Don stared down at the River Mersey. How had it come to this? One minute he had the world at his feet, now about to jump and end it all. It was cold, the chilly wind was blowing, and the water was dark and choppy. Down and out in Liverpool! Professor Don Wilson OBE! Too much pain, too much alcohol and six years of chaos. How had it come to this? He was the world number one Entrepreneurship Educator, formerly of Kings University Belfast was now an outcast and could not take the pain anymore. Moving to Liverpool had only made things worse. Now he can’t find a room in a hostel for the night and his pride, or ego could not take any more.

He jumped into the dark waters of the Mersey and as the icy chilly water hit him, he felt himself falling deeper and deeper sinking down under the icy water .He knew he couldn’t breathe, eyes closed freezing water poured over and through him, suddenly he felt something gripping on to him, strong and pulling at him yanking him upwards.

The next minute he opened his eyes, and he was out of the water, spluttering , coughing water from his mouth feeling it running down his nose ,  what , How dare you” he spluttered still coughing and trying to catch his breath, what on earth are you doing he yelled at the man who was  now lying down on the ground beside him coughing profusely also.

Ahh, he answered “Professor Wilson, its me Wags McFadden, he coughed , at your service I was in your Civil Engineering class 2012 Kings University “he croaked and tried to smile. Don had lost much over the last few years but the one thing he had not lost was his memory of the many faces of his students! It was wee McFadden the Tyrone country boy who had not said much in his class but had produced a good entrepreneurship project much to Dons surprise”
 Yes I remember 95 percent and second in the class 2012” though I never did find out why they nicknamed you Wags!
 Hey Professor, the drink has not made you lose all your marbles I see, he smirked, ach as for Wags ahh that’s another story for another time, lets deal with this situation here.

Don stared at him “What do you mean why are you here?”

“Prof I’ll cut to the chase as we need to get out of these wet clothes. I found out a couple of months ago from an ex-classmate that Kings University had thrown you out and that you had hit the drink and were headed down the rocky path of no return, becoming a down and out. I have been trying to trace you and I eventually found out you had moved to Liverpool. I tried all the Universities, but they had never heard of you. Been here a week and eventually found you with help from one of the hostels you have been using.

Don felt humiliated, shivered with the cold and the shame “Have you come to laugh at me.?”
Ahh No, no not at all Prof I’ve come to help. You and your work had a profound influence on my career, and I wanted to thank you personally and see if I can do anything for you”

 “Heh ahh son I am past helping, unless you have a bottle of Irish whisky some dry clothes and a room for the night”
I’ve dry clothes here in my rucksack, put these on now, as he handed The Prof a clean shirt, heavy jumper, and joggers. Pulling off some of his own wet clothes he pulled out another pair of joggers and a dry sweater and struggled out of the cold wet clothes.

“Professor having sussed out what you have been up to the last couple of years I won’t be buying you any Irish whisky ever. However, my research has led me here and I want to have a long chat with you tomorrow morning to see if I can help you”
What that’s “you help me son? Nah It’s way too late, I have lost it, I know I drink too much, and I never really recovered from Kings University getting rid of me after what I did for them.”
Wags scoffed as they say in the song “dry your eyes mate “let us do a deal Don. I want a chat with you. Now It is the first of December tomorrow and I know how much Christmas means to you. I have booked a double room for you  at the Adelphi hotel for tonight and I have ordered two Turkey Burgers and two Festive hot chocolates for nine thirty tonight. Join me and in the morning, we will meet over breakfast. You were the man who taught me how to negotiate, so come tonight, stay, we will get you a change of clothes and relax in the morning have breakfast and a chat. If we get nowhere, you can go your own way. At least I can say I tried. Have we a deal?

Don smiled. He at least had somewhere to stay the night thanks to this deluded ex-student. He would take off in the morning with the minibar from his room,” Sure you are on. I have given up on Christmas  but I reckon you owe me a turkey burger for passing you in my course, so let us do it. I really don’t fancy jumping back into the Mersey again, at least not tonight,

Wags smiled and rang for a taxi. At first the taxi driver was not going to let the drowned looking rats   into the car, but two twenty notes melted his heart.

They arrived at the Adelphi. Step one had been achieved. Wags did not know if we could keep his old Professor off the streets, but he felt he had to give it a go.

Could he help Don even a little bit.? It did not look promising, but Wags had not played in the all-Ireland for Tyrone for nothing. He was going to go for it. He tried to remember who had taught him how to go for it? Ah yes it was this down and out beside him.

The challenge begins, he thought as the taxi took off. Step one had been achieved; step two was going to be more challenging!

They got to the Adelphi, checked into the hotel, and went to their rooms. They had arranged to meet for supper and hot chocolate in the main drawing room. Wags had got the driver to stop off first at the Lidl’s store close to the Adelphi to get some clothes and toiletries so Don could change and shower before coming down for supper
“Prof you are a new man “smiles Wags and those burgers are on their way.
“It will take more than a pair of jeans out of Lidl’s to change me “Don growled., although he did allow himself an embarrassed smile “Sorry for being a bit rude. Guess I am not particularly good at accepting help.
At least I have a decent bed for a night, first one for a week,”
“Well tuck in and here’s your festive coffee coming, tomorrow is the 1st of December and I know you always loved Xmas “.

“To be honest Don whispered it’s been a nightmare the last few years, but Christmas will always be magical for me: Do you remember the Christmas Entrepreneur Challenge “I set the students at Kings?

“Ahh Prof, I do" grinned Wags "Sure that’s what got me hooked”

“Tell me" Don asked as the waiter set down their meal "What did you do after you left University Engineer or helping your dad on the farm?”

“Me" laughed Wags "why I became an entrepreneur.”

Don nearly fell off his seat; "Son you were a wee quiet country boy. How long did you last, a week?"

“Prof I am a millionaire “Don nearly choked, and it was not the festive hot chocolate that caused the problem “

“No way”

“Yes way Prof, I applied the eFactor model taught to me by Prof Wilson and was a millionaire at twenty-five, worth about twenty million now."

Dons face was a picture, a mixture of shock and  pride at what Wags had achieved. Embarrassed  at his own disasters, but also still proud of what he  had achieved

“I can’t believe it. Why? How? Did you win the lottery?

“No PROF I applied your model the eFactor to a new business I wanted to start, and the rest is really history, Wags could not help but grin at the shock he had caused Don and he hoped it was a good one!

“Am I dreaming son I invented the eFactor and look at me now “


“Not dreaming, it’s all true and we are going to start talking about it tomorrow morning. For now, let’s finish this delicious meal and get some kip “We will meet for breakfast and at least spend the morning together”

Don smiled for the first time in a long time “well son I thank you for saving me tonight and giving me one night of comfort. You owe me nothing more. I want to hear all the gory details over breakfast before we part. I need to hear your story before I hit the streets again tomorrow”

Well Prof Wags smiled as we are both Rod Stewart fans, all I am asking in the words of Rod’s new single ”0ne more time” and they both threw back their heads and laughed.

