenburg. In one night it has snowed more than 50 cm. Maybe not so much up in the north of Sweden, but in Gothenburg it is a lot. Electricity is out, phone lines are out and people are skiing in the city center. I try calling my wife, but only get disconnecting signals. Of course I get worried. My family is in the middle of this and I cannot get hold of them. Later in the day I find out that they have been able to walk to my father-in-law who still has electricity. Everyone is safe.

Today this sounds very odd. News and information are flying around the globe with the speed of lightning. We get more information than we need. With the Covid-19 and economic crises everywhere I would actually like to go back to the level of 1995.

Priorities (32)

I am driving to the hospital with my wife. It is February 1993, cold with slippery roads, so I have to drive carefully. We are heading to the maternity ward. It is time to deliver our first baby. Everything is set up for tomorrow morning at 10 but my wife has to check-in one night before. In the car I turn to her and say: "I have a meeting tomorrow morning at 8.30. I will show up after that." The look I get scares me and the answer is clear: "No, you don't. You will be in the hospital at nine." 

The next day at 10.52 our daughter is born. It is love at first sight. I am allowed to follow the nurse to measure and weigh this little wonder, but when I return to my wife and she asks about the measurements I have no clue. I am in total awe over what miracle life is.

My wife will stay in the hospital for a few days and I will go and visit my new family every day. When I leave the hospital I make a couple of promises:

* I will quit smoking today

* Make sure to prioritize family over work

To quit smoking was the easiest. I have struggled a bit with work and family, but I have made a lot of progress. Even according to my wife!

Never give up! (31)

It is 1992 and the financial crisis has hit the world. Interest rates are going sky high and times are crazy. People are losing their jobs, companies go bankrupt and there is a sense of hopelessness everywhere. The Bank of Sweden is increasing the daily interest rate faster than lightning and we have days when it reaches 500%. Most of us are not prepared for this.

Do you recognize the scenario? Little did we know that crises like this would come in different forms many times for the years to come. Just look at us now in the midst of the corona crisis. The words sound familiar.

In 1992 our company had become bigger and we bought our first property. A small one in a decent location, but still our own. At the same time my wife and I bought our first house as well. The interest rate was almost 14%. In a few months we were going to get our first child.

How did we dare? Well the products we sold and still sell were consumable goods, so the companies came back to buy. Safety regulations in Sweden were on our side, PPE was important for all companies. We were only a few staff and we worked together as a team and came out happily on the other side. We have done it once and will do it every time it is necessary!

Attitude (30)

When I these days look back at my business of almost 35 years I can identify some things that have been of core value. To me, it has been extremely important that no job is better than another and that we all need to help each other. Even now, when I am in Malaysia, I can get a call from my Swedish CFO or purchaser in charge, telling me that they are going down to the warehouse to empty a container. It makes me proud. If we all do it together, we can still make it work.

I remember in the early nineties when we were just a small group of people working together. I was emptying a container with my co-workers. A man walked in with a big bag and a file under his arm, wanting to sell us something. He looked at me and I asked: "Can I help you?" He gave me a crooked smile and said: "Boy, I am here to talk to your boss, Mr Michael Cederkvist. Show me his office!" Can you imaging how I started to laugh on the inside. Five minutes later I stepped into my office and the man looked at me a bit irritated. "I said I am here to see the boss", he continued. I smiled calmly and said: "You are talking to him right now."

We never did any business but it made me realize the importance of having the right attitude.