Daniel Levin - Nothing but a Circus: Misadventures among the Powerful

I wrote this book on endless flights, in airport lounges, and during long, jet-lagged nights in hotel rooms. Writing it was my entertainment, my distraction, my therapy. Along the way, I was encouraged and buoyed by wonderful people I owe them all a debt of gratitude.

Thank you, Anita Lowenstein Dent and Tim Corrie, for your enthusiasm and sage counsel, for believing in this book, and for sparing me the experience of having to find and court a literary agent. Without you, this book would not have been published. Plain and simple.

Thank you to all my friends for your superb comments, suggestions, and support: Karin Beck, Ofer Becker, Ian Eisterer, Doris Frick, Jeff Friedmann, Helga Hagen, Oyama Mabandla, Adi Nir, Stefano Quadrio Curzio, Karan Rampal, Randy Spendlove, Carrie Strauch, Enrique Venguer, and Sonja Zwerger.

Thank you to the wonderful team at Penguin Random House: Stefan McGrath for embracing the manuscript and going for it; Josephine Greywoode, my marvellous editor, for showing me when less would be more, and when more would be more; Richard Duguid, for so expertly shepherding the entire process all the way to print; Emma Bal and Rosie Glaisher for your publicity support; Nicola Hill and Ingrid Matts for your marketing efforts; Chantal Noel and the entire rights team for directing the rights rollout; Kate Atley, for achieving the impossible by turning the contract negotiation into a pleasant experience; and everyone else at Penguin Random House who contributed so meaningfully. You have all been fantastic. Thank you, Richard Mason, for your terrific, eagle-eyed copy-editing.

Thank you, Eva and Marc Koralnik, for your thoughtful guidance, and for proving the exception to the curious universe of literary agents.

To my parents, Ariella and Zev Levin, thank you for your belief in me, especially as you, Mum, are on the fence about how this book will impact my life.

Finally, thank you, Laura, for enduring the past twenty-one years with me and for remaining my most critical and supportive editor throughout all the craziness, despite having to wonder what exactly it is that I do for a living.

In loving memory of Dr Jacques de Pablo Lacoste (19282015)

Shortly after freeing myself from Mark Grants embrace, I took the plunge and, together with my friend Gregg, set up shop across town in our own law firm. Luckily, we hit the ground running, and within a few days we had more work than we could handle. But as grateful as I was for all the legal mandates, they were all domestic American transactions. What I really coveted was interesting work in Africa.

Just two weeks after launching our firm, we were in the midst of planning the opening party for our families, friends, and clients, when it seemed that my prayers had been answered.

I have a Mr Muture on the line for you, my secretary said. Strong accent, not American.

I was eager to hear what this person wanted and picked up immediately.

Good morning, the gentleman said in a deep and pleasant voice. Richard Muture speaking. I received your contact details from a common friend in South Africa, Dr Eli Long.

His accent sounded Zambian, or perhaps from Botswana or Zimbabwe. I had not spoken to Eli Long since the seminar fiasco with Mark Grant and his partners in South Africa, and I resolved to get in touch with him soon.

Oh yes, dear Eli, I replied. How is my friend?

Eli is doing fabulously well for himself. He left government and now works for the largest insurance company in the country. He is a gem of a human being.

He sure is, I said. What can I do for you, Mr Muture?

Please, Daniel, call me Richard.

Very well, Richard, how can I be of help?

Well, Daniel, we have an interesting situation at hand, which I would like to share with you, if you dont mind.

Of course, I said. I am all ears.

Have you ever heard of Ambassador University or Ambassador College? Richard asked.

Im afraid not, I answered.

Ambassador University is... Actually, let me start from the beginning, if you dont mind, Richard said.

Please do. I was not sure what to make of this fellow. Something about his over-familiarity seemed a little strange and off-putting, but since I thought highly of Eli, who had made the introduction, I decided to hear him out.

Thank you, Daniel. Our friend Eli told me that you are an excellent lawyer, and that you are focused on providing financial education and capacity building in Africa. Is that correct? Richard asked.

Yes, loosely speaking, thats correct, I replied. At least the Africa-focus part.

Well, in that case, it is most opportune that we are talking. My group and I plan to bring young African professionals to America for training. We are thinking about a six-month programme. The training will take place at Ambassador University in East Texas, which we are in the process of acquiring. The university, that is, not East Texas, he added with a hearty laugh.

That is very interesting, Richard, I said. How do I fit in?

Daniel, what I would really like is for you and your firm to take over the education programme, to train these young people and turn them into future leaders. We will start with a group of fifteen people from my native Zimbabwe. Im thinking long term, planning ahead for decades to come. This can make a difference in Africa, and perhaps beyond. What do you think, Daniel, do you want to be part of this? Are you interested?

I was stunned. If someone had asked me to describe the ideal scenario for our firm, Richard Mutures proposal would have come uncannily close to my description. It had everything I could have hoped for a sustainable education platform, moulding a young generation into future leaders, a dedicated academic institution, and an African focus. I did not have to consider my reply for very long.

I am very interested, Richard, I said. This sounds like an outstanding project. But I have a few questions. For this to work, everyone needs to be on the same page.

You are absolutely right, Daniel, Richard replied. I can assure you that we have a very motivated group behind this, a group with an almost prophetic, divine vision, dare I say. You need to meet everyone. Time is of the essence. We want to get started in the very near future. How soon can you fly to Dallas, Texas?

Let me talk to my partner Gregg and get back to you, I answered.

Of course, Richard said. But dont wait too long. We are looking at several firms. You would be my first choice, but we do not have the luxury of waiting.

I understand, I said. You can expect to hear from me very soon.

I hung up and walked to Greggs office. Both of us were swamped closing several transactions, and could ill afford to be out of the office for too long. At the same time, Richard Mutures initiative was too good to pass up. Gregg agreed. As I had to fly abroad the following week, the only real possibility of meeting this group soon was the next day. Even though that risked the appearance of over-eagerness, I hoped that Richard would instead take it as an expression of our enthusiasm and willingness to accommodate his sense of urgency.

I called Richard and told him that Gregg and I could fly to Texas the next morning and spend the day with him and his associates. Richard was thrilled and sounded giddy when describing the exact kerbside location just outside the airport terminal where he and his partner would pick us up.

We found a flight that would leave Newark a little after six in the morning and arrive in Dallas by nine thirty. Gregg and I knew that this meant having to pull an all-nighter at work, and rushing home just to shower and change, before heading out to the airport around four in the morning. But we were too excited about this incredible opportunity to worry about sleep.