Received my fair share of marketing prank yesterday.

It made me think of the April Fools Day I learned the most from.

I was in 8th grade.

I didn’t do *any* pranks (we managed to *accidentally* flood the school floor the week before, taking the celebration of the hungarian easter tradition of “wet monday” quite literally, so I figured I would sit this one out.)

I was sitting in the back debating politics with my 2 best friends while other classmates planned & executed.

Successful pranks, from what I could tell, given that our math teacher ran out crying upon entering the classroom.

What surprised more was our headmaster coming in a few minutes later - without asking who was responsible, he pointed at me and 3 friends in the back to come out and follow him.

“This time it really wasn’t us!!!” we pleaded.“

I don’t care” - he looked me in the eye. Quiet and serious, the 4 of us sitting in his office.

I didn’t understand. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t unjust. He was serious.

I got curious.

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t do it.

You had the power to stop it. You are the leaders of this class. The others listen to you. I come to you because I know your potential.”

My jaw dropped…but I didn’t fully understand what he meant until decades later.

I learned the power of being a bystander. Of seeing, but not saying anything.

And I learned the power of leadership- taking responsibility.

It’s easy to take responsibility for the successes that happen or the great ideas you personally have - but for everything that happens in the room you are present in, and even when you are not present, is harder.

It’s the work that never stops.