My Avatar

I have received a couple of emails recently about the picture I use as an "avatar" on the Discussion Forums. One was rooted in golf, and one seemed to have a tone of "is this really professional?"

So, for the record:

I decided to use an avatar because I am on the Discussion Forums a great deal, and the visual cues me to my posts INSTANTLY. I decided to have one when I saw someone else's, and noted immediately that I knew who it was. It was a form of metadata that was helpful in my scanning.

I first thought of a head shot, but because I'm not that great with manipulating images, it always looked like a melon in an Altoids tin or a raisin in a warehouse.

I got lucky with the right size with the golf shot, so I chose that one. It did occur to me that it wasn't in the strictest sense professional, but I was tired and think too many people spend too much time worrying about the wrong things anyway.

In the interest of full disclosure, when I travel on business, I routinely wear jeans and flip flops. It is one of the perks of having one's own firm. I figure, if I do THAT, a picture of me playing golf is probably tolerable.

As to the golf angle, I am standing on the tee box of the 8th hole (a devilish little par three) at Spanish Bay out at Pebble Beach. That's the Pacific Ocean behind me, and if you sense that I am happy, you'd be utterly correct. In the original shot, you can see surfers in the shore break. THAT is good karma.

I encourage more of you to join the Discussion Forums, and when you do, consider an avatar - it makes things easier. And if it's not purely professional, why, that's just fine. We know you're more than just a manager.