That's the Menzies clan coat of arms on the left and me wearing the full clan dress tartan (many years ago! - I wasn't trying to resemble the guy in the coat of arms but seem to have managed it!)   

I recently joined a Linked Group devoted to the clan Menzies and have been chatting to clan members all over the world. It's reminding me a bit of the SFM community which is a little like a living breathing "clan" for the modern world.

I've done some research into the whole clan thing over the years and it's fascinating stuff. The Menzies clan is an old one and the ancestral tree is interesting.

My ancestors seem to have been quite an entrepreneurial lot - the Linkedin group certainly are. Yes there was some sheep rustling back in the day but times were hard in the ancient highlands of Scotland! 

Overall though the Menzies were an honest, hardworking and noble bunch. I try my best to follow those values. 

We have 3 tartans - a dress tartan, a battle tartan and an everyday tartan. On the odd occasions I break out the full highland dress for special events I feel proud to be part of such an ancient and respected group.  

I feel the same way about the SFM family because in a way it's a bit like being part of a clan:

We all have the same aims, we help each other to achieve them and in Stuart and Jay we have leaders we respect and admire.

Like the Menzies Clan nowadays, SFM members are spread out all over the world but unlike the bygone days of the highland clans, it's easy for us to communicate with each other.

Highland clans were often at war with each other. They would fight over land, territory, cattle, religion - you name it!

The modern, business version of that is competition but with SFM we don't really have any competition. No one is doing what SFM are doing in the online industry. 

So whilst SFM members don't have tartans or any other form of identification they do have a pretty strong identity and a firm set of values. Also of course, anyone can be part of this clan.

So although we are all running our own businesses, being part of a group of people who are actively educating and helping others to embrace the modern economy makes me as proud as being a Menzies does!

2015 is looking pretty amazing for the SFM clan so why not be part of that success? 

Cheers!