I'm back.  I haven't blogged for a wee while for a few reasons. 

1  I Feel like I've been on a bit of a whirlwind since being back in Scotland, travelling all over the country learning about a new industry and meeting lots of interesting new people.  All fantastic but not condusive to allowing some free time to collect my thoughts and write a meaningful blog.

2  I've had a lot of thoughts milling around this messy brain of late;  hoping to deliver somthing meaningful on a new project, starting to assess where my career is heading or where i would like it to head, how to create an effective CV to allow me that step in the door to take the next steps in following my dreams.......... Its a turmulous place in there I tell you!

I've had the great fortune of meeting with some insprational leaders this year; people who have shown in my view the best leadership attributes:

Empathy, humility, creativity, fairness, assertiveness, vision, an ability to learn and execute and a Sense of humour

What makes these leaders stand out though is their ability to inspire others to follow them and aspire for great things.  I've been inspired by many people I meet in life; from my courageous mum who is a bit sick but laughs at the ridiculous situations she has found herself in at hospitals to a business woman I met today who knows when things have to change, when to say, I failed at this one, lets give it another go with something fresh.  I can just tell they will both succeed in meeting their personal challenge because of their strength of character.

General "Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf summed it up succinctly when he opined: "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy."