Wow - seems as though everyone has been up to some fantastic things since graduating from the Fellowship.   Funny it's not until you actually, draw breath and take stock, that you realise just how quickly things are moving forwards.

Finishing in December last year I had one clear ambition.  "Change the world by doing something amazing."  Well, I figured if you wanted to reach for something, better make it something worthwhile rather than doing something mediocre.  So here's a little update on where I'm at. 

 January I went for the role of CEO for the Grameen Bank project starting up here in Glasgow.  A chance to bring a game-changing financial model, known for alleviating poverty in the developing world through micro-finance, right to our own Scottish shores.  Met with some fantastic folks up in Sighthill, caught up with the main man himself he came in all the way from Bangladesh - but in the end didn't get it.  Hey - they wanted someone yes with lots of passion - just with a little more experience.

February - I went back to the States in search of an opportunity for a couple of years with the best of the best.  But instead of Boston, headed over to that other entrepreneurial cluster  - Silicon Valley.  Had coffee with some awesome entrepreneurs "got any MedTech's you want running?,"  popped down to Palo Alto to meet some Profs at Stanford - "got any MedTech's you want running?" , and even managed to meet some great VCs from a couple of the big (and I mean big) firms  (again "got any MedTech's you need running?").  Had a blast.  What a superb experience, topped off by my fulfilling a long held ambition to visit the HP garage - what can I say I'm a bit of a Techie at heart.  

March - back here in Scotland.  Been consulting with a little company which is truly going to change the game in the way medicines are made - Better, faster, cheaper and above all less wasteful and much more sustainable.  It's a real challenge - disruptive products selling into a market which is going through a tremendous amount of upheaval, with very little money to achieve product and market fit.  Well it was never going to be easy.  Hence month to month cashflow was always going to be challenging.  But we're surviving and I'm helping re-appraise the proposition, and pitch for new follow-on investment.  We even got nominated for a lifescience innovation award and I was in the video (along with my extern B company I hasten to add).  No we didn't win - but we did get pictures of our kit onto every one of the 400 tables at the awards dinner and a mention from the Chief Exec of SE.  Thanks again Lena.  I owe you one.

And as we head into April..?  Well my ultimate goal still remains as clear as ever "Lead a Scottish $1Billion company, operating at the intersection of medicine and technology by 2020."  So still very much working on achieving that one.  Particularly as my 4-year old daughter whenever asked what is Daddy going to do next replies "Change the world."  No Pressure eh...

But I'm also pursuing a number of other opportunities including :

1. Cranium style I-Pad games for children - although looks as though another Glasgow firm has beaten me to it
2. Creating a Social Venture Capital Fund - well if you can't join them, beat em..  Figured Grameen needed some competition
3. A non-medical in-home care Franchise - huge growth opportunity at the moment.  Note this was my 63 year old mums idea and not mine
4. A new breed of entrepreneurial "third places" called Doc&Duff's - the place where dreams are made and deals are done... nuff said.

So all in all life post fellowship is fantastic.  Am I missing the 6 figure salary  - you bet your backside I am. Come on - I know I'm daft but not that daft.  But gone are the days of being money rich and time poor, gone are the days of not following my own dreams, desires & passions, and gone are those soul-destroying 4-hour daily commutes (well for now at least).   

The 1-year Fellowship experience was fantastic.  It stimulated my intellect to understand new things, experience new people (I really miss working with the other Fellows each day now) and try new industries (BioTech in Boston it doesn't get much better).  But like all fantastic experiences it went past in the blink of an eye.  Life is short. My extensive research indicates that we are all going to die at some point anyway.  So I'm making the most of it.  Doing my best and following my heart.   When I win, it's time to celebrate.   And when I lose, I start over the next day.  Keeping Ithica always on my mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n3n2Ox4Yfk

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
 
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would not have set out...