Melvin is an East Indian, born in poverty during the deep years of Apartheid in South Africa. His mother, a recent convert to Christianity, kept her family fed during those lean times – not by scrounging for food or begging, but through prayer.  She would wake her children up at 5am, they would begin to pray, and by 8 o’clock, food would show up. Much like the legendary George Mueller. Melvin had deep ambitions for success which were only further fueled when his older brother, law student and economic hope of the entire family, tragically drowned. Melvin moved to New Zealand and started in the world of sales.

For a long time he was an abject failure. His boss secretly allowed him to sleep on the company floor, as long as he was dressed and ready for work before any of the other employees showed up.

A major turning point occurred when Melvin discovered a Zig Ziglar cassette tape in the Auckland library. He rented it with his last two dollars (instead of eating that day) and dug into it with fervor.