The Oak Hill Academy for further education was established in 1965 to help students who are struggling to get into university make up their grades. It was foundered by John Henry Hill, a retired headmaster.
For 40 years the private academy help thousands of students achieve their dreams of studying at university. Sadly, in the last few years the academy's standards had slipped and now only 2% of the graduates went on to university.
The academy's board of directors had tried several attempts to improve the academy's standards, and prevent it from going bankrupt.
This is where I come in, my name is Alan Crane. I am renowned worldwide for my ability to turn a failing business into a profitable one. I had grown incredibly rich from my services being in high demand. I had considerable shares in at least 20 of the fortune 100 companies. At 45 I was looking to step back to a quieter, relaxed pace of life.
That was until I was approached to be the new headmaster of Oak Hill. Bare in mind I had no academic training, but the board ran the academy like a business.
Sally Thorn a former student of Oak Hill and now chair of the board showed me around. I could immediately see the problems the academy faced, the students lacked focus and discipline.
Oak Hill's students were aged 18 to 22 years old. The dress code was supposed to be a formal attire, but that had slipped and even the teachers were dressed casually.
I could see the potential with this school to make me a lot of money. I decided to do something I had never done before; I would invest my own money in the business.
Sally took me to dinner to ask if I would help save the academy?
"So, do you think we can save Oak Hill?" she asked me as the waiter poured the wine.
I paused before responding, as if mulling over the question, "I can see the potential, but it would mean sweeping changes to save this sinking ship."
Sally leaned forward, "What do you propose?"
"Your shares have dropped to £3.20; I will offer £4.50 a share to take the academy back to private hands, my hands." Sally's eyes widened as I outlined my offer.
I continued, "Once I have control, I would be free from the boards interference to do what needs to be done, if they turn my offer down, I will walk away and you will be bust within the year."
Sally sat in silence as she tried to process my offer.
I was 100% confident I could save Oak Hill, not because I was anything special in the business world, or even lucky. I had an ace up my sleeve that turned my life around over 20 years ago.
At 25, I had just graduated from university. My grades were mediocre, but a pass was a pass. I had spent too much time partying and not enough studying. So here I was heading out into the big wide world with my degree and £35,000 of debt.
I tried to get jobs at the big financial houses in the city, but they practically laughed me out the door with my grades.
Feeling low and dejected, I took a trip to the far east. I backpacked my way around Asia. It was there in a small village near the Indian and Tibetan boarders I found the object that changed my life for ever.
In a dark and dusty junk shop I found a bronze amulet. It was not in great condition, but I like the look of it. Clearly it was old, with a strange text engraved around the edge. It was around 50mm diameter, tied to a leather necklace.
I took it to the shopkeeper, who asked a stupidly high price for it. But after some bartering I secured it for 342 rupees, or £3.50 in British money.
It was not until a few days later that I discovered the amulet had given me the power of suggestion. Anyone I made a suggestion to, obeyed it without question.
At first, I used it to get a job in the city, and rapidly promoted through the ranks. It was about a year later I used the power to get a woman who was clearly out of my league to go out with me. I wined and dined her, trying to win her affection which I did. I developed feelings for her, but I soon realised her love for me was her response to my power.
I dated her for a year, before releasing her from my control. The sex was great, but it was hollow.
This was around the time I started to save failing businesses. I would talk new investors into investing and hired the best people with minimum salaries.