"One more chat, eh?"

“I owe you that. But I might ask you a tricky question or two“ Don answered. For the first time in a long time he was beginning to feel good.

“What’s new Prof?" That was how it all started at Kings, the question then was “So, what are you going to do with the eFactor country bumpkin? Paint your dads barn?"

Don had the manners to look slightly embarrassed, but Wags just chuckled.

“Look forward to the chat now let us get some kip and remember, no minibar tonight for you.

They got up shook hands and headed for their rooms Don had had enough chat for one night and wanted to get into his room and a comfortable bed for one night before Wags or the Adelphi changed their mind and threw him out in the street somewhere he knew extremely well as his sleeping place.

Don found his bed comfortable, but it had been a long time since he had anything close to comfort. He felt weary as he climbed into the big bed and sank his head onto the soft, clean pillow. He slept well but had his usual reoccurring dream. Kings University Belfast had contacted him and had begged him to come back as Head of the Business School. All had been forgotten and he was back at the top of his game. He woke relaxed but soon realisation hit , it had been a dream and was never going to happen.

He settled himself and went back to sleep. The one thing life on the streets had taught him was to live one day at a time. He might only have the one night here and hopefully he would enjoy the breakfast chat with his wee country boy ex-student who had pulled him out of the Mersey. Before h he fell asleep and began dreaming of Xmas dinner in the Adelphi Hotel he thought about how he had hit rock bottom and he hoped he could not fall any further or could he.? What had Wags got to say for himself he wondered, but the was too comfortable to ponder and sleep captured him again.

Wags outlined his vision for the next twenty-three days.” Prof I am going to set you weekly challenges. If you get through them, we will arrive at our destination by Christmas Eve. If we fail one, it is over I will wish you a happy Christmas and we both go our separate ways. “Challenges What challenges?” Don burbled.” I find getting a bed for the night and daily survival a big enough challenge at the minute.

“All will be revealed when our festive coffees arrive. Now what is it to be a spiced pumpkin latte or an elf’s hot chocolate?”

"Got to go for the Elf son but please get to the point before I get thrown out of here”

After he ordered the festive drinks and they were brought back by a waiter in a Santa hat Wags did get to the point “Well Prof let’s get started . I am setting you a series of challenges using the eFactor model, and your base is here in the Adelphi until Christmas Eve morning. Where you go after that depends on whether you meet the challenges. You could be gone next week if you do not get through stage one. It is quite simple I am going to teach YOU the eFactor.

“Son with all due respect I wrote the book and applied it to the entire student population of Kings University. What do you think can you teach me.?” Don gasped

“How to use it to change your life and that of others.” Wags calmly replied. For a long time, you have not walked your own talk” I have applied it and know it really works.

Listen Prof. You produced the best entrepreneurial behaviour model in the world and somehow you let life and what it can throw at you get in the way.

 We all need a coach sometime. I may not be your idea of a guardian angel, but I am going to do everything in my power to get you back where you deserve.”

Don thought for a minute. He felt a mixture of emotions including anger that this young whippersnapper was trying to teach his grandma how to suck eggs!! He thought for a minute, what the hell, what had he got to lose now?

A week in the Adelphi way beats even the best of the hostels in Liverpool.

“All right son I guess we can try but I think all I have proved so far is that the Efactor doesn’t always work”
Glad you agree Prof here is your agenda for this week together with some joining instructions. I am away now. I’ll see you Friday here in the lobby for a Christmas reindeer cocktail. Let us hope it is not your last of the season, and with a wink, Wags was gone.

Don sipped his festive coffee trying to make a bit of sense to it all, his head was reeling, his hands a bit shaky as he  picked up a file marked urgent that Wags had left.

Don had nowhere else to go and was a little worried if he went for a walk outside the Adelphi and tried to get in again, they may not let him in. So, he ordered another festive coffee and settled down to read the file. The first page said “Save Santa Don Week one”

Good morning, Prof. Wags had written. We have made it this far. I do not want to disrespect you. You are still my hero and I owe everything to your teachings and the eFactor model.

You are going to be working through the model as I did.

This week is creativity and resilience. You need to dig deep into your creativity and learn to be resilient. You will have three coaches who will arrive at ten o’clock tomorrow morning and you can use the Adelphi training room and wherever else you need in Liverpool. Your creativity coach Is Dr Wendy Brennan from the Liverpool school of Performing arts and your resilience coach is Jonty Moran and Hils Angel your personal development coach (it is her name, and she is more than just a coach trust man, and her) Prepare yourself, Jonty is tough. In case you have forgotten anything please find an excellent book by a down and out Professor called” The Efactor” which I have placed in your room.

Don spent the rest of the evening reading his own book. He felt very humbled to have written a book that had helped a lot of people and made most of them rich. (Everyone except me) he mused.

As the evening wore on, he found that although the staff treated him courteously, no one would give him an alcoholic drink no matter what he tried., Seemed that Wag one had thought this through. He really must find out why everyone knew him as Wags. He gave up at ten o’clock and prepared to hit the sack. A GOOD night’s sleep  would help with his busy day tomorrow. As he was just falling asleep there was a click, noise and  the TV lit up and  on came the 1951 movie “A Christmas carol” starring Alistair Simon's, Don did not know whether it was an accident , some kind of electrical malfunction  or perhaps the TV was on some kind of timer, but he knew he couldn’t resist the movie one of his favourites in the good old days.

He began to watch the movie, but his tired eyes forced him asleep, and his dream became his very own Christmas movie.

This movie was about a down and out Professor who was visited by the ghost of Christmas past who reminded him about how the Prof had thrown it all away, when his university had thrown him out and who lived in squalor.

The final scene showed the old Prof had died in the snow outside the gates of Kings University that he had once made the most entrepreneurial university in the world and put it on the map as one of the most prestigious universities to attend.

Restless Don woke up in a cold sweat. I do not want that to be my future he thought I must give these challenges a serious go and hope I am still around to see this Christmas.

He was still in the Adelphi and would be meeting his coaches after breakfast.

Could he make changes or was he still on the slippery slope. Only time would tell, would he learn to love Christmas again and make something of himself or was the future cold and lonely?

He got ready for breakfast for what promised to be an interesting day. It would take some effort to change but the breakfasts at the Adelphi were good and for once he was going to live in the moment though the thought of it all going wrong before Christmas  filled him with a terror he had never known or felt before.

