About three weeks before the lecture, Neville performed an imaginal act on behalf of his friend David and his own daughter, mentally 'taking' each of them as already blessed with good fortune. As of the lecture he had not yet had confirmation from David, and for his daughter -- who wanted to quit her job and spend a year writing -- he had heard only a small piece of good news, separate from the larger, more marvelous thing he sensed was coming for both of them.