The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
The voice of temptation starts up: "Those are really good quality truffles, you love them and you've been really good so far, so go on just have one. Nobody need know!"
Now I have to admit that I went very close to "sneaking" one!
But who am I trying to fool? And why am I doing this whole Lent thing anyway? Nobody else really gives a damn whether I do it or not.
The whole purpose is to demonstrate to myself that I can rise above the temptation.
If I "cheat", then the only person I'm really letting down is me!
Having made the decision to give up sugary food for Lent, I experienced the power of clarity and it was very liberating.
Normally, I would have had a brief tussle between two internal voices.
One would be like a small demanding child saying, "I want to have that!"
The other would be the controlling parent saying, "I shouldn't have that and I don't really need it"
More often than not, the needy demanding child within would win the battle.
I grew up in a family that followed the tenets of Christianity. I recall my dad once giving up meat for Lent (a big step for an Australian farmer who had a plentiful supply of quality fresh beef and lamb!).
If you want to know more, take a look at http://www.crowdcube.com/infographic I love the way they've made investing and raising capital much simpler for people and I hope they go from strength to strength. I say that because I love the concept (and also because I have invested in them myself!)
It turns out that my first ever girlfriend from when I was 17 died on Monday. So, of course, a whole bunch of memories came flooding back.
Despite appearing and acting confident externally, I had very low self esteem at 16 years old. So when I found out that Wendy Kelm, this pretty girl with a funny laugh was actually attracted to me, it gave me hope. With some encouragement from her friends, I asked her to "go with me" (which was the expression we used back then!).
In two organisations (both in the oil industry) I have also been asked to hold the rail while walking on the stairs. Like covering the coffee, it seemed like “health and safety” gone mad!
I thought to myself, “I’m not a child; I don’t need to be told what to do!”
It was the attitude of a defiant teenager.
Then last year, I finally got the lesson. I was a bit slow to learn. In fact, it took me TWO injuries to REALLY get it!.