Once again, it’s time to pause for processing, to take stock of all that’s been presented and digest a little of what’s been learned.

In this chapter we’ve seen some big ideas, some potential parts for you to build your future Pirate Code on, and as such it’s time to figure out if all or any of these articles feel right for you.

The articles I included have been designed by others, presented here for you to steal merrily from. They might not ring true, or they might have struck a chord. What’s important now is picking out the parts that are going to help you change your world.

In workshops I’ve run, at this point we form participants into small crews to work together to create a series of articles to make their code. I’ve seen crews break into open mutiny, split and then re-form with other crews – people tend to take this section very seriously.

And just the same is true for you: this is the momentous occasion when you draft your Pirate Code, establishing you as one of the brethren. It’s probably the hardest of all the challenges as you have to pick three, knowing that breaking any of them will leave you ‘marooned’. Because it’s the hardest, it is probably also the challenge I’ve had the most positive feedback from: the forming of a code by a small group has created lasting relationships, dynamic decision-making and, in some instances, totally transformed participants’ ways of working for months to come.

So, in the space provided, give some thought to the following question:

Which three articles would you be willing to live by?

You do not have to use the ones I’ve presented to you; you might already have your own or you might admire someone else’s out there. It doesn’t matter where they come from. For now, just write down three articles that you would use to govern the decision-making of any crew you might have already or might build one day, remembering you have to hold them to account and maroon them if they transgress …

I know from experience that this part isn’t easy, and if there weren’t three or more articles that spoke to you, go to www.bemorepirate.com where there are more examples.