What I write about is my own journey.  What I am considering at the moment is a word that in many ways has been abused and is an unexploded device.  It is open to abuse and misunderstanding, yet in thinking about it, it is something I and others do all the time. 
I heard someone say recently, “there is no submission until the will is crossed.”  I reckon when it refers to marriage it can be fraught.  Yet it is something in many areas I do all the time.
When working I needed to submit to the boss.  Whether I agreed with him or not did not matter.  I needed to do it because often he had the big picture and I did not.  It was not a matter of doing my own thing but a matter of doing what was deemed to be necessary to achieve the purposes of the organization.  I will always try to submit to what I consider the highest authority.
The best example I can think of with general submission is to the leaders in armed forces.  I know a few people that have been in the armed forces and what is drilled into new recruits is obedience to the voice of authority.  It is really important that there is confidence that recruits will do as commanded whether it is agreed with or not.
I cannot see that any army where everyone does their own thing will be effective in achieving results for the whole.  More likely the enemy will pick off those doing something alone.  It is much harder to defeat a united force intent on achieving a goal than to defeat ones and twos doing what they think best.
Coaches of teams have earned the right to see their players submit to their ideas.  Sometimes they work (hence Waye Bennett is called a super coach) and sometimes they fail and get replaced.  I did feel sorry for Ang Postecoglou as he obviously knew success, but what he had in mind took time and more time than some were willing to give him.
But the thing for me is submission.  For me it is totally required in a team environment with one aim or goal.  No one is bigger than the whole. If someone is part of a team, winning can only be achieved when each individual plays their part and submits to the leader of the whole.

I heard someone say yesterday something like, “few know success without risk.”
From what I have known I would have to heartily agree with that.  So much that I do is stepping out into the unknown.  By its very nature unknown involves risk.  I do all I can to mitigate circumstances.  I try and think about and prepare for every variation on the theme that I have in my mind.
In fact often I write FAQ’s or “Frequently Asked Questions.”  I try to cover every possibility. The fact is no one is really asking the questions yet except me.  As much as possible I try to consider all possibilities.  Yet the fact of the matter is situations can arise I am not prepared for.  In those cases, I try to call on what is right for the circumstance.  Often it needs to be done quickly, and the upshot is I need to live with the consequences.
What someone said to me decades ago comes to mind.  Someone in the 16th century was hiring a carriage driver.  Four drivers turned up.  The course to take in the trial was shown to the drivers and was visible to the hirer.  Three drivers went for it big time.  Up on two wheels.  Completing the course in no time at all.  The fourth driver took his time.  He was obviously competent but took in mind the horses health and the potential wellbeing of the travellers.  He got the job.  When asked why, the hirer said, “It’s not how close to danger you can go, but how far you can keep from it.”
I admit I have had that as a saying for life.  In experiencing success, I have tried to minimise risk or as the boy scouts used to say ,“be prepared.”  That sort of thing has not always eliminated disaster, but it has helped to avoid many disasters.
I know I will take on future risks but as much as possible I like to be prepared.  I do not know what the future may hold but I do know who holds my future.  It’s a partnership.  I do what I can, and he does the rest.

We deal with an online company a fair bit.  They told us they were sending us a free gift.  We had no idea what it was and yesterday it arrived – broken.  It was a little stand we were to put together but it was bent and one of the wood supports was broken down the middle - rendering it useless on arrival.
The reason I mention it is I have been thinking about our response.  I totally believe we are within our rights to want a replacement.  It is how I go about telling them that is the question I face.
Yet I have for many years done it the same way.  I could be adversarial (our rights) or conciliatory.  I admit my motivation is based on a perceived God thing, but I approach something like this in a conciliatory fashion.
Firstly I try to think of things that will benefit the company.  I personally would like to know if the company I contracted to deliver my goods was handling them with due care.  And if it was me, I would look for a pattern.  Is this experience a “one off” or do such things happen again and again.  If so, I would change contractors.
Then whoever I deal with I treat in a friendly manner.  That way it is win/win.  The person feels like and actually does help, and I get what I want.  I feel that an adversarial approach produces winner and losers.  Stripped back that is like 50% win and 50% lose.  Conciliatory often produces 100% winners.  The company is seen to care about the customer, the person dealing with me feels good assisting another, and I feel good getting the goods.
It has happened that treating people well has not gone well.  I had to involve an ombudsman once.  I was completely straight forward in stating my situation.   They knew I had a case and really went the second mile to get me what I was owed.  Ok it took more than I had hoped was needed but I remained friendly and honest and have found that many people want to aid others when they are reasonable and have a genuine expectation that has not been met.
When I first came to Brisbane I had no idea of streets and I cut off a taxi driver.  He waited in his car for me and then asked me a question I had no idea how to answer.  He asked, “what sort of a moron are you?”  Fair dinkum I had no idea there were types of morons.  I did know though I was in the wrong and apologised.  It was like he had no ammunition.  He just drove off.
Treating others as I would like to be treated often produces wonders.  It seems to me no matter who it is, many prefer to feel good about themselves rather than defensive.  Definitely worth a shot I reckon.