“We’re working faster, not smarter... things are not getting better.”

The assessment of the average workplace in late-2011 came from a man who has seen a bit of the world at work, to say the least.

A fascinating Birmingham Press Club lunch gave a telling insight into the working philosophy of Mr Paparazzi, alias Celebrity Big Brother contestant Darryn Lyons.

Aussie-born Mr Lyons may look like a member of the England cricket team’s Barmy Army fan club but this is a man who has built up a multi-million pound business in the shape of his Big Pictures empire.

He completed two tours of Sarajevo as a war correspondent in Bosnia, was subjected to a Russian Roulette ordeal, and endured months of “living on the edge” as he puts it.

He was a confidant of Princess Diana during spells on the News of the World and Daily Mail, and has photographed stars from Elton John to Shane Warne. The man is not a vacuous celebrity – his business credentials speak for themselves.

So when a man with his track record says we are all working ten times harder than we were a few years ago – without necessarily achieving a lot – it’s worth pausing briefly to ponder.