Over the past year, I have struggled with the question over blogging. I have read with varied interest multiple blogs–blogs about oneself, blogs about issues of interest–blogs that ramble on and so on. It would seem that there is no limit as to what one can do when it comes to blogging. If you have a computer and a couple of bucks to set up your blog, time is the only limitation. So, after months of agonizing, I enter the world of blogging. Reasons as follows: 

First, I watch with interest how my older two daughters, Nicole and Lauren, use technology. Facebook is a must as both have accounts with significant postings of things that are of interest to them along with a legion of friends. A day does not go by where one or both are found at the computer taking the time to scan their Facebooks looking for updates from their friends or posting updates of their own. Both are avid users of their cell phones and in particular, texting. The speed at which they send and receive texts is amazing. I find that I can carry on a conversation albeit handicapped by my inability to text for hours with both of them and can find out a lot of things. My hindrances in texting center around speed and understanding shorthand. Google does wonders in helping me understand LOL, G2G, etc. Both also have e-mail accounts in addition to their Facebook accounts. Their collective ability to transmit and receive vast amounts of information with a click of a mouse is amazing. “Dad, did you see this?” “Have you been to this site?” It is their world, and a world in which many now reside. 

Second, I have taken the time to create a LinkedIn account and am fascinated at the ability the system has to link you with other like-minded individuals. While early in my LinkedIn endeavors, I have been put in touch with individuals with common interests that I never would have met during the normal course of my business.   

Third, I have taken the time to look at the blogs and web sites of our competitors. The amount of information that is readily available at the click of a button is great for those that take the time to search for it. While there can be no substitute for the interaction that one gets when discussing a topic with another, one can become informed on potential solutions which sets the stage for productive interaction if that is the next step. 

And finally, the straw that broke the donkey’s back centered on a meeting orchestrated by Howard Cox who invited me to a meeting with Kyle Lacy and Melissa Farmer. Kyle introduced us (I want to think that Howard and Melissa were educated as well) to concepts and ideas that solidified my decision to join the blogging world. Our conversation focused on what blogging has done for him and his clients. It was a defining moment for me.

I now plan to regularly contribute posts to our Business of Medicine blog. It is my goal to create a forum whereby views and opinions can be shared. We will debate many things. Issues that are dear to me and to those who have allowed me the opportunity to work with them and their businesses. My next post will center on my views about capital and its importance to our recovery. Please come back to debate my views on capital and the potential that we could run short on capital.