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It wasnt until I read those headlines that I thought, Holy shit.
So how does one actually get recruited by a now-infamous sex cult?
This group had no affiliation with NXIVM, but it opened a gateway into a community of self-improvement aficionados.
I went for a pretty standard reason: the free wine and cured meats.
But the workshop itself delved deep into our egos, sense of empathy, and mental and behavioral patterns.
I even tried a turmeric-oat muffin.
This was the stuff of real growth!
As it goes, half the time people forgot to read the book.
But that didnt matter.
My point is, hes got his shit together more than almost anyone I know.
And Id come to consider him a good friend.
There were a few people from the book club, but most I didnt know.
As I made the rounds of small talk, I learned everyone else was as accomplished as Michael.
Meaning, I was amenable to most anything.
When finished, he introduced Matt, a representative from ESP.
What if I told you you could get exactly what you want in life?
He took a beat and surveyed the room.
Our patented technology is designed to help you reveal your full potential and utilize it.
Despite the overtures, Matt came across as pragmatic and down to earth.
And most of all, he obviously believed in his pitch.
I found it endearing.
He even preemptively addressed criticisms.
Some people think were a pyramid scheme, some people think were a cult.
But were really none of those things.
(Because hed mentioned cults, I went home and went way deep into ESP Googleland afterward.
There were freaky rumors bubbling up, but nothing like whats now come to light.)
I immediately noticed how important pedigree seemed to be to this crew.
Over and over, they named Harvard Business School and Wharton, Deloitte and McKinsey, Broadway and Hollywood.
It put a sour taste in my mouth.
But then again, Id just dunked cornichons into a tangy mustard.
So I remained an attentive listener.
Im sorry if I missed this, but can you explain more about what the technology is?
We cant go into specifics, because our technology is proprietary.
Instead, we want to focus on what youll gain, Matt answered.
But proprietary shmoprietary when were talking over $3K.
When the presentation ended, Matt asked us to come to him and sign up if we were ready.
A rep cornered me and started interrogating me.
Look, if it was free, Id definitely go, I admitted.
But I just dont have that kind of money right now.
Youre just like me.
I totally get it, he said.
My advice is that you just need to take a leap and invest in yourself.
Theres nothing more important.
She has two kids, single mom, woman of color trying to make it out of debt.
But she sold her car to take ESP because she valued her own potential.
And now shes getting promotions, and hasnt looked back.
It was at this point that some real alarm bells broke through the wine-and-cheese fog.
What kind of program would advise someone really struggling with debt to spend thousands on a professional development workshop?
Im not sure if anyone at the party signed up.
One rep suddenly slammed down her glass with glee and said, Remember when you asked what ESP does?
It makes you talk about all aspects of your life the way youre talking about Britney right now.
It hit a nerve.
I thought about it for weeks.
But I never could take the plunge, all praises be to my English-major bank account.
I cant say for sure that none of them knew.
It would shock me to learn they had, but also, what can you really know?
Ive seen Michael several times since, but I cant broach the subject.
To even skirt near the shame and indignity is too much.
And I believe it was a mindfuck to discover that they had helped propel such abhorrence.
No one is immune from being swindled.
Theres usually a cozy setting and lovely little party to kick things off.
They consist of relatively normal individuals and its for this reason that theyre so frightening.
