Mud.

I live in a bizarro world.

I deliver strategic workshops to Executives using frameworks and tools I taught first year students at University over ten years ago. I work through my own systems and frameworks with junior, middle, and senior managers of all descriptions. It is the same stuff, but the context, language, and lens delivered through is tweaked for these various audiences.

Why would they listen to me?

Because I am their boss...? Because of the school I went to...? Because I am well groomed and have nice shoes...? Because I am charismatic?

It is weird how the biggest contest in world cricket is the Ashes - a series played between Australia and England. This means if you are born in Jamaica or South Africa or India you will never play in this event. The Ashes simply represents history, and a deep rivalry more meaningful than a sporting contest the whole world of cricket pays attention to.

Julia Gutman is a young Australian artist. So young that last year she was the youngest ever Archibald Prize winner. Gutman creates collages from people's clothes. She says a person's clothes represents them and even the smell and feel can be the closest thing to representing a person. The clothes become her paint as she rips, sows, double-stitches and embroiders the textiles to make a work of art.

In my workshops I always strive to make people feel comfortable, relaxed, and familiar with the people around them. I run a few exercises to get people up and about talking with each other to warm them up before tackling the heavier content of any session.

Over recent years I have become an early riser. Up at five or five-thirty AM, a little exercise, breakfast and into work. A couple of weeks ago, I was eating my usual over-night oats as a part of my morning routine and my phone rang without me seeing it - a friend. 'Not to worry, I'll call them back later'. Then, a few whatsApp messages came through. Then, my phone lit up.