Secrets from the inner sanctum

Today I celebrate my third work anniversary at Piper Alderman, and I thought it pertinent to reflect on the lessons I have learned during the first three years of my Piper Alderman journey.

I have learned many things and experienced many revelations during my time here, but one has stood out above all else. And it is with that in mind that, today, I will share one of Piper Alderman's great secrets with you. It is a secret not known to many - and rarely spoken about, even here in the inner sanctum. But today, it is yours.

The story begins on Level 22 of Governor Macquarie Tower - the beating heart of Piper Alderman's beautifully appointed Sydney office. On Level 22, there is a staff kitchen, and in the staff kitchen, there is a vending machine.

The vending machine sells snacks and cold drinks. It is refrigerated, in order to keep the drinks cold and stop the chocolate bars from melting. However, as all of the snacks are housed in the same seductively lit glass-fronted compartment, everything is refrigerated.

And this means that even the little pink packs of Smiths Salt & Vinegar Chips ("The Original and the Best") are served chilled.

If you have never had a chilled Smiths Salt & Vinegar chip, you are missing out on one of life's great delights. It is a uniquely pleasurable sensation. As I reflect on the last three years of my time here at Piper Alderman, I can honestly say that the single most life-changing revelation has, by far and away and without a shadow of a doubt, been the discovery of refrigerated chips. Also their regular rediscovery, every afternoon at around 4.30PM.

Today, I share this wonderful secret with you, my esteemed friends and professional colleagues. And so it will be that, next time, when someone asks you if you've ever got anything out of being on LinkedIn, you will be able to pause and - rather than boasting about your apparent popularity with recruitment consultants - put your hand on your heart and say,

"Yes. It changed my life."