When I first asked Roger Cowan to help me build Distil into a great company, I couldn’t have dreamed what it would be like.

You see, almost every single day, Roger comes up with a new idea or change in policy. Sometimes it happens twice a day!

It’s almost like as soon as you have started down one path, he’s back with a new idea. Systems are designed that need changing; brochures are drafted that need redrafting; letters are printed that need reprinting. And that is why you might notice that the recently posted brochure did not include some major benefits that have been added since it was printed.

But…I must admit there is a positive side. I can’t believe the passion Roger has for the Club Industry, as well as the fact that every change is driven by the strength of his desire to offer something that will really add value for all clubs. I don’t know how many times he has said, “No, that is not good enough, let’s find more value.”

In short, working with Roger has helped me understand why he was so successful as the CEO of Panthers. And it has led me to have great empathy for all former employees at Panthers - actually 'sympathy' might be a more appropriate term.

I have to admit that what we are offering now is much greater value than I had anticipated when we started.

I am starting to understand that there is a price to pay for everything worthwhile. In this case I think a successful program might be worth a constant pain in the backside.

But please be sympathetic!