Experience. Or the same year, repeated?

“After 18 years in the industry, I’ve learned that the journey is everything.” This is a lovely thought. I would be more moved if the journey had included sending the deck by the agreed time.

We like to describe routine work as a heroic expedition. A slide changed because someone’s boss might not like it. The file is now called FINAL_FINAL. Nobody crossed the Himalayas; it is still Thursday.

Some people have spent those years getting better. They ask better questions, protect their teams, admit a mistake quickly and know when the beautiful idea will not survive the venue door. I want to work with them.

Others have done the same year eighteen times and put a commemorative post around it. A title and a number cannot tell you which is which. The next handover usually can.

If the work still needs three reminders and a “Hi, just checking :)”, perhaps the most radical leadership lesson is to reply.

And if anyone knows how to print this page as a PDF from my absurdly expensive phone, I am prepared to listen to their keynote.