A stellar career in umpiring, coaching, training and administration has taught Simon Taufel what it takes to get to number one and stay there. This book is a way of sharing those lessons and transferable soft skills that can be applied to anyone or any vocation. Simon Taufel is an Australian cricket umpire who is a former member of the ICC Elite umpires panel. He won a record five consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year awards between 2004 and 2008 and is generally considered one of the best umpires in the world. He officiated in 74 Test matches and 174 One Day Internationals between 1999 and 2012. Despite initially having no intention of becoming an umpire, he agreed to go along with a friend to an umpiring course. After he passed the subsequent exam, he began umpiring grade cricket. He quickly progressed through the ranks and made his first-class debut in 1995, aged just 24. He then went on to referee his first Test at the age of 29.
Taufel is the youngest person to have received the ICC's Bronze Bails Award for umpiring 100 ODIs. He has officiated in three ICC Cricket World Cups, including the first and only Australian to officiate a Final (in 2011). After leaving active international umpiring, he became the first ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager. During these four years in the role, he created and implemented cricket umpiring's first competency-based accreditation program. In 2013, he was the 13th person and third Australian behind Richie Benaud and Adam Gilchrist to deliver the MCC's Cowdrey Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lords. He survived the Lahore terrorist attack in 2009 on the Sri Lankan team and matched officials' busses. He is a father of three beautiful children, husband to Helen. He continues to serve the game and local community, being Chairperson of the Highlands Cricket Association, Patron of the Bowral Cricket Club and Vice President of the local PCYC. Today, Simon is a much sought-after corporate trainer and has conducted leadership, conflict management, resilience, goal setting, continuous improvement, and personal development programs.