That final challenge of the book set my thoughts adrift more than the chapters themselves. Who has influenced me for the better? A cunning exercise in nowness, as the list will change as I write, and would perhaps be fundamentally different in a few months time, let alone a decade or so either way. But such a powerful thought…. I can think of several people who have influenced me negatively, but dwelling on these will be only destructive, I suspect. I’d like to start with only a few people whose ideas have made me pause, think, and change direction. It clearly cannot be an exhaustive list, but I may try to pull a person from each of several walks of life, beginning with childhood, moving through education and training and perhaps someone from work. In a sense, all these people have a heroic place in my mind – though I doubt any of them would recognise this description themselves. As I write, it must be remembered that I’m looking from a personal perspective, and noting the influence on me with perhaps passing nods at wider importance. I’m certainly not attempting any sort of biography of any of the people – indeed, I’d not be surprised if those still living failed to recognise themselves by the descriptions given. The question addressed is who am I, and who has influenced me for the better. Read on to find out.