It appears 2015 Young New Zealander of the Year Guy Ryan has bridged the gap between looming failure and soaring success.
The obvious question is, how?
Alex Devereux is a graduate employee with dairy giant Fonterra, a past chief executive of Dunedin student philanthropic business consultancy Ignite Consultants, and, this past summer, a contracted facilitator with Live the Dream, in Auckland. Mr Ryan is his mentor.
''Guy's an inspirational character ... humble and approachable, and incredibly switched on,'' Mr Devereux says.
''He's always got time for a chat, and he's very focused on personal development.''
Agenda setting Dunedin city councillor Jinty MacTavish has been a friend of Mr Ryan's since university. She hosted him and his wife this week when he was back in the city for the first time in a year.
''He's a real firecracker. He gets an idea and just runs with it,'' Ms MacTavish says.
''There's often so many obstacles, but he doesn't see them. He just sees them as challenges and learning experiences.''
He has matured since moving to Wellington, she notes.
''But then I guess that's what you'd expect from someone who has become the chief executive of a major social enterprise.''
It is hard to find anyone with anything negative to say.
Malcolm Cameron comes closest. He is founder of Dunedin based youth development organisation Malcam Trust, the 2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year, former Inspiring Stories Trust board member and Mr Ryan's mentor.
''Sometimes like all of us, he gets things wrong,'' Mr Cameron says.
''I'm sure there are things which I could think, God, he rushed into that, or he did this. But they'd only be the sorts of things I did myself.
''To me he's a very bright shining star ... I don't see weaknesses at all. I just see a desire to make the world a better place ... and an ability to succeed.''
Mr Ryan's own words bear this out.
''Absolutely live your passion, and do what makes you come alive. But pair that with a purpose that is bigger than you,'' he says with fire tested conviction.
And his actions are a match. It is the pursuit of his dream _ for which he has risked much, and to which he has committed himself relentlessly _ that has, and no doubt will, see him prevail.
''We've been quite firm that our vision is to see every young New Zealander unleash their potential to change the world. That's hugely ambitious. But I feel as a nation that's what we need to be striving for. It's the level we need to be playing at.
''You know, raising $10 million for an endowment fund that invests in New Zealand's most promising social entrepreneurs is a really scary and challenging proposition, right?
''But I love doing stuff that scares me. I just feel really lucky to have some amazing support around me, and some amazing momentum right now. It's go big or go home.''
