“If you can help them cut turnover even a little,” Rick explained, “it could transform their financial position drastically. And it would give you a chance to work your magic on an even larger scale,” he added playfully. “And I’ll have you out of there in six months, seven tops.”

Brian and Leslie didn’t have to talk about it for long. They had always wanted to live abroad, but could never break away from their children’s baseball and basketball and soccer and ballet schedules.

“We would be crazy not to do this!” Leslie declared.

Six weeks later the Baileys were settled into their apartment in Kensington Gardens, in the center of London. For the rest of the year they enjoyed Brian’s work more than ever, doing market research in five-star hotels throughout the United Kingdom and across the Continent, with great success.