Don went down to breakfast in the Adelphi and ordered the belly buster fry. He was determined to get as much out of the Adelphi experience as he could but even he knew these belly buster brekkies were too much. Jeez what would my new trainer think of this he mused. Last night’s movie “Christmas carol had given him something to consider. He had given up hope as his attempted plunge into the Mersey had shown and bringing Wags into his life had got him thinking. Was there a way back for an old Prof who reacted badly when his university had lost interest in him when he had given them everything, and he was no longer useful to them? Wags was trying to help, and he owed it to him to give it a try, but he knew after the past year that his mental state was not good, and it would take more than a few training sessions with the best of coaches to turn things around.

Still the future was closing in fast he wasn’t getting any younger and being on the streets was not conducive to your mental and physical health. In the words of his hero Rod Stewart the rockstar” “one more time baby one more time”, could he do it.
He was meant to meet his three trainers in the lobby. At 10 o’clock they all appeared getting out of a limo, at the front of the Adelphi, those hanging around were all agog… a limo at the Adelphi. They approached him immediately and introduced themselves. The leader was a large muscular bald man called Jonty who was obviously really a fitness personal trainer “you look terrible and very overweight big man I am going to take you in hand” he reported. Don felt uneasy.

The second person a sweet blonde lady (Don was instantly smitten) smiled at him “HI I am Hils Angel your personal well-being coach. I am here to help you be a better version of yourself and teach you how to take care of Professor Don Wilson and how to love yourself. The third person Dr Wendy Brennan introduced herself “I am here to boost your creativity and stretch your imagination, so you perform at your full potential we have all read your book and think It is great but … mmm it didn’t seem to do you much good she retorted “
Don didn’t know whether to laugh or cry what was Wags up to and he sure liked how Hils Angel made him feel, life was beginning to get a little complicated.
Wags had booked a training room and so all four headed there.

They each conducted a consultation for an hour with Don and left him with a training plan. They would all be there for two hours each morning for the rest of the week.
2 hours each that was 6 hours of his day, Dons head was spinning he was so used to spending his days alone with his thoughts and memories, and feeling sorry for himself, how was he going to manage thus?
The first meeting was with Jonty, who was direct and blunt. nearly to the point of rudeness Don thought.
“You are 5 stone overweight, you drink far too much and eat very unhealthy we need to do something about this buddy, or you won’t be here next year” Don did not exactly welcome Jonty’s blunt opening, but he inwardly acknowledged that he spoke the truth, but bloody hell all this at once Don felt rather faint. Ok mate so what can we do over the next few weeks.
Jonty laughed a menacing laugh ohh matey I’m going to spend two hours every morning with you, and you are going to learn how to be a boxer.
“You must be joking stuttered Don aghast. No joke big lad I am going to get you fit and you are going to learn to fight back in and out of the ring. End off. Your boxing ring is set up in the Ainsley suite here at the hotel and we start tomorrow morning. Tyson Fury will be living in fear in case you might fall in top of him, Jonty joked “

See you eight o’clock tomorrow morning and no breakfast by the way, only fruit juice until after your training, jonty was chuckling away at the look on Dons face. Now I am going to hand you over to Hils. I will make you fitter and prepared to fight back. One rule no alcohol at all over the next few weeks. You Will be assessed every morning. Huh thought Don I haven’t been able to get a drink since I came here and today, I feel I really need one. What have I let myself in for.
Jonty did not seem the type to mess about with.
“Right big man here’s your gear see you tomorrow morning
Don’t pick any fights before then oh and stay away from the buffet trolley and those sissy type of Christmas coffees. With that Jonty was gone leaving Don open mouthed and a bit in shock as to what he was being tasked to do. Wags was taking this whole thing very serious, but did he really think his shambles of an old Professor could turn things around in such a brief time? And what was this “gear” Jonty had left.?


The next meeting was with Hils, as soon as he saw her his worries melted away, she was smiling at him and what a smile, it had been a long time since anyone so pretty had smiled at him without him feeling their sympathy or disappointment. She was petite, quite a contrast to the Baldy ex door attendant Jonty who seemed as hard as nails, yet Don felt there was a bit of a kindred spirit there.
but appearances can be deceptive. “OK Prof Wilson Wags says you need help with your mental health, your anxiety issues, depression and suicidal tendencies. Don reeled, what he thought I don’t have any of those issues…. or do I he questioned oh dear had it really come to this. Hils interrupted his thoughts, I am here to help you learn to be calm and focus your mind, I will teach you breathing techniques for many different issues, you will learn to take care of yourself no matter what your situation and learn to love yourself for who you are. Whoa thought Don she is definitely worse than Jonty! Love myself for who I am, a loser yea right. But as he looked at her, he wanted not only to love himself but to believe that she could love him also. Man, he thought, Jonty would say your punching way above your weight, and Don laughed to himself.

 I believe in getting started straightaway Hils was saying. First we are going to do a short meditation, now close your eyes and try to relax. Gee whizz Don tried to relax but he kept seeing that megawatt smile  Hils had and it flipped his insides , but he did as instructed and listened to her soft relaxing voice, and he felt himself soften and relax. Fifteen minutes later he had to admit he felt so much better  “what happened? that’s the most relaxed I have felt for years” . Really replied Hils well I’m guessing that was also your first meditation experience. Which is one of a number of things I am going to teach you this week. Dons mind raced thinking about other things he would like her to teach him. I will also help to build up your resilience skills. Wags briefed me on the tough time you have had, despite doing some magnificent work. Jonty and I want to help you move forward. The thought of getting into a boxing ring tomorrow with Jonty flipped Don’s insides in a very different way.

Hils   noticed the change in Don and smiled “listen Jonty and I are good friends and work together on many projects. His role is to toughen you up, make you physically fitter so you can deal with the changes and get back to your career and what you do best.
Huh snorted the Prof. “it’s too late for that” Oh well sighed Hils, let’s just wait and see. Hils was one of these people who could reassure you easily and you believed that in her eyes you were worthy. She showed him how to do progressive relaxation and gave him a podcast of hers to use every morning and evening up to Christmas eve “I will teach you a couple of other skills but do your relaxation twice daily and see if it helps. Don warmed to Hils and tried to keep his mind from wandering off on what skills he would like to be taught by Hils. Still, he dreaded working with Jonty. He knew he was overweight and unfit, how would he cope.

Well for now he had nowhere else to go and this was his journey for the week and sure he would do anything to stay in the warmth of the Adelphi hotel. Hils was speaking to him again,
“Ok I will hand you over to the creativity person Dr Wendy Brennan” and I’ll see you again tomorrow. Don like the sound of the second bit but wasn’t quite sure what Dr. Wendy would be doing with him. He was beginning to feel tired again.

