Regularly evaluate the results that you have to show for your developing mindfulness. Results are both proof that you're doing something right and encouragement to push the boundaries further. And, of course, if you've no results to show for your efforts but you think you have become more focused and more mindful, you have become delusional - and that's an even worse place to be than being 'happy' in normal mindlessness.

One could become paranoid - over the years I thought I was getting special treatment as a foreigner in France. But, I'm not special at all!

A Swiss client, working in France, slipped out of work early one morning last week to collect a package from the local French post office close. Sensibly enough, he was asked to produce une pièce d’identité - he presented his Swiss driving licence, photo included.

"That is not a valid pièce d’identité!" he was told. He presented a variety of papers - including a French Social Security Card (photo included) - but none of them were 'valid' - the clerk wanted a passport - but my friend didn't have it with him.

"I'd like to see your Manager" my friend asked. "He is not here" he was told - he would arrive in half an hour. So my friend said he would wait - at the counter, with a growing queue behind him! After a few minutes awkward silence, the clerk announced: "On this one occasion, I will let you have your package". Seeing common sense prevail, my client couldn't understand why the clerk remained completely still behind the counter.

"What is the problem now?" my friend asked. "It is 09.55am - it says on your docket that your package will be available from 10.00am - I will give you your package in five minutes!" When my client asked if this was a joke, the clerk replied - with a sneer - "Bienvenue en France, Monsieur" - welcome to France!

Leadership isn't the preserve of the military, or senior business people - even though all the original psychological research on leadership was focused on the military. We are all supposed to lead our own lives! So, whether you are the leader or a member of a Senior Leadership Team, a Project Leader, a coach or mentor, a parent, managing the local junior football team or simply trying to lead your own life, the following comments are equally applicable.

Obviously, leaders need to know where they're going. This is the first pitfall I encounter with many of the people that I work with. Nobody wants to see the blind leading the blind - yet we see it every day of our lives. There's a lot of needlessly complicated nonsense written about leadership and vision - but basically, you simply have to know your objectives. And, if there's someone else looking to you for leadership, then you need to make sure that they understand where you want to go - but that is not what this short article is about!

The key point that I want to make here is that, with certainty of vision, leaders act... fast. Procrastination is not just the thief of time - it robs you of your energy, vitality and, ultimately, your very vision. I am not suggesting that one should be hasty. What I am suggesting is that, once you know where you're going, once you're pretty certain about it, what you need to do becomes blindingly obvious. This, however, is when most of us hear that little voices in our head - the ones that whisper "no you can't", "don't be too brave", 'that's too courageous" - that is when self doubt creeps in. Bravery and courage are words that normal people use to describe the actions that are simply logical and obvious to leaders who know where they're going!

So, here's the question - the challenge: do your actions provide you with evidence that you are a get-up-and-go, can-do leader (of your own life, your team, whatever...) or do they point to someone who is still waiting for something to happen that will point them in the right direction?

Success comes from doing - not from waiting for something to happen.