Page 4 of Accidentally Joining His Cult

To me, it doesn’t matter if I’m talking to one person or five hundred. I know what I’m saying is important, and I absolutely love what I do.

As I launch into my speech about our plan for the day, movement in the crowd catches my attention. It isn’t unusual for people to trickle in late, especially in these larger groups, but most people who do, don’t confidently approach the stage.

For a moment, I think the man strutting up the aisle is going to join me up here, which would be a first. At the front row, he stops, resting his hand on the person’s shoulder to his left, and looks down at them. They glance up and look like they’ve seen a ghost. I’ve never seen someone jump up so quickly. They offer their chair without him saying a word, and scurry to the back where there’s open seating.

That was a little strange.

Maybe this man needed to sit up front for some reason, and there weren’t any other seats open. You never know what someone else is dealing with in their own life, so I always try my best not to judge anyone without all of the information. That was really nice of the other person to switch with them.

I could give this presentation in my sleep, so the distraction does nothing to slow me down as I give a brief intro. “Okay, now for the fun part! Everyone please get up, and, if you’re physically able, stand on your chair.”

We always warn the facility ahead of time that this is the plan and are assured of the quality of their furniture before making this request. Companies also sign over liability in case anyone were to get hurt, so we won’t be blamed.

As usual, everyone hesitates. There are hushed questions and looks of confusion all around the massive space. A lot of people have stood up, but most people don’t seem very excited to jump up on their chairs.

Except for the man in the front row. He steps onto his without hesitation, his boldness creating a ripple effect. People around him follow suit, and soon the entire room is standing on chairs, eyeing him. He must be someone important at the company.

As I give him my full attention, I realize that I recognize this mystery man. He let me cut him in line at the coffee shop this morning.Small world.

I beam at him. “Do you always do what you’re told, or are you so bored of me already that you want to speed along the workshop?”

His answering grin is a little wicked, “I like to look down on everyone else, and this seemed like an advantageous position to do so.”

I can’t tell if he’s serious. The slightly less intimidating but similar-looking man next to him barks a laugh, and those around him echo with their own laughter. They must be used to his darker brand of humor.

Are they the Caldwells?It would explain why everyone around them is so captivated. They certainly seem to hold a lot of influence in this massive crowd, I don’t think I’ve ever had everyone up so quickly.

My boss always gets excited when influential celebrity types take an interest in the programs. Viktor thinks they can inspire larger numbers of members to join us because people tend to trust the recommendations of those that they look up to. I don’t think that means we should necessarily give anyone special treatment to get them to join, they’re not more important than anyone else, which is why I never bother to look up pictures of those people before meeting them. But if we can inspire more people to improve their lives, who am I to question the man who designed the programs?

I still can’t believe I get to work with him at all.

Apparently, I have high recruitment and retention percentages, so he likes to have me run the workshops that have these potential influencers in them. I’m not sure what’s so special about me. Every coach who runs these seminars does a fantastic job helping people. I’m just honored that Viktor wants me to help spread his ideas and knowledge.

I draw my attention away from my coffee shop friend, addressing the room. “The idea of this opening exercise is to force you out of your comfort zone.” I pace across the stage to my own chair, circling it. “To encourage you to question the motivation behind your actions.” I spin the chair around so that the back is now closer to the audience. “Do you do things because they’re considered ‘normal’?” I use air quotes, pausing as I speak. Then step up onto the chair. “Or, do you do things because you want to? Because they bring you joy?”

Then I do a backflip off the chair, landing calmly on my feet as some people gasp, and others start to clap. I’ve also done this enough times to know what suits work for flips, and I love how surprised people always look.

I wait for everyone to settle down before continuing. “I apologize if that was a bit obnoxious. I’m not trying to show off or impress anyone,” I say. Smirking, I straddle the chair, leaning forward on its back toward the audience in a relaxed stance. “I know it’s early, I’m simply trying to get everyone’s attention so that we can have some fun today.” I flash them all a cheeky grin. “Plus, I think flips are fun.”

My opening works like I hoped it would, people seem more relaxed and engaged, and I talk for about twenty more minutes before I have them break off into smaller groups to work on exercises while I walk around to some of the groups that seem like they could use the extra encouragement.

Once they’re done with that portion and back in their original seats, I play videos that Viktor and some of the highest-level coaches have put together. No matter how many times I watch them, I never get bored with their insights and teachings. But, I skip the ones I’m featured in—I prefer engaging with the audience live rather than relying on pre-recorded material.

We work through lunch. Kyla always requires businesses to supply food for their employees during our corporate seminars to keep people engaged and reward them for their active participation during these day-long events. Time flies like it always does when I’m working, and before I know it, I’m giving my closing remarks.

“Thank you to every single one of you for showing up today! I hope that our time together has allowed you to reflect on your personal aspirations and to begin a new chapter of growth in your life,” I say, meaning every word. I’m always so bummed when the day is over. “If today inspired you, I would be absolutely thrilled to see you again for our Individual Empowerment Program that I’m hosting on Saturday. Please feel free to come up and chat with me if you have any questions, and links to the sign up should already be in your company email. I sincerely hope to see you again, and that today has made a positive impact on your life.”

We offer a lot of smaller classes to individuals, like the one I’ll be hosting this weekend. Anyone can sign up for them. We work with each person to determine what their goals are and help them overcome whatever hurdles may be a barrier on their path to success.

For some people, it’s career-related: starting a business, working toward a promotion, or earning a degree. Others hope to improve their personal lives, relationships with partners or family members, or to change personal habits with fitness, food, or drugs. We’ve also helped countless people improve their anxiety and depression.

Really, whatever is holding a person back from reaching their full potential, we can empower them with the knowledge and tools to overcome and succeed.

The smaller classes are my favorite because they foster deeper, more personal connections with participants who actively choose to engage. Limited to a hundred people, these sessions prioritize meaningful interaction, where engagement is key to success.

Waving, I walk down to stand in front of the stage where there’s already a small group gathering to ask about the classes. Smiling, I answer a few questions, confirming details and expressing my gratitude that so many people are showing interest. After about fifteen minutes of chatting with everyone, they disperse with promises to see me this weekend.

As I unclip my microphone and turn to pack up my laptop, a deep voice surprises me.

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