Don was pleasantly surprised when they met. She was Head of creative arts at a local FE college and a scouser with a sense of humour

.” I want you to pretend you are a wildflower blowing in the wind” she said much to Dons horror
. Don thought he was going to be sick, what did she say. Hah I am only joking she laughed, Don did not feel any relief, dear god what was she going to ask him to do,
  Actually, I want you to use your creative skills to create a new angle for the Efactor which was a terrific book by the way
Did you really write it? and if you did what are you doing here?” she went on to ask
Don thawed, feeling relief flood through him this he could handle honesty and humour

“It is a bit of an irony he answered yes I came up with the model, applied it in a university and everyone used successfully.
Next thing I know the powers to be felt I was getting too big for my boots so to speak, everyone wanted me not the university and I got squeezes out. I was crushed, devasted I lost my source of income, my self-esteem, my confidence my relationships, most of my friends all went at the same time, what a blow, and to top it all, I felt really sorry for myself, and I began to drink, a lot more than I have ever done. I came to Liverpool, not really sure why, it’s a cool city to be in but I knew no one and   hit rock bottom and Wags fished me out of the Mersey that’s how low I had sunk.

Dr. Wendy wasn’t one to offer sympathy “Well, you taught creativity and you yourself created a great model
I am going to help you create a slightly unusual way of using it. Wags swears by it
We will spend a couple of hours each day and see how it goes. For tomorrow morning I want you to perform a fifteen-minute play that you write tonight, and we will take it from there. “Write A play.
Dons face was a picture., and not a pretty one. See you tomorrow Jonty says the Limo is here and with that she was gone. A limo no less that Wags one must be minted Don thought.
Don decided to sample Afternoon tea at the hotel he was determined to enjoy his time here as much as he could, and he had always fancied trying Christmas afternoon tea, so he was going to enjoy every little piece. Tonight, he had to write a play and tomorrow he faced performing it. He was scheduled for, a fight with Jonty and some eastern mumbo jumbo with the lovely Hils. A part of him wanted to just leave because this was certainly not his comfort zone. although he had fallen mightily from his perch at Kings University, he felt Wags was genuine in his attempt to help him, so he could at least go through the process. Time for a quick bath, ahh the joy from that alone lifted his spirits before dinner,
Sometimes he wished he had never written the EFACTOR. but he could manage a few more days in the Adelphi before reality came back to get him, couldn’t he ?

It was strange in the Adelphi dining room, most of the staff were from Northern Ireland. He knew Liverpool had a strong Irish connection, but this seemed a tad much .He wanted to escape Northern Ireland and all it reminded him off.

At Dinner he was served non-alcoholic wine despite his attempts to order a Harvey Wall banger, a beer gin anything to give him a bit of a buzz but Wags seemed to have all the staff on his side, for goodness’s sake you would think the man owed the place.
He knuckled down to work and did some of the stretches Jonty showed him and they weren’t easy, his legs hurt and his neck and shoulders, a different kind of hurt from the stiffness he had from sleeping rough. Then he practiced some of the breathing exercises and relaxation techniques and put on the podcast Hils had given him. He could feel his body was more relaxed and his mind was not whirring so fast. He was beginning to think more clearly, and hi mind more focused.

He started to write the play he had been tasked and wrote what he knew. The play was about a professor who had fallen on challenging times, but that made him feel low, so he called it a night and climbed into bed.
Tonight, he felt he was struggling to fall asleep, but soon he found himself in a nightmare.
 He was leading a meditation group for trainee Santas who all looked like Jonty and they refused to relax and then they chased him out of the room and out onto the street. He woke startled, then realised where he was and why .He was down and out in Liverpool, but for now he had a warm room and a full belly , but he had challenges to complete. It became clear to him, he knew what he had to do. He was once , the King of Christmas , and he wanted that again, so he had to rise to the challenge step up to the mark so to speak use this opportunity to make things better and  things were getting better It was only another  three hours until Adelphi breakfast the belly buster Don smiled before he sunk down into a deep sleep thinking of his hearty breakfast before seeing Jonty again

After breakfast, the following morning Don had a short meeting with his three trainers, Jonty Hils and Wendy then down to business with Jonty first
It all started off ok with some gentle sparring with jonty after learning the hook and the right cross, and then suddenly it all changed. A mountain of a man six foot five and twenty stone was brought into spar with Don, who was puffing a bit at this stage after sparring in the ring with Jonty.
“Big Mel meet The Prof three rounds of five minutes duration. Go for it. Don was petrified

He tried to recall the techniques Jonty had taught him and the mindful exercises Hils had given him but facing Mel the Monster all he could recall was the breakfast he had consumed that morning. Big Mel chased Don round the ring and eventually got him in a corner. Don knew he had to fight
or he would be humiliated and mashed to bits. In sheer desperation he caught Mel with a right hook, then a left to the chin, danced around him and and fought like a demon. Years of frustration driving him on, then Big Mel  caught him a low blow right in the gut and a cross to the temple  Don hit the floor he could feel the breakfast churning trying to get up to his throat as he lay there , he struggled and stumbled to his feet at the count of 9 Big Mel came towards him but before he could finish him off Jonty stepped in “Enough”,  a round of applause  from the guys in the gym.
“You may be five stone overweight big man but there is nothing wrong with your heart. You have bottle, determination, and the will to survive you have learnt much today. aye thought Don I’ve learnt not to eat a belly buster fry before a fight.

 Jonty gave him a series of exercises to do and some shadow boxing routines to work on. We will keep working to get you a solid routine before the end of the week!” Don gathered up his stuff and headed to the changing rooms before his next session with Hils Angel

The session with Hils went well as he had practiced with the meditation on the podcast  as requested. He was able to relax meditate and focus. She then did a “Chakra balancing “practice which involved checking his energy systems in his body. Don never knew he had these, he was learning a lot today. Hils noticed that Dons solar Plexus was depleted and so she restored the energy in that area.
He felt much better after the session and she gave him some mindful exercises to practice.
The aim she explained was to focus on the moment. Don thought he’d be happy to focus any moment or all moments on Hils, he really did like her.He felt some connection there and wondered if she felt it too .Thinking about nothing was a bit of a change for a Prof who felt part of his job was to think all the time,

Hils did three simple things with him. She got him to breathe ten times in through the nose and out through the nose., this was difficult at first but more relaxing the more he practiced. Next, she got him to focus on the statue in the foyer of the Adelphi for a minute just gazing and breathing Finally, she got him to look out the window at the first tiny particles of snow began to fall.
Don gazed out as the snow softly drifted down and he knew how harsh  the last few years had been ,but they had not taken away his love of all things Christmassy
 
Hils was explaining  “one of the problems we all have is our thoughts. Many of them negative, so it’s good to be in the moment and find a way to pause your thoughts, so you can control your thinking and keep your thoughts positive, stay with the moment. Don shuddered and took his gaze away from the window, no no I can’t he cried his voice rising I don’t want to be in the moment I can’t.

