I have come to recognize the most important question that any business leader — of any sized business — must answer. That is, How much do I whine in front of my staff?

I am a whiner. I admit it. I am sure it is what makes me so sexy to women (wouldn’t you think?)

I complain and whine in front of my staff. But it’s almost always in the context of driving toward success. There are times though, when the physical exhaustion translates into mental exhaustion and I fantasize about doing what Don Draper did in Mad Men — disappearing (though he did it for weeks; I fantasize about doing it for a day). That sort of mental exhaustion, whining that could sound like depression, I don’t think staff should see. Fortunately for them, I am so much fun to be around every moment that I’m sure they never pick up on it.

Or if they do, they are probably just impressed with how powerful my whining has become.