So here I am back in "sunny" Scotland, with my feet barely touching the ground.  The last couple of weeks have gone by in a blur, as me and "my fellows" having been having a further deep discussions on Sales & Marketing, what it means to do deals and grow a business internationally, and handle the inevitable pains in being the leader of a "high-growth" business - and that's just the learning part...

But the best part was getting to get up close and personal with some of Scotland's best entrepreneurs (sorry should read entrepreneurial leaders  ;-)  and what a fantastic group of people they all are.  It was simply amazing to be surrounded by greatness, right here in Scotland.   People like, Jim McCall, Chris can Der Kuyl, Andrew Pert, John Waddel, Mary Grant, Doug Hutchinson, Scott Black, John Anderson, David Bowie, Doug Anderson, Dennis Grant and of course Fiona Lowrie.  I personally felt very privileged indeed that these people wanted to come to see us - thank you the folks at the Saltire Foundation for connecting us.

All of these folks shared their experiences with us all - lifting all that textbook learning from the past few months and making it feel exceptionally real - just what the Saltire Fellowship is all about.  From deals and deal making to making touch decisions and managing "rock-star" performers...

If you've never heard Doug Anderson share his OPTOS story, I urge you all to do so.  He is simply one awesome individual - after all if you decide to sail 7,000miles just to do some mountaineering, build your own boat out of "concrete" to get there, with no sailing experience and no money whatsoever - then I guess your going to be someone pretty special indeed.  In when the going gets a little tough - you can always make scones...!!!   That's Doug - and while most people told him he must be nuts, he just quietly and assuredly proved all the naysayers wrong...A fantastic achievement, and I for one feel extremely proud to have been able to share time with him and to share his story with my own kids - you should have seen their little faces - priceless.

Anyway, we're approaching the final stages of this year long adventure, which inevitably means the "FINAL EXAM."  But this is one final exam I am so looking forwards to.  A chance to put all that learning into practice, a chance to absolutely shine and stand out as a Saltire Fellow, and a chance to prove to people just what can be achieved when you decide to cut-loose, take a big risk and see where the path takes you when you decide to venture out into the big unknown.

Now that really is WOW...