How to Have a Great Life

Chapter 23Prune Back the Happy Clappy Tree Sometimes

I'm always curious as to why an organization hires me to speak at its conference. There are hundreds of celebrity speakers to choose from, especially from the world of sport. (My one and only sporting achievement was third place in the sack race at school when I was six. ­Shamefully, I was actually disqualified for cheating in the egg and spoon race that year, a decision I still contest to this day.)

Julie, one organizer who had hired me for her conference, explained their reasons as follows:

‘We've had either mountaineers or sportspeople for the last few years. They've always had inspiring stories to tell, but if I'm honest the staff don't always relate to them.

I mean, overcoming frostbite ...