I have finally decided to join the masses and publish a weblog (blog, for short). It is a decision that has been a long time in the making. It isn’t that I failed to see the value in professional blogging. I just have never been able to find the time. Now, in a slightly premature 2006 new year’s resolution, I am hellbent on making time for it.

Even though this blog shares my name, this is not a personal blog. You will not be able to browse my Netflix queue, or see what CDs I am listening to. Frankly, why anyone would care about such things is beyond me. “Hey honey, I’d love to go shopping with you, but today is the day that I go online and spend five hours surfing the music preferences of total strangers.” Silly. I’ve also never understood why some people feel inclined to post reams of personal information for consumption by throngs of people that they’ll never meet, but I digress.

I will, however, try to publish my thoughts on some of my professional passions, including e- business, business networking, process improvement, online community building, and technology (with a definite slant toward things that are going on here in the Atlanta area). It is my hope that this blog will become a valuable resource for my contacts, as well as the many talented professionals within the area that I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting personally. I will try to publish at least one entry per week, although sometimes, I’ll post more than that.

At the top of certain articles and postings, you’ll see a small icon representing a pair of headphones. These indicate that a “podcast” is available for that article. Podcasts are audio versions of the content delivered in MP3 format. These MP3s can be streamed using the Flash player on the page (just click the little play icon), or can be downloaded using the link provided (for use in your iPod, home computer, or other device). All of our podcasts are also freely available via iTunes.

Additionally, you will see feature content from “guest bloggers” - these will be from industry thought leaders and other Atlanta area business/technology leaders. They will blog from time to time on topics reflecting their passion and respective areas of expertise.

If you’d like to view a list of all of the articles that have been published here at the Pothole, be sure to visit the site map.

In the menu area to the right of the home page you will see a list of my “Business Associates”, “Friends & Colleagues”, and “Organizations / Groups”. These are people or entities that I routinely do business with, advise, or emphatically recommend to others. I don’t get (nor do I expect) a kickback or referral fee if one of my blog readers decides to use their services. I simply believe in promoting people who are keeping up the good fight out there. If you see someone listed in that area of this site, then I am personally attaching my name to their work.

And by the way, if you are an Atlanta professional business blogger, I’d love to hear from you! There aren’t many of us out there, it seems.

If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, you can learn a little bit more about me by taking a quick look at my online biography. Otherwise, I invite you to browse around at your leisure, and I hope that you find some value along the way.

So, here we go.

Cheers.