Writing this book has been a huge challenge and really tested me, and my memory. It was great fun and I am really pleased with the outcome but like most things in life it was not a sole effort and some sincere acknowledgements are required.

First a small explanation. Writing anecdotes which are succinct, punchy and convey the right meaning for the learning necessarily means shortening, leaving out some characters and using the royal 'we'. It sometimes means that many months of planning and doing seem to be contracted to a few short paragraphs. So to all of you who were part of the experiences please read the book in the spirit intended: to big note myself!

No, no this of course is absolutely not the case and the book was written with quite the opposite intent, but you get the point. Your help and support was and always will be greatly appreciated. So thanks to you all. I wanted to begin the heartfelt tributes with my wife and children. The children had to put up with many months of changing moods and not seeing Daddy so a big kiss goes to Grace, Maddy and Beau who love Daddy regardless. This is a big thing. My wife, Kate, worked tirelessly on drafts and provided invaluable help – thank you and I love you dearly. To cap off my family tributes, love and thanks go to my parents, Tom and Val, brother Mark and sister Trish who have always loved and supported me and kept me on the straight and narrow.

To Martin Baker, my editor, thank you. The arguments and red wine were sensational. I have a new lifelong friend.

Mentioning all my work colleagues would be too long and difficult but thank you. You know who you are. Thanks also to those who whose interests were not always aligned with mine – I learned from you as well. I know who you are, but hey, no hard feelings. From the business world I only have space to thank Alan Bond and Sir Richard Branson for giving me the chances that helped change my life. To Professor Philip Brown, Professor Izan and Peter Kerby from the University of Western Australia and Professors Tom Dyckman and Dick Highfield from Cornell University I give a huge thank you for helping to shape and educate me.