Earlier this decade I met a friend for breakfast, and he proceeded to tell me an idea for an ambitious project. I had some doubts about the efficacy of the idea, but he lined up the support required and pushed go. And started working. And working. And struggling. And wrestling. And facing a string of disappointments, annoyances, and very difficult situations. But he persevered – with great tenacity in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds and apparent gross incompetence on the behalf of others involved in the project.

His ambitious project was finally completed this week, and he gets to tick the box on the formalities. But more importantly, he has become the type of person the project was designed to make him – not in a tick box way, but in the depths of his core and professional work.

I’m still smiling for him, hours after hearing the good news of his achievement.