I was extolling the importance of my job and the necessity to take it seriously to a guest at a dinner a few years ago when the guest I was speaking to started to smirk. I asked what was funny and he asked what was the worst that could happen if I got things wrong. At the time I was a headhunter and I talked about career's being ruined and the devastating effect on the person's family etc. After puffing myself up with the importance of my role and how dire the consequences of getting it wrong it occurred to me to ask him what he did for a living.

He was a heart surgeon!

Naturally I had to concede his role had graver (no pun intended) consequences and we got to talking about that. He told me how as a young doctor he had been given a brilliant piece of advice which he always held to. That advice was to not take things too seriously and always maintain a sense of humour. The reason for this he had been told was that if he took himself or the role too seriously he would more likely stiffen up either mentally or physically and thus be more likely to make mistakes.

Naturally being a heart surgeon he had to treat his job with respect and care yet in his experience combining that with a good sense of humour was vital for success.

So this week don't forget the power of humour to oil the wheels of success!