Well here is the latest from my slightly mad and obscure world! Just back from 5 days in Switzerland on a climbing trip were we were walking in temperatures up to minus 15 degrees… Slightly chilly as you can imagine.

So the purpose of this slightly insane adventure?! Leadership. I was away with the other 7 guys on the Hunter Leadership Programme and the incredible quadriplegic mountaineer Jamie Andrew.

Jamie really is an inspiration to us all. Rather than giving up and believing his life was over, Jamie fought back and is now more active than ever before – climbing, running marathons and completing Iron Man Challenges to name a few.

I took a lot from our trip – there were times when our adventures had to be postponed due to bad weather setting in (minus 15, 40in of snow, howling gales…hardly ideal) and plenty of moments where I wanted to give up but seeing Jamie overcome adversity was pretty awe inspiring.

I also tried a Via Ferrata for the first time – for those of you not in the know about climbing, it’s basically a cliff which crazy people drill large staples of metal into and off you go climbing it with a rope and harness. I can honestly say it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life. Even though you know that you are safely harnessed in, at that sort of height it’s difficult to trust the equipment with your life. Quite literally. Not something I will be repeating in a hurry.

Other than the odd death defying situation in Switzerland it’s been business as usual – the end of the financial year’s just passed so it’s been back and forward to the accountants!

Keep working hard until next time.

www.jamieandrew.com

Haven’t been able to Blog for the last few weeks… Life’s suddenly got crazy and I’ve just realised how much time has gone by since my last entry.

Well, first up I’ve been on a Leadership Course with Sir Tom Hunter up in Scotland for the last 7 months and I had to keep it uber quiet until the official Press Launch in February. Which trust me was difficult, when you are disappearing to foreign lands on a regular basis, people tend to ask questions…

The Hunter Leadership Programme aims to take the best of Scotland’s young people and
create the future leaders of our country – whether its in sport, business, politics, media and beyond. I’ve possibly had the best 7 months of my life: worked in New York City BABY at the Clinton Global Initiative, spent time at the Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative in Malawi, Africa in October, worked alongside BBC Children in Need in January and have even had the opportunity to try some offroad Land Rover Driving… Varied, I know.

It’s been the most enjoyable 7 months, but at the same time it’s been incredibly hectic. Thanks to the support of Mum and Dad, Caledonian Gifts is still going whilst I complete my scholarship and whenever I am at home, it’s back to business. I wouldn’t have it any other way though; I’ve worked exceptionally hard but had the best experiences and met some of the current world’s greatest leaders. It’s really raised the bar for me and I no longer want to run a small business… I want to see my baby go global!!!

So what’s next? Home for a week (yay) then off to climb the Swiss Alps with the Hunter Scholars and Jamie Andrew who should be an inspiration to us all. Jamie lost both his hands and feet to Frostbite after a climbing accident in 2000. He was minutes away from death and could have given up on life but fought on and was back on the road to recovery within 6 months. Jamie’s zest for life never fails to amaze me and he also manages to handle 3 children all under the age of 4! I’ll keep everyone updated on my trip and meanwhile, keep working hard!

Check out my website by going to:

www.caledoniangifts.co.uk

I’m quite enjoying the peace and quiet at the moment, Christmas was exceptionally busy for us as a company – sales are up on last year, so I just need to find some ways to carry this through the rest of the year…

…I don’t know how you guys have found things, but sometimes people out there have a habit of knocking us down. Forever in the news we are seeing reports of teenagers causing gang riots, shooting people, going for Guinness World Records in ASBO holding, it goes on and on. I’ve decided that it’s suddenly got my goat. So this could be the subject of my blog entry.

Now I know there’s no point in preaching to the converted but doesn’t it get you down sometimes? There are so many hardworking young people out there, but so often their talents go un-noted. Adam, I do realise that this is the purpose of this site… However, how often do we see the press reporting on great achievements by young people? I Googled “great achievements by young people” this morning and found very few results.

Young peoples achievements should be recognised everywhere. We need more positive role models. I am about to hit 20 (scary reality) so I’ve passed the whole teenage angst stage, but for those people out there who are still going through it, surely you would appreciate having some more positive figures to look up to?

On another note, I discovered the delights of Coach Carter a few months back and the fact that it’s based on a true story is even better. If you are ever having a down day and in need of some inspiration – watch it – I can guarantee you’ll be smiling by the end. Here’s a little thought to leave you all with. Yes, I am getting deep and meaningful… but it may come in useful sometime for school projects!!!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Timo Cruz, Coach Carter 2005.

Check out my website by going to:

www.caledoniangifts.co.uk

Well hello folks! This is the first time I’ve done a blog… So here goes.

Most of you reading this won’t know me. Yet. But hopefully through Talented Young People you can learn a little more about who I am and what I do.

Entrepreneurial Spirit, I believe, comes from within. I found mine at 8 years old – organising a Bring and Buy Sale to raise money for the Blue Peter Appeal at the time. £241 towards my first million – the only flaw being it had to go to charity…

Things have progressed since then though. I got involved with Young Enterprise – a scheme I highly praise – at the age of 16 – and started to sell products from my local area. We were highly successful with our product, and I had plans to leave it all behind and become the next Kate Silverton and study journalism at Uni. I am also a great believer that when you find a great thing, or your passion in life, don’t let it go. So I didn’t. To many teachers’ horrors, I gave up my place at University to begin my journey into the unknown world of business. For me it was the right thing to do – after 13 years in education I needed something to practically challenge me. I was bored of classroom learning (The value of X just didn’t mentally stimulate me.) Many people told me I was making a huge mistake, that at 18 I didn’t know anything about the world and I’d be walked over. So I decided that in order to avoid that, I’d get out there and start learning about it.

2006 saw me win Entrepreneur of the Year at the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards and that made my mind up. My passion was for the world of business. I began to make my mark on the business world step by step. I’m coming towards the end of my first financial year and the figures look healthy. Plus, I’ve had the chance to provide gifts for a London firm for the Cannes Film Festival… suuuuuuuuper cool. Although I never did get that date with Ben Affleck…

Anyway, that’s an intro from me: make sure you keep checking up on the blog for more updates about my life as a young entrepreneur.

Check out my website by going to:

www.caledoniangifts.co.uk