It's a lesson in expectation management.

Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.

Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.

You can't argue with 29 percent growth in worldwide new business.

We've seen quite good sales figures from all the UK life insurance stocks. It looks like people are buying savings products once more and the sector seems to be performing relatively well again now after a tough few years.

They're good numbers, with both the UK and international figures a touch ahead of what people were expecting.