Free Awakening, 2nd edition by Ray N. Kuili Page A

with your friends, but please abstain from mentioning any personal details. The non-disclosure agreement that each of you has signed covers this rule in greater detail, but you get the idea ; however , this limitation does not apply to the people who ’ve sent you here. Should they ever ask you for specifics , you are at liberty to disclose anything you like. In fact, we strongly encourage participants to do this. This is how we get about ninety percent of our new corporate clients. Last, but not least, stay open -minded, comfortable and just be yourselves.”
    “Discreet satisfaction guaranteed, ” Paul added.
    “Precisely!” Clark seemed to welcome the smiles that lightly touched some faces in the room. “I do guarantee satisfaction . At least, to some of you.”
    Michael smiled. The promise sounded ambiguous at best.
    “I have a question, ” softly announced the cherub, who was now equipped with the nameplate “Alan .”
    “Of course.”
    “Where do you get the other ten percent of your new clients?”
    Clarks glanced at him with interest.
    “Technically it would be inaccurate to call these ten percent ‘new .’ These companies have sent their people to the w orkshop in the past.”
    “In other words, as some participants move to the very top in their companies they start sending the next generation here ?” clarified Alan.
    “Yes,” Clark confirmed in delight. “That is a good way of putting it.”
    “So you’re not getting any clients through your ads?”
    “None.”
    “How come?”
    “Because we don ’t run ads. For many years our only form of advertisement has been word of mouth.”
    “For many years . . .” the blonde, whose name according to the nameplate was Joan, looked puzzled. “How long have you been in this business?”
    “For quite some time. Longer than it ’d be natural to assume. We teach timeless truths.”
    “Ones that no one else dares to speak?” asked Paul.
    Clark nodded.
    “Precisely. And the time has come to talk about them. And about our taboo.”
    Ross leaned towards Stella and , sounding like a conspirator , commented quietly , “Let ’s see what he ’s got to tell us.”
    “Actually, this time I expect you to do the talking, ” replied Clark, demonstrating an impressive hearing ability. “I ’m only going to summarize. Remember the two questions you were supposed to answer before coming here? Well, now is the right time to discuss your answers. Please take one of the two copies you have in front of you, write down your answers, fold the paper and give it to Ed. Then I will read them aloud, and this will give us a nice starting point for our taboo discussion. Assuming your answers are honest.”
    He stopped for a second, then added, “It ’s all right if you choose to answer anonymously. In fact i t would be even better that way.”
    Listening to the rustle that at once filled the room, Michael opened his folder. Same questions, indeed. Why did I get . . . What do I want . . . And for some reason , two copies. Games. Childish games. Ok ay , let ’s play. There seems to be no viable alternative anyway.
    He looked around. The room was completely free of excitement. A couple of faces were showing weak signs of curiosity, but that was about it. The man with the m ustache was undoubtedly bored. The skeptical expression on Paul ’s face only became more visible. Joan seemed engaged and interested, but something in her face, mostly in the way she shaped her mouth was suggesting that this was merely a mask.
    Michael turned back to the patiently waiting piece of paper.
    So, how did I end up in my place? Yes, how? Of all the places . . . Anyway, that ’s an easy one. Done. What do I want when I think about my future career? Truth be told, I think careers are overrated. There are so many people in this world who were taught they need a career, but never told why. They spend their lives chasing after the next promotion, but if you were to ask them why they want it