Pedro - Lisbon
When Pedro (not his real name) came to see Douglas in Lisbon, he was at rock bottom. He had been made redundant and though he was a fully-qualified and very experienced electrician, he could not find work. He had a wife and two young children to support, and he was at his wits’ end. Going to see Douglas was a last resort, as he really did not believe in this sort of thing at all, and had been pressured into it by a friend.
“I am going to sell my apartment in order to raise cash, and I will have to find us rented accommodation,” he told Douglas, “it is not what I want to do, but I have no option.”
Douglas was adamant. “Do not sell your apartment,” he said, “within the next couple of weeks, your life will change. You will have work doing what you do best. It will involve a lot of travel, but you will have transport provided. You will have a regular job, with a good salary, and you will be happy. Do not sell your apartment.”
Pedro left the session feeling confused. It was nice of Douglas to try and make him feel better, but how could he possibly know what was going to happen in a couple of weeks? Nobody could do that. Somehow, a week passed and Pedro did not put his apartment on the market. Then, in the second week, he had a telephone call. “I am told you are a very good electrician,” the man said, “come and talk to me.” The man owned a chain of establishments throughout Portugal, and within a couple of days Pedro found himself as chief electrician, having to travel to all of these locations. He had a good job with a secure contract; a good salary and a company car. He did not have to sell his apartment.
Pedro’s life had changed exactly as Douglas said it would, and exactly when he said it would.
Summer 2005