The boy who beckoned.
The entrepreneur whose tap exploded.
This is the story of how they found each other.
What will you be when you grow up?
The teacher eyed her students. It was a classic question, but an important one. It led to a good discussion.
One answer stopped it. It was the boy from the back row, of course. Quiet, seldom in voice. "I'm going to be a plumber. I'm going to start the best company in the world." The teacher nodded. "The best in the world" sounded almost revolutionary, but that's what these kids had. Power and light.
***
A young restaurant owner's tap exploded. Water started spraying everywhere. Terrified, the entrepreneur rushed into the kitchen and wet his feet. Staring at the wavy floor of his new restaurant, a small fear crept into his mind for the first time.
Now we have to manage on our own. With this sentence in mind, he opened the phone. "Emergency call centre" for plumbing sounded good, because the entrepreneur felt distressed. The sink was churning and his heart was pounding. "24 Center emergency, how can we help you?" The entrepreneur breathed a sigh of relief. He would be fine, all by himself.
***
The 24 Center phone rings. It was a positive call, it tasted like life. A young entrepreneur whose career in the capital had begun with a water damage. 24 Center had arranged a skilled plumber for him within ten minutes. The entrepreneur had watched as wrenches and pliers had played in the sink. Then it had all been done. "It was perfect service," the entrepreneur said. The founder of 24 Center smiled and wished, unexpectedly, that a teacher had been there to listen.
The restaurant owner's words of thanks echoed around the 24 Center premises. The team was at work and new things were being developed. Nothing had come for free. Problems had been fought, solved and resolved. Entering the market had been a step into the unknown. A recent call from an entrepreneur had been a signal that the step had paid off. "We're needed," the dispatcher shouted, and threw the upper lip to his colleague.
As more partners joined, demand grew. An electrician was needed in Helsinki, 24 Center organised it. In Tampere, a refrigeration fitter was needed, 24 Center arranged it. People lived their daily lives and to keep them running smoothly, 24 Center kept watch - day and night.
The workers saw the spring sunshine and smiled. This is our story, they said. Be part of it. People need us.
