Dragons' Den2006

Michael - Entrepreneur:
Nestle Canada or any other beverage company, they don't own springs. They lease water off people like myself. Leasing this to a company, the going rate is 5 cents per gallon. The spring, it produces $200,000 gallons of water per day. 5 cents per gallon will bring $365 million per year.

Robert Herjavec:
But show me an order from one that you've talked to that said, "Love your water, Michael. Here's my order".

Michael - Entrepreneur:
I haven't approached a larger company...

Robert Herjavec:
You're telling me this is a good business but you don't really know.

Michael - Entrepreneur:
I do know.

Robert Herjavec:
But if you know, show me the order.

Michael - Entrepreneur:
The reason why is because I... I'm a young person. I may not have the prestige or expertise as...

Robert Herjavec:
Michael, you know what, I gotta tell ya that is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. Everybody in my whole life said that to me. I was 22 years old and sold a $100k system to General Electric. And people said, "Oh, they're never gonna buy from you, you can't call 'em up". You know what I did? I picked up the phone, I called the receptionist, and I got a meeting. Pick up the phone, call one, get an order, and then ask for money.

Michael - Entrepreneur:
I recognize the value of your network, and your network is a very strong network.

Kevin O'Leary:
Everybody comes in here and says that.

Robert Herjavec:
You know, Michael, let me tell you another thing. So, you know I'm an immigrant to this country, I had nothing...

Laurence Lewin:
Oh my god...

Robert Herjavec:
Here we go, I'm not gonna cry! You know what, it's funny to you but this is serious to him. I mean, he's invested his family and everything and I gotta tell you, just a piece of advice: people always tell you "it's about who you know" and "it's about your connections" and granted, if you have that it's easier, but it's also a load of crap. All it means is you gotta work harder than somebody with a privileged life like O'Leary who knows everybody. You just gotta work harder.