Happy Belated New Year!

First a hearty Happy New Year to all our readers and subscribers.

I owe everyone an explanation for the radio silence from my corner in the last few months. My deepest apologies to friends and readers out there who have been pinging me without avail. I wasn't ignoring you. Well, yes, I was, in fact, ignoring you but in my itty-bitty defense, it was because I had agreed not to discuss the all-consuming negotiations of my separation from inRESONANCE that had been underway.

A couple of months after this blog was launched last year, I started the process of leaving inRESONANCE, the FileMaker-heavy company that I co-founded and the home to some of the most impressive thinkers and doers I have had the privilege to work with.

To say the least, leaving iR was a profoundly difficult decision, though, for me, it was a necessary one. I was partly influenced by some big changes happening in my personal life in the same year--I was engaged, getting married in November and had moved to Florida in anticipation of that. I know, who would have thought, right? Trust me, I have never been happier, and I am learning to coexist with Florida. In short, it was time to take a hard look at what I wanted to do. For me, the grand calculus around the question of work had become reduced to two simple questions, what kind of life I wanted to have and what would I have more fun doing?

I had not anticipated this separation to be as arduous a journey as it was. Two months became four, four dragged out to six. Finally, on Dec 28, 2006, it was all over, and I officially stopped checking my iR email. The worst part of the entire affair was the self-imposed isolation in the interest of respecting the sensitivity of the matter and honoring the confidentiality of the negotiations.

Today is a new day. I feel good and excited for the next chapter in life. Steve Ritchie (former CFO and partner at iR) and I have launched new a outfit called The Proof Group LLC ("Proof"). There is not much up on the website right now but that's because we'll be paying attention to paying gigs first. We are also hiring or otherwise looking to establish professional connections as Proof. Check us out and drop us a line.

To my clients and former colleagues and the many professionals who have made the last seven years at iR such a blast, I thank you all for the tremendous privilege and pleasure of your company. I hope you'll forgive my reticence around the separation and I look forward to our re-acquaintance.

Comments

[Keith Robinson]

Ernest:

Very best wishes to you in your new role at Proof. I am sure that Kevin et al will miss your insights and friendly face around the office but good things happen to good people and you deserve the best!

Keith