Hils smiled patiently “Give it a chance. I will give you some exercises to do tonight. Try them. Tomorrow is our last day together so you can forget all about it, and me if you want to after that “
Don calmed down, forget all about it, there were many things he wanted to forget all about but not these times with Hils trying to teach him about himself … he knew that was what she was doing , he knew he wanted to resist , he didn’t feel good about himself  but  Wags was giving him this opportunity he realised and so was Hils so he would try . There was no doubt he suffered from anxiety these days and he didn’t like the feelings, so he agreed to give it a shot…it was worth it to see Hils smile again at him, and he found by using the exercises it stopped him thinking about getting a drink that was a real bonus.
.
Next it was another session with Wendy Brennan and Don had to perform his play. He felt a bit of an ejeet. if truth be told. He had struggled to put something together and eventually created his own version of “A Christmas Carol “with himself in the role of a drunken old Scrooge type
who  flings himself in the Mersey but ends up saving  someone else  who had already jumped in. then he changed to his old  but better self and creates a Christmas workshop to help other homeless people learn self-respect and change their lives.It was a bit muddled and strange .Wendy was quiet for a minute and Don waited to get the inevitable dressing down for making fun of his situation and plagiarism and for  using old movie, what had he been thinking?

“Well Don, I have got to say that was a good first attempt. You have created something with potential out of your own situation.” Always work with what you know.
 I want you to do a couple of things you have never done before. Eat food you have never tried. Read a book you would never entertain and go somewhere you have not been here in Liverpool. I’ll See you tomorrow evening, and you’ll have done all of these by then.

 Mmm thought Don perhaps today hadn’t gone as badly as he expected. All three of his mentors had encouraged him and tactfully ignored his cynicism and rudeness. He had homework to do now, but before that he headed to the bar to have a festive coffee and plan his evening and the completion of his tasks.

Shadow boxing, fitness exercises, mindfulness and Wendy’s advice  to do  a few different things, all had to be done by tomorrow and he was sure he would face some type of new test, it was tough but surprisingly he was starting to enjoy it,  sure didn’t it  beat the monotony of doing nothing, feeling sorry for yourself  and looking for alcohol and a bed for the night , it sure as hell did .

. He found himself thinking of Hils, it had been awhile since he thought about anything other than himself He wondered how he might get to know her better, then shook himself, why would she want to know him, he was just a project to her, doing Wags a favour, and where was Wags he pondered, .Ahh well who knows what tomorrow would bring, a closer return to the streets he thought, and remembered Hils telling him, to keep his thoughts positive. One little bit of progress was bumping into an old friend from the homeless centre who had been selling the big issue that day, who offered to buy him a drink. After a quick mumbled no, Don rushed off leaving his old mate totally confused. Not as confused as me Don grimaced

He finished off his day doing Hils mindfulness exercises. He found the breathing exercises great and found himself focusing on his breath and looking out over Liverpool from the main lounge window in the Adelphi. He could not report any miracles, but he definitely felt less anxious, and more positive There is something to this he was starting to believe.
 It had been a busy day, and physically and mentally he was feeling a bit drained, into bed old son you need a good night’s kip. Tomorrow is a big day.

Tasks to be completed for all three coaches, and a do or die meeting at lunchtime with Wags Boy how the tables had turned he thought bitterly. I am the student and Wags the lecturer and it’s all about the book The Efactor that I wrote he  guessed . This was the ultimate learning experience! He was learning a lot. He decided to watch a movie before sleeping and chose Last Christmas, maybe Santa would give him his heart back this year

The next day Don awoke from a dream where he was lecturing the Beatles on where they had gone wrong. After breakfast he had his meeting with his three coaches he was asked to stand up. He felt like one of his own students, he also felt a bit self-conscious Jonty led the way.

You are being tested by all three of us this morning and then Wags will be here to make the final decision.

First up get gloved up this is Ken Livesey the Wirral light heavyweight champion. Three rounds in the ring please get changed. Don didn’t fancy it one bit as Ken looked extremely tough but he had done his training so he would give it his best shot. At least they were wearing head guards, but Don was not only run off his feet but was knocked down three times in the first round. He beat the count and stayed on his feet right to the end of the third round when what looked like a simple jab floored him. He got up at the count of nine and jonty threw in the towel to protect him from the knockout punch. Don felt ashamed, but he had tried. Jonty remained stony faced, and a decision would be reached after all three tests .
Next, he was put into a room with Hils. She told him to be prepared to use at least one of his mindfulness techniques.

 A member of the Adelphi staff came bustling through the door shouting “ I need to throw this tramp out” pointing at Don. He will have to leave now. We don’t want him here.” Don could feel the panic rise up in him and anxiety beginning to twist his insides. Calmly he began using his breathing to focus on staying calm kept his thoughts positive thinking about the soft snow gently falling outside the window. He was ok he was in control he was going nowhere and thankfully the member of staff apologised for the intrusion and left. Don looked at Hils who was smiling. “Well done she ssaid you handled that great.

Finally, he was set a creativity task by Dr Wendy “you have been tasked to create a course to help the homeless in Liverpool but also to teach students about social enterprise.

Don knew he could do this, it was what he did best. He could feel the adrenalin begin to pump through him he knew he could do this, he had to get it right, right for everyone.

He suggested a project which would allow homeless charities to give students projects to make things happen in their community.
Dr. Wendy nodded and seemed to be responding to his enthusiasm but made no further comment.

Half an hour later Don was invited into the Adelphi Ballroom where Wags and the three coaches were waiting, . All had very serious looks on their  faces. Even Hils who normally looked very relaxed, seemed a bit tense..
 Don wondered if this was the end of the line for him.” Well Professor Don Wilson began Wags standing up you have rose to the challenges and passed as far as I can see. You have shown resilience and creativity and mindfulness over the past couple of days. You have made it into week two starting on Monday.

The Prof was flabbergasted, had he really showed these skills the past couple of days, it all seemed to have gone by very quickly, what with the training and the exercises and the breathing and the writing, and finally coming up with a project, his head was spinning, and he felt a huge grin come to his face.

 Wags continued , "You will be covering three more efactors abilities. Negotiation, finance, and personal branding. If you pass these you are into the final week. If not, you can go your own way."

"We can see you are trying. So stay connected and listen to your coaches, you have new ones to meet on Monday. Of course, you can stay on here  at the Adelphi in the meantime as my guest", Wags smiled and gave Don a wink.

 Yea  thought Don I did surprisingly good for an old down and out  didn’t I. The Prof had enjoyed a huge boost of confidence. I guess so said Wags, but it will get tougher, so don’t go forgetting what you have already learnt.

