My old man was a builder. He was right in the middle of building the first ever townhouse community in Minneapolis. At one point he only sold two units in two years during the Carter years. And of course the money that he had borrowed to build the project was also at a high interest rate.
I recall coming back from the site with my dad and we dropped off by the bank. Both me and my dad went up to see the president in our work clothes (I was 15 or so). My dad thought it would be a good experience for me.
Anyway - he told the president something like “And don’t worry, I’ll have the payment check to you on Monday.”
The president, who my dad had worked with on all of his projects, chuckled and said “Oh - I’m not worried Bob. I know you’re worrying enough for both of us!”
I’m not sure how my Dad did it. At that time his partner quit the project, so dad assumed all of the liability and risk. Of course at the end, once it was completed years later, he reaped the rewards.
good story, lots of builders went under then, it was very tough.