The 20 things I know,

now that I am 50

 #1: The amount of time a

person has spent in my life
is not necessarily
proportional to their
influence on my life.

#2: If everyone is agreeing,

someone is not thinking.

#3: I’d much rather be some

people’s shot of tequila than
everyone’s cup of tea.

#4: Leaders get the

behaviours that they
demonstrate and that they
tolerate.
 #5: There are few things
as lovely and life affirming
as being with an old
friend. I see traces of all
the people we have both
been and get glimpses of
who we are yet to become,
all while feeling the deep
joy that comes from
getting to spend time with
them now.
 #6: To do the useful thing,
to say the courageous
thing, to contemplate the
beautiful thing, to give the
generous thing, to explore
the interesting thing and
to celebrate the wonderful
and happy things – that is
enough for one person’s
life.
(With thanks to T.S. Eliot)
 #7: It’s not an apology if it
comes with an excuse.

#8: Just because you’re

scared, doesn’t mean you’re
not ready.

#9: The thing that made you

different as a kid could
make you great as an adult.
 #10: Financial results are are
lag indicators - they tell you
where a company has been. The
people results are the lead
indicators that tell you where a
company is going.

#11: There are 2 kinds of risk in

the world - the risk that bad
things will happen and the risk
that good things will not
happen.
 #12: Trusting someone
means we trust 3 things:
Their competence, their
character and their caring.
If you don’t trust your boss,
you need to find another
boss. But if your boss doesn’t
trust you, you’ll probably
need to find another job.
 #13: Some of the most
important decisions of your
career are going to be
made when you are not in
the room. So the more
people who can speak for
you in that room, the
better. And that, in a
nutshell, is political
intelligence.
 #14: No matter how much I
prepare, there will always be
three versions of any
presentation I give. The one I
plan to give, the one I
actually give, the one I wish
I’d given.

#15: Anything you say before

the word “but” doesn’t count.

 #16: The most difficult and

painful experiences of life are
called crucible experiences for
a reason. They strip away all
that does not matter and never
did. They show you your life
and your choices very clearly.
They give you a chance to
decide what you want and
who you want to be. And what
you really, truly don’t.
 #17: Work in the wrong
place, with the wrong
people, doing the wrong
thing, and your remuneration
will literally be
compensation.
Compensation for all that you
have to put up with, swallow
and become. And at some
point, no amount of money is
going to be enough.

 #18: I'm not going to take

criticism from someone I
wouldn’t take advice from.

#19: Everyone I will ever meet

will know something I don’t.

#20: A real team is not one

where everyone agrees. It’s
one where everyone commits.

 Happy 2023
everyone.
Here's to a year of
connecting,
reflecting and
learning - no matter
what age we are!