Here we go then....

I've been involved in the IT industry for a long time. Some of my friends and colleagues would say it's been too long, and others would argue vociferously that I'm not really involved at all, because nowadays I don't get particularly close to the technology coal face.

After leaving the corporate world in 1992 I set up a business with a couple of friends in 1992. we called it ALTIS, and we started to make a bit of money. In 1994, one of our customers came to us:

"We've just bought 50 licenses for something called Lotus Notes. We're not really sure what it is, but the sales guy said it would change the way we do business. Can you help us?" Now this was a big, defining moment for ALTIS. We didