(The names have been changed; the principles are true to how we do things at Qryztal.)
It was a cold, misty February evening, with an unnatural hush in the air. The silence was broken by the snap of a twig underfoot as a rather unremarkable man walked his equally nondescript dog across the common. Then from the distance there came a faint humming sound, rather like a washing machine a few rooms away. The humming sound grew increasingly louder and then suddenly stopped. The man looked across to the road and saw – and heard – a moped rider cursing his broken-down machine.
It was a cold, misty February evening, with an unnatural hush in the air. The silence was broken by the snap of a twig underfoot as a rather unremarkable man walked his equally nondescript dog across the common. Then from the distance there came a faint humming sound, rather like a washing machine a few rooms away. The humming sound grew increasingly louder and then suddenly stopped. The man looked across to the road and saw – and heard – a moped rider cursing his broken-down machine.
The day had started badly for Peter. He had been about to set off for work when a car had reversed into his brand new motorbike, knocked it over and in so doing had broken the clutch such that it was unrideable. So in order to get to work, Peter had resorted to his ancient moped with its very sick engine. He was now cold, hungry, and nearly two miles from home. Cursing his bad luck, Peter trudged along, pushing his lifeless moped. It wasn’t just that – work was getting him down.
He'd had a dream job lined up - but his estranged mother had sabotaged that for him. So now there was no escape from his dead-end job at the packaging factory. He didn't have a place to call his own (he was staying with his grandmother) and now he had no transport. Life just wasn't fair.
Back at the house very much later, Peter was logged in to Facebook. A friend had shared a post which said "Feeling stuck? We can help. Get in touch and let's talk." It was from a business called Qryztal Consulting. Peter clicked through to their Facebook page and then through to their website. "We've been there - we know what it's like" jumped out of the screen at him. Suddenly it seemed that there might be a way forward.
Without any hesitation, Peter sent them an email. He was astounded when, just a few minutes later, there was a reply: "Hi Peter. I just saw your email. I can meet with you tomorrow evening if that's convenient. Hope to speak to you soon. Steve."
The following evening, Peter arrived at the Wetherspoons where they had arranged to meet. As he walked in, his phone pulsated - a text from Steve: "I'm at the back. See you soon." Steve was sitting at a table in the far corner studying the menu, with a pen and notebook in front of him. They shook hands and Steve ordered food for both of them.
As soon as they had sat down again, Peter started telling Steve about his situation and how helpless he felt. Steve listened attentively, jotting down a few notes. When Peter reached the end of what he wanted to say, Steve paused and then reached for his phone. "Just a moment," he said. "I've got an idea." He dialled a number, which was answered immediately.
"Hi Ben, Steve here. Can you do me a favour? Yes... can you come to the Wetherspoons? Yes, a client... great! - see you shortly!"
A few minutes later, while Steve was telling Peter about Qryztal and how they could help him, Ben joined them. Steve introduced Ben to Peter: "Ben's from our computing division and I'm training him up on the consulting side. He was working in a garage before he came to us, and he's done loads of other jobs as well. He's a natural at this." Ben glanced at Steve's notes and asked Peter a few questions. Peter immediately felt at ease with Ben, just as with Steve, and together the three of them worked out an action plan for Peter.
"How am I going to be able to afford these sessions?" Peter asked Steve.
"Don't worry - we've got a 'pay what you can' scheme," Steve replied.
"That's a lot of things we've put on the action plan," said Peter, starting to feel overwhelmed again.
"OK. How do you think you could tackle it?" Ben asked.
"Oh, one thing at a time, I guess," answered Peter.
"You've got it!" Ben exclaimed.
"Do you mind if Ben follows through with you on this?" Steve asked Peter. "I think he could help you stick to the plan when things get tough."
"I'd like that!" Peter enthused. "But what about you?"
"Don't worry about me. I could always go and fix some computers." Steve was only half-joking about this. Just like Ben, he was learning the other side of the business.
It was getting late, so the three of them shook hands, bade each other goodbye and went their separate ways. Peter hadn't felt so good about himself for a long time - and he was looking forward to experiencing the success that he now knew he could achieve.
The following evening, Peter arrived at the Wetherspoons where they had arranged to meet. As he walked in, his phone pulsated - a text from Steve: "I'm at the back. See you soon." Steve was sitting at a table in the far corner studying the menu, with a pen and notebook in front of him. They shook hands and Steve ordered food for both of them.
As soon as they had sat down again, Peter started telling Steve about his situation and how helpless he felt. Steve listened attentively, jotting down a few notes. When Peter reached the end of what he wanted to say, Steve paused and then reached for his phone. "Just a moment," he said. "I've got an idea." He dialled a number, which was answered immediately.
"Hi Ben, Steve here. Can you do me a favour? Yes... can you come to the Wetherspoons? Yes, a client... great! - see you shortly!"
A few minutes later, while Steve was telling Peter about Qryztal and how they could help him, Ben joined them. Steve introduced Ben to Peter: "Ben's from our computing division and I'm training him up on the consulting side. He was working in a garage before he came to us, and he's done loads of other jobs as well. He's a natural at this." Ben glanced at Steve's notes and asked Peter a few questions. Peter immediately felt at ease with Ben, just as with Steve, and together the three of them worked out an action plan for Peter.
"How am I going to be able to afford these sessions?" Peter asked Steve.
"Don't worry - we've got a 'pay what you can' scheme," Steve replied.
"That's a lot of things we've put on the action plan," said Peter, starting to feel overwhelmed again.
"OK. How do you think you could tackle it?" Ben asked.
"Oh, one thing at a time, I guess," answered Peter.
"You've got it!" Ben exclaimed.
"Do you mind if Ben follows through with you on this?" Steve asked Peter. "I think he could help you stick to the plan when things get tough."
"I'd like that!" Peter enthused. "But what about you?"
"Don't worry about me. I could always go and fix some computers." Steve was only half-joking about this. Just like Ben, he was learning the other side of the business.
It was getting late, so the three of them shook hands, bade each other goodbye and went their separate ways. Peter hadn't felt so good about himself for a long time - and he was looking forward to experiencing the success that he now knew he could achieve.
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