Couple of weeks ago, I unexpectedly received a phone call saying that I was selected to be on The Age Melbourne Magazine’s Top 100.

According to Fairfax,
“Now into its fifth year, the Top 100 celebrates the cities’ most influential people. From actors to activists, scientists to sports stars and chefs to CEOs, the Top 100 will have changed Sydney and Melbourne in some way in 2011 — whether it’s by making a difference in their field, setting a trend or contributing above and beyond what is expected of them.”

I am truly honoured to be on the list, which also celebrates names such as Cadel Evans, David Manne and Ruslan Kogan. What was awesome too was seeing friends like Chantelle Baxter and other social entrepreneurs fill up the spots, putting faces to the voice of an entire generation of young people dedicated to making this world a better place.

While I still puzzle as to how I have been chosen, I think the key thought that crosses my mind is the feeling of grace. The undeserved, unearned sense of being given a gift. OZhut, which started 3 years ago, and celebrates nearly 10 times growth from our 1st to 3rd year is a mixture of hard work, opportunity and grace – that of those people that have given of themselves to make it what it is today.

I am a very lucky person, living in a very lucky country. I shall not take any of that for granted as we strive to make the entire world(starting with our own Marvellous Melbourne) a better place for our global family.

The Age Melb Magazine – Top100 2011:

Page 60 – Number 55(grace) – ME!

p.s. And yes, I did play 18 hours of Ragnarok Online a day, failed 3 Uni subjects in 3rd year 1st semester 2006. Lessons learnt in that one too. Another post another day perhaps?