**Are You a Les or an Ian?

The New Concept That Keeps You Honest With Your Audience**

In our rapidly changing world, personal development has become the go-to compass when life starts to challenge us — whether through circumstances beyond our control or the questions we ask ourselves in quiet moments.

As humans, we have a unique talent: the ability to beat ourselves up over a range of issues rooted in our own perceptions. We second-guess. We apologise. We justify. And, all too often, we create stories that help us feel better — even when those stories aren’t entirely true.

In an age of political correctness, leaders hide behind phrases crafted to deflect challenge. The media thrives on adjectival clauses, inflating headlines and bending narratives to appease audiences — or to serve bottom lines.

But perhaps the greatest storytellers of all are regular people — humble citizens who, in everyday life, craft explanations and excuses to suit the moment.

Anyone who’s ever had an overdue account knows the strategic value of stories, excuses and, yes, deceit — all in the name of explaining why payment wasn’t made on time.

A Personal Story:

When a Bank Became LES

In my own life, I found myself trapped in one such moment when a foreign currency transfer went wrong. For eight weeks straight, from December through January, my bank lost my money — then responded with daily lies to cover up their mistake.

In that period, I became something I never intended to be — I became LES:
Lies, Excuses, Stories.

I had a property contract to fulfil — no cash and no backup plan — and the deadlines kept closing in.
That’s when the question struck me:

How can I learn to be more like Ian — Interest, Accurate, Necessary — instead of LES?

And just like that, the concept was born.

Introducing: Les and Ian

I began to apply this framework to every situation I could:

LES represents the impulsive, emotional narrator inside all of us — the one that reaches for excuses, narratives, and evasions when challenged.
Ian is the strategic agent — the part of us that asks:
“Is this necessary? Is it accurate? Is it of interest?”

Over the first few weeks of testing this idea in real life, I noticed something profound:

🔹 LES shows up first — emotional, loud, deflecting.
🔹 Ian stays quiet at first, but more observant, more thoughtful.

In group settings — especially where others don’t question their own narratives — LES thrives. He’s seen as natural, even normal.

But as time went on, Ian grew stronger. He challenged LES. He questioned the narratives. He demanded accuracy and relevance over comfort.

A week before another major financial deadline, LES started slipping into panic. But this time, Ian took the reins — calm, focused, necessary — and steered the outcome toward something better.

When I shared this idea with my partner, she said something that struck me:

“When you change, at some point you must actually do something.”

And she’s right. Action is the bridge from thinking to becoming. Over-thinking kills forward motion — especially in sales and in life. But the switch must begin in the internal dialogue between LES and Ian.

Why This Matters

There are countless books on the left and right brain. There are entire fields dedicated to quantum theories of consciousness and mind. But the Les/Ian concept isn’t about neuroscience — it’s about awareness.

It’s a thought experiment that has illuminated a blind spot in my own thinking — a pattern I never fully acknowledged until now.

And that’s why I’m sharing it with you.

So Let Me Ask You…

Are you a Les — or an Ian?

Do you lead with excuses and stories — or with what’s truly necessary, accurate, and of interest?

Change begins with awareness.

Now it’s your turn to expand on this concept.

AI Disclaimer:
All my content is written by me. AI is only used to correct spelling and grammar, enhance readability, and support SEO best practices.

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