When the challenge is serious and ambitions are noble, only a few Conversations actually Matter. Forty-five years of intimate advising to corporate leaders and good cause advocates has left me certain that the core issue is always about character and courage. This collection of vignettes are pointers for those seeking what one client called 'oblique shafts of illumination' that can reveal pathways forward. They are learnings that have persisted over decades as words of wisdom that can make an enormous difference, when they resonate with someone seeking insight, illumination or inspiration. I hope you find them helpful in your own quest.