Don was reassured he was still in the game, though had he known what was ahead of him, he might have run out and headed back to homeless centre. He always thought he was an expert in entrepreneurial learning but boy oh boy he was now having to, crawl walk and skip the walk as well as talk the talk, would he also need to be able to run and dance.His mind was buzzing but in a good way. It seemed rather misfortunate that other people had used the Efactor to achieve momentous results. But after his initial success at Kings Don had not used it to adapt in his own difficult circumstances. Now was his time to change that .In the words of a Rod Stewart song “ Cant Stop me Now”

He wandered around Liverpool being a tourist the next few days and seeing some amazing sites and listening in to some conversations as he had coffee in the many local coffee bars. He particularly liked The Blue Coat community coffee bar which helped those less fortunate and rented out rooms to local charities at an easy rate so they could hold workshops and courses aimed at helping those in need in the community.

0n the Sunday evening before his big meeting the next day he watched the movie “Hector” focusing on homelessness at Christmas and an idea began to take seed in his mind. Another 3 Efactor competencies to achieve this week how would he fare, was he really up to it.?
 He started to feel like a warrior, and ancient one albeit but a warrior all the same. Burn those bridges, forget the past so you have no choice but to move forward. Stay in the moment he heard Hills’s voice echo in his head. Be in the present leave the past it’s gone.

Monday morning came quicker than Don had hoped. There were four people meeting him in the boardroom at the Adelphi at ten am. They introduced themselves. The first was Bobby Boldman a personal branding expert from America who talked about how he built profile for his clients and had huge followings in all major social media sites.

The Profs heart sank a little. Don liked to think that his Efactor model had gained some traction through its academic standing rather than some fluid marketing behind it.

“Don, you had a bit of profile at one time, Boldman drawled but you seem to have disappeared off the social media and marketing map. “Well, it’s time to get some good branding out there not easy when you get thrown out of a top university and end up a drunk and homeless.

Bobby continued "You won over forty awards for your university, and they had no use for you. I get it man, happens more than you think. What I want to do is help build you a new profile and get the message out there that you are back. We need to contact everyone you know and see who wants to help you bounce back, can we do that?” What do you think, got any buddies left who may want to help you?"

"Well, we can try" said Don, "but  I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hope. It’s amazing how many friends you have during your golden times, and how they all disappear when it looks like you’re getting a rough deal."

"Ok, well Tomorrow I want a presentation on the eFactor in the form of what you did and what you plan to do now. Twenty minutes should do it." Bobby walked towards the exit long straight strides, glanced over his shoulder, and said "See ya in the morning sharp at 10" the door closed leaving Don with little time to reflect.

Yea thought Don I did include it in my eFactor list of competencies but like many people from Northern Ireland I am not very comfortable blowing my own trumpet. He muttered "Maybe it’s time for more changes."

The accountant came next a smartly dressed lady though a little over the top for Dons taste.

She made a mistake of asking Don about his personal finances. Embarrassed to the core Don fled the room, but returned soon a little shamefaced and at a loss as to what to say “Ahh Ms. Blundell quipped perhaps I was a bit insensitive in view of your circumstances eh. let’s start again".

They worked on some financial projections for his relaunch and discussed ideas and suggestions. Don showed awareness of the importance of finance in making decisions but of course the big question she asked "How can you fund your relaunch?"

The prof shrugged his shoulders| "Listen I don’t even own these clothes I am standing in, at the minute Wags bankrolls all this."

The accountant smiled, well I guess we will have to call in some of your eFactor skills and start to get creative. Let us look for sources of money and financial contacts for tomorrow, and keep thinking about all we have discussed, and with another click of the door she was gone.

Don did understand finance but like everything else related to his past with Kings he had let it slip.” I’ll give it a go for tomorrow he smiled. I’ll draw on the Efactor  and see what I can come up with. He felt he was out of his comfort zone yet all he was really being asked to do was use his own model which he had developed which was highly successful.

Don went immediately into his final meeting with Conn Barker a well-known property dealer from Northern Ireland, who was making a fortune in Liverpool and a few other cities.

“How’s it going big lad”? Conn asked him "and what’s the deal here?"

Don bristled for a moment then decided on a civil answer. “It’s whatever we agree to" and he forced a smile

Barker was loud, flashy and smelt of money "as I understand it boyo you were once the real deal and now, Well, I see you are down on your luck and could do with a bit of help."

"I will give you three thousand today for the  rights to your eFactor. Here’s the cash." Conn opened the small briefcase he was carrying and there before Dons eyes was £3000 in crisp clean notes”. The Prof hadn’t seen much cash recently, but he didn’t get carried away. "No way mate he roared it is worth a lot more than that “. " Ahh" smirked Conn "But you could do with the cash mate. This offer end in five minutes”.

Don knew he had nothing. He was homeless and alone, three thousand would see him through the next few weeks. Thinking about his eFactor he remembered negotiate and he knew how. "It’s £500,000 or nothing!" Don quipped. "Take it or leave it."

Conn smiled. "I’ll leave it, though not that I couldn’t afford it. I’m here to evaluate your negotiation skills under pressure and temptation" he chuckled "so I  hope you’re not offended, you have passed the first test. You have got to know your worth and get yourself a good deal. Wags really rates your model and I  got the job to educate you on the art of doing deals."

"Tomorrow you and I will meet with Ms. Blundell and discuss and develop your promotion plan to relaunch. Sell us on the financial side and do a deal, and we’ll see what happens." Click, click the door opened and closed Barker was gone.

Don felt he’d been back in the ring with Big Mel onlyhe had taken a different type of beating His head was pounding  did he really have a chance to turn things around ,he felt emotionally and physical drained and wished he had a session with Hils to relax and calm him .He needed to clarify a few things, he was being tasked with and only a  day to prepare for his re branding re launching and finding financial support … great , easy as pie ..not ! ahh pie he felt his tummy rumble , he needed something to eat if he was to begin planning.
 
 It was a bit weird, and Don felt the struggle to apply your own Efactor model which you had created to yourself, as opposed to teaching others. but this was the position that Don found himself in. It was a tad embarrassing to have produced a great practical model that helped a lot of people but not to have ever applied it himself.

 Wags was a smart one, putting him under pressure to apply it to himself in a crazy attempt to free him from the disaster his life had become.

After dinner he contacted everyone who was still on the email list, he last used a year ago.

Politely asking how they were doing and would they mind getting in touch with him, as he had some ideas he would like to discuss. No one seemed to be in any rush to get back to him and he guessed that’s how people were. When you were at the top of your game everyone loved you, become a down and out … no one wanted to know you. Bobby Boldman was not going to be impressed.

He worked away on a short presentation  in the Adelphi lounge fuelled by pig in blanket burgers instead of pie and non-alcoholic mulled wine.
He battled for financial contacts, and approached the manager at his old hostel, who liked Don’s idea of social enterprises and told him to focus on that. He managed to produce some projections which Ms. Blundell might actually be impressed with. The last bit of securing a deal with Conn Barker was a bit trickier. How can you do a deal with a tough, wealthy businessperson when you have no money and no prospects yourself?
Tricky but he had to give it a go. He owed Wags that. He was sharpening up there was no doubt about it, he was using all the skills he had re acquired with his coaches the past week, but would it be far too little far too late.

