Fancied Situations and Imaginary Problems.

Professional ignorance is often the real source of the ethical problems that men feel. For with more knowledge … men know instinctively what they ought to do and they do not conjure up fancied situations and imaginary problems.

- Sir Owen Dixon, Chief Justice

You’re not a bad person.

You’re not devious or corrupt or seeking personal gain.

You were professionally ignorant.

You felt embarrassed and ashamed.

You sought to hide your ignorance.

You spoke on, or advocated for, or decided upon - a subject not within your expertise.

It went badly.

You felt more embarrassment and shame.

You covered it up with fancied situations and imaginary problems.

And your positional power.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

You’re the boss now.