It is hard to believe that one year ago today I had finished the application process for something called the "Saltire Foundation Fellowship".   It was around the same time a year ago today I received a call from Crawford Gillies to say that my application to the Fellowship had been successful.

I am still a little unsure why I took the leap of faith!  I was in a very comfortable job with a good salary in London.  I knew I needed a change and I had already been on the search for next life changing role.  So my quandary was as I went on a holiday to decide whether I went ahead with the Fellowship or accept an amazing opportunity to be Global Director of Operations for a very exclusive growing service company.  As I went through the pros and cons the Fellowship kept winning because I knew it would be life changing!  A year on and I have been on a journey that has been hard, rewarding, fun and without a doubt the best decision I have ever made in my professional career.

So how has my life changed?  I feel that I am more rounded as a commercially sound leader.  I have been challenged by some of the best entrepreneurial leaders on both sides of the pond.  I worked with a World Class organisation at Liberty Mutual in Boston and learned very quickly that my core skills were a lot more transferable than I realised.  So on a personal note what has changed?  I am happy to fly economy on long hall flights instead of turning left on the plane.  I can manage a four hour bus journey and enjoy it.  I even managed to change my hotel lifestyle of staying in some of the best hotels in the world to staying in a hostel in New York City for $38 per night!!  In summary it has made me really appreciate what I have had in my personal life and my professional career.  At the end of the day it is about the people you surround yourself with and I delighted to say that the Saltire Foundation picked a great bunch of 'Fellows'.  I have learned the true value of friendships and I know that my 'Fellows' will continue to be my trusted advisors for a long time to come!

So as I head into the final leg of this journey I am looking forward to putting into action many of my learnings from this year and from the past 20 years of working.  I suppose my rambling just recognises that I made a decision one year ago with little insight and this year has delivered in every way!  Trust your instinct, go for something different and challenge yourself every day.

Paul