Tired out that night again Don slept fitfully. Dreaming he was back at Kings University. The Efactor was changing thousands of students lives and his work was impacting around the world. Just like he planned.

He woke up and realised where he was and his dream faded into nothing, what could he do.? He was feeling exhausted and alone, and truly felt this was his last chance. His boats were burnt, his bridges now ashes there was no going back…not even in his dreams.

He got up showered and went for a run up to St. Georges Gardens and back, the route suggested by Jonty. He paused in the gardens watching a few folk practices Tia chi in the early morning sunlight.It helped him feel calm and provoked some clarity to his mind. When he returned to the hotel, he meditated for fifteen minutes and focused on his breathing. He wasn’t sure what the day would bring but he was calm and positive Look at me he thought learning good habits. finally feeling a little bit back in control.

He went down to breakfast in a new jacket and trousers Wags had been kind enough to leave for him sometime last night. The nice clothes helped him feel more confident. Jonty had taught him.” Be prepared to fight, you never know what you might learn and sometimes you can squeeze through the barrier just by pure effort”. He focused on his breath and his surroundings, like Hils Angel had taught him, and wondered would he ever see her again, he hoped so.

He was beginning to feel so much better about himself. This stuff works he thought. It is not that I am guaranteed to succeed today but I’m definitely up for the challenge and I’m going to give it my absolute best shot.

He ate a pretty healthy breakfast, ignoring the belly buster fry but as it was close to Christmas, he had a festive scone and a special Christmas coffee, just in case they were his last.

He arrived at the training room to find they were waiting for him the accountant, the negotiator, and the personal branding expert. Wags had joined them and  Don knew he should be nervous, but he was not. He was in the moment, and he was pitching for one last Christmas party! Another Rod Stewart song came to  his mind it was “Reason to Believe “

Conn stood up welcomed him and  asked him to begin his fifteen-minute pitch on how he was going to collaborate with them and do a good deal that will be of benefit to others. He finished with a “Good luck Don I think you’ll need it.
 
Don walked to the centre of the room, in his mind he said breathe stay calm and talk from the heart. You know what you must do.
He began. Good morning, ladies, and gentlemen, I am grateful to be here.I am the owner of the Efactor. You know it’s conception and you know my situation

"It is because of Wags I am here, and he is living proof of how it changed his life and made him a millionaire."

"My plan is to set up a social enterprise to help the homeless in Liverpool to learn from the Efactor. I am not promising to change their lives, just to make them a little wiser, stronger and allow them to feel they have choices."

"To do this I need £250000, and I own nothing since my decline, but I do believe I can raise it in Liverpool in time for Christmas, and then you can all call me Santa Don."

"I am proposing a deal to all of you. I am suggesting you hold a stake in 20 percent of the business for £100,000. Sign this deal today and we can get this up and running. what do you say?"

The silence was deafening, Don stood motionless looking at their faces.

Conn rose from his seat and clapped his hands and said "Good effort, sounds promising but Bullshit. No one would sign a deal with a down and out no matter what your previous background. So, from me it’s a no."

Bobby quite liked the idea, so he asked how can you make this into an attractive brand? You are still technically a homeless person.

 Don felt his spirits drop. Then Ms. Blundell the overdressed accountant spoke up. "Well Don, if you can find half the investment by the end of next week, I will guarantee then we will back you."

Don did not know whether to laugh or cry but he knew he was in with a chance. He had put out a few feelers and he hoped he would get results back by the deadline.  He would either be heading back to the hostel or through to the last round of the eFactor challenge.

He had come further than he thought he could.

Wags came up to him, "well you know Prof your pitch was rubbish, but your idea was good. Social enterprise and helping others clever idea, work with what you know see me here tomorrow morning you have your final coaches to meet."

"Before you disappear to the Christmas coffee bar or the Christmas market across the road there are two people here to see you."

Don looked outside and there to his surprise was Jonty and Hils. What are they doing here , he wondered and couldn’t wait to go out and greet them. “Well guys should I meditate or punch you in the face what’s it to be" he bantered.

“Both“ laughed Jonty “believe or not I go to Hils Angels’ meditation class, and I am a great believer in mindfulness" and being in the moment
Don almost fell over on the steps. This ex-bouncer tough guy does meditation, but I have to say I’m impressed, and he smiled at Hils, she smiled back, and their eyes met, and Don forgot all about the pitch and money and deadlines, he just wanted to stay in the moment.

"Anyhow Prof" continued Jonty "we are here to congratulate you for pushing through to the last stage and to give some ideas on how to manage this last phase. You have already shown a bit of resilience more than we thought you had after a bad few months. However, the last stage is going to be the toughest, so we just wanted you to know we are here for you wishing you success."

"Keep the boxing up it helps with your fitness and gets your adrenalin up. I’ll be here in the morning for you to do half an hour of sparring, and Hils will meditate with you in the morning and last thing at night. See yourself succeeding, dream big. This is perhaps your only chance to get your life back on track. Go for it."

"The reason we are both here is we feel for someone who is down and out with a drink problem, you have been brave, and we have seen glimmers of Prof Don that Wags likes to talk about, and we would love to meet that guy soon."

Don was choked, he really appreciated the gesture he was starting to get a bit sentimental, but suddenly had to duck as from nowhere came one of jonty’s left hooks. "Just testing mate" said Jonty laughing "Aalways keep your guard up and be prepared!"

A gentle hug from Hils, a slap on the back from Jonty and they left him standing on the steps of the Adelphi. His emotions were all over the place, he felt he could do with a drink, it had been ages from he felt the hazy soothing effects of the alcohol. Could he have a drink tonight just the one just to take the edge off.

NO, He had come too far he’d do the next stage see what happened and then get that well deserved drink.

It was Christmas movie time again and he watched “love actually.”  He identified with the aging rock star (Bill Nighty) looking to make something happen. He thought about a Rod Stewart song 'An old raincoat wont ever let you down' and it inspired him. He was so near yet so far. Could he use his own eFactor model one last time and get back on track? "Please Santa Claus" he whispered "You have not brought me a present in years so how about one last chance. Let that be my present this year. One more chance" and he fell asleep with Rods song playing in his head and making the eFactor into a movie.

Don woke the next morning at six. He went straight to the gym and boxed with Jonty. Jonty added some 'fun' to the proceedings by bringing a twenty-five stone wrestler to fight with Don. Don was not prepared as the wrestler known Mad Mick tossed Don about like a rag doll, but Don always got back up and was about to be thrown for the fifth time when Jonty shouted, “Enough put the grandpa down!” Relief flooded through Don. He hadn’t been ready for this, but Jonty said "He showed grit and determination something he needed to hang onto."

Don limped away but inside he felt a little pride, the first for a long time. He had breakfast and Hils joined him for meditation. Her calming voice and guided meditation to a beautiful calm beach left him feeling revitalised.

He entered the training room and there was Wags, the Mayor of Liverpool and the Head of Liverpool business school, Don was impressed but slightly confused.

Wags explained "Your final challenge is to establish an eFactor business and set it up in the next week."

"We will hear your presentation Christmas Eve morning in the grand ballroom here in the Adelphi if we don’t like what we hear, well Prof that’s the end for you."

Don felt really irritated and did not like Wags’ attitude. He began to feel he had been used in a game and would be discarded on a whim.
The future was daunting, and it was hard to take in what Wags had meant.

The three eFactor competencies that still had to be used were. Strategic action. leadership and teamwork and personal influence. At least he had an idea and strategic direction, to move forward with. He had no real contacts with influence these days, so he was at a bit of loss what to do in that area.

He had decided to form a Social Enterprise to allow the eFactor to reach certain groups in Liverpool which needed to change their lives and turn things round. He started by going to his own hostel. He found the manager very encouraging, and got his chance to discuss with some of his old  homeless friends. They all looked bemused “What was Don doing?" How was he going to get this started? Don knew he had no credibility to get people to join him on this, but he had to keep trying .

There was nothing else for it but to use all the eFactor's to make something happen.

Don still was available for his boxing routine and his meditation. Hils had encouraged him to visualise his goals every day and despite the lack of takers he kept visualising the project working. Things deteriorated the next day, still no takers and several local hostel managers laughed at “The Nutty Prof” being a “Do Gooder”. Wags sent him an email "Well any progress? If not don’t bother turning up on Christmas eve, I have tried to help you perhaps you’re just too far gone."

Don was totally gutted he believed Wags would understand, Jonty’s words fight back don’t give up fight back kept ringing in his ears, Hils telling him always remain calm in in the most difficult situations.

Don had no other option he must apply the eFactor model to his situation. He visualised a large training seminar for Friday morning Christmas Eve which would be the launch of the social Enterprise framework.

“I’ll show him" he said glaring at a photo of Wags in the local paper at some new art gallery opening as Rocky Balboa said to his trainer in Rocky Two ”I am not going down no more.” and a Rod Stewart song 'Reason to Believe' played in his head.

He worked all through the night, he created a course, and he invited every homeless person to come to the interactive free training on Friday morning. Would any of them come? He had only one little ploy to try. Keith Ryan was his best eFactor student at Kings and was head of alumni relations at the University. He had vowed never to speak to anyone at Kings again, but as wise old man once said “Desperate people do desperate things, or maybe it was what a mad old Prof said.Anyway He fired off an email and prayed for a miracle

Don arrived at the training room on Xmas Eve with his bag packed. Keith had not replied and  it was time to face Wags and  thank him for his hospitality and the chance to change. Hopefully the hostel would take him back, if they weren’t full up. Wags had made a significant effort to rehabilitate him but Don felt now he had failed despite doing everything that had been asked of him. Don believed in the power of enterprise and the eFactor and even more importantly he was showing signs of believing he could make a comeback himself.

Well, he was not giving up just yet. He had used all eight competencies of the Efactor to create the Efactor Social Enterprise project.

A ping on the phone which Wags had got him earlier and he did love having it. Just another thing he would miss.

It was an email from Keith Ryan” Prof great to hear from you. Believe it or not I have managed to do what you asked. I talked to the new Vice Chancellor, and he is happy for a short article about the eFactor and all it has achieved hit the press asap. I put your email address on it hope that was ok.
 
Don pushed open the door to the training room with the familiar click, expecting to see his coaches and Wags but the room was buzzing with chatter and people, lots of people. The room was packed, his pals from the hostels along with the managers who ran them.

There was the Mayor of Liverpool and a few council representatives, and a few familiar faces from The Blue coat Coffee Bar in town. He was distracted for a minute by the constant buzzing on his phone and as he went to switch it off his attention went to the message button.

“You have 500 new emails” He scrolled down quickly. They we are all from ex-students from Kings. Offering help and money for this new project and listing stories on how the eFactor changed their life

The room quieted down, and the Prof felt elated. At once he began to talk about the project he envisaged. There was a round of applause as he told of his plans to use the eFactor to change the lives of the homeless in Liverpool, and the offers of help from all the students that had successfully used it. He looked straight at Wags "You may think I have failed but I’m not giving up now."

Wags jumped to his feet “Prof you smashed it. You did it. Look I decided to give you some tough love to see if I could get your back up and get some of that Northern Irish thraness out of you to help you cross the line. I used on you that subtle mix of support and tough love you gave us in Kings that produced life changing impact both at university and in our careers. It worked!"

Don not known for displays of emotion had to fight back the tears. He looked at his phone which was on silent. Three thousand messages of support from ex-students. He told the audience his eFactor Social Enterprise looked likely to go ahead in the new year, but was interrupted by Wags “The news is better than that Prof. I have just had a bank transfer of £100,000 sterling through from one of your ex-eFactor students from Kings isn’t that fantastic.

The transfer was from Ken Carter who was in my year, who founded Techno drive a multimillion spin out from Kings, his message said “Everything I applied I learnt in Prof Wilson’s eFactor class. Now it’s time we all gave back to this great man who set us all on the right pathway ahead of his time”.

Don composed himself to make the final speech of the day. “I am delighted obviously that Wags and his team have given me a chance to use my own eFactor model and put me back on the right path. It is even better because it is at Christmas time when miracles happen where we all believe life can change and we get renewed hope."

"Wags you have taught me that no matter what you know in theory, you must apply it and use it for the good of others. Always be willing to step in, or as in your case Wags to jump in and help others."

Don spent Christmas at the Adelphi, which it turned out it was owned by Wags. He really was a millionaire after all. They had a huge party for one thousand homeless people in Liverpool and they created a Christmas choir and sang all day long.

Don worked alongside Wags and the other coaches including Jonty and Hils who kept him mentally stable and physically fit. He would try and keep those practices up for as long as he could. He felt he had made lifelong friends, and perhaps with Hils in time more than friendship

Never had Christmas been so good and the new year led to the establishment of the Efactor International social enterprise program that worked with people living on the street and taught them to act like an entrepreneur to change their lives.

The eFactor swept the world and changed the destiny of many people through its e-learning digital program.

The power of Christmas miracles and the help of his ex-students had changed for ever the destiny of anyone wanting to help themselves and others. Don had learned so much.

His message would always be from now on “walk your talk, help others, keep learning and be humble.