It started out so normal... my Friday. All I had planned was to go up to the Federal Court building, just a short walk from my Perth Office but a quick drive today, and find out the decision in the long running battle with the "forces against progress." The appointed time was 9.30 am, so at 9 I was on my way.

In Court 2, there wasn't the normal throng of lawyers, hangers-on, press and "creatures of the dark", this morning it is just the Clerk, the judge's assistant, two Government lawyers and myself and one supporter.

At 9.30 precisely, a buzzer sounds, and the Judge comes in and sits down. We are introduced and he delivers his findings and the fine... and at 9.35 he's gone. And, as is the nature of surreal moments I have no emotional reaction to an incredulous decisions - a total of $5.5 million of fines which the judgements says are beyond the capacity of myself and my company to pay... but the Judge says, in not so many words, just an 18 page explanation, that he's hands are tied because he has already given me a 95% discount on what the fines could have been. If the new law was applied to the letter, the fines would be $99 million for the company and $20 million for me. Surreal... I think it is moments like this that you need Minties!

So I walk back to my car and return to my office... and all is calm - surreal in fact. And life goes on, as it does, when you have been fined $5.5 million!

And time comes for our weekly ritual of all staff to lunch - something that hasn't been missed for over 10 years. We close up the office, divert the phones to message bank and drive to the local Japanese. At lunch we talk through the situation, that things will continue on as normal, that we will still do the seminars scheduled for Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth next week and I will still travel to my talks in Auckland for the Sales and Marketing Institute of New Zealand.

Just a normal Friday.

But it is not to be. As I park the car, I catch a glimpse of a casually dressed man with a long lensed camera, chatting to a young woman with what looks like a clipboard. It has started - the presses "demand" for their right to have my comment on the proceedings earlier in the Court. My mind snaps into gear and I quickly make my way to my office and the sanctuary it provides. Others of the team are not lucky having to run the gauntlet of the reporter and photographer. They will be 5 metres from our door for at least the next 3 to 4 hours.

A message from the local newspaper, along with maybe a dozen other newspapers, is recorded on the answering machine. This one though has a sinister overtone:

"The is Daniel Emerson from the West Australian. We want to talk to you about what happened in the Federal Court today." it started. After some comments about being sympathetic to my cause he says; " The editor wants a photograph and a comment. We have a reporter and photographer at your office and he has instructed they stay all weekend if necessary. It will look bad if you don't talk to us."

I wonder if that is a threat... certainly sounds like one to me.

But nowhere is safe - a call from my home says that the Weekend Australian newspaper is pounding on my front door there demanding a comment. So, for a few hours I know what it feels like to be hounded by the press, the distress it causes to people around the hounded, all because the press believe they have a right to "inform the readers or listeners or viewers." It is my Tom Cruise moment.

But luck turns my way... a shocking child abuse story wins star rating and the mufti in Sydney is still enraging the community so a measly $5.5 million fine for sending emails gets downgraded. And, defeated in the quest for a "recent photo", the reporter and "second- change" photographer - yes they sent a second shift - pack up and leave. And calm returns.

The story makes page 5 of the Saturday West Australian, under Daniel Emerson's byline, unfortunately featuring a 5 year old photo - I am 15 kilos heavier than now and the glasses are so "last century." Strangely, I am reasonably happy with picture - nobody will recognise the new trim more fashionable me, as the person in the paper.

The emails of support start flooding in... and I feel that the fight has been and will be worth it. Of course I get few of the "faceless darkside" make anonymous phone calls or posts to my websites and blogs but the ratio of positives to negatives is running strongly in my favour.

So, when you think about the tough times you are going through and that maybe someone else is also feeling the pressure, just remember life goes on and there is always a better outcome just waiting for you to grab it.

I have another story to add to my library of life and I will continue to believe in the work that I do as a positive influence on thousands of ordinary and business people every day.

Thanks for your support - I appreciate it. And I will let you know where to send donations for the fine later - just joking.