What about me?Although I’ve been called a leader at various times through my life, I’ve done my best to ignore the sentiment. The term ‘leadership’ has been used too often as a synonym for ‘command and control’, with people calling themselves leaders due to position rather than capability. That is not me.I have experienced true leadership many times throughout my career. Only a couple of times from a line manager, but many, many times from a peer or colleague. These people contributed to the most amazing experiences which I still cherish decades later. They continue to inspire me to be the best I can be. To use my unique skills to contribute and make a difference. This is the type of leadership I aspire to.My abilities are far from perfect, I am very much a work in progress. So, when I’m called a leader, I am humbled to be considered a member of this elite group of people. I just spend every day doing my best to be my best. I can do no more and am willing to do no less.I work hard to apply my own special skills to the world. I have an innate ability to bring order to chaos, to see patterns or relationships where others see mere ‘information’. I use this skill to help others define challenges and then find and apply solutions. Along the way we try to learn something and have some fun.Life is too short to be too serious all the time.If I could encapsulate my life’s philosophy into a single quote, this would be it:One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself. ― Leonardo da VinciI’ve worked on self-mastery since my teenage years. Some days I nail it, other days I don’t. But as Dr Stan Beecham, author of Elite Minds, has said, the best of the best are happy if they can hit it 80% of the time. I’m not an eighty percenter yet, but I’m working on it.People who know me will tell you that I’m generous, creative, authentic, loyal and empathetic, an eclectic mix of serious, focused professional and humorous, spiritual philosopher. A man dedicated to being a role model for his children (2 boys) and doing his best to shine a light onto the world to make it just a little brighter.The meaning of Leo Da V’s quote really hit home when I had kids. Its amazing how having an argument over breakfast with a mini version of yourself can really bring things into focus. As a father I came to realise the importance of modelling, to live my purpose and values, and provide a guiding light for my children to emulate.It is only through doing my best, to be my best that I can make a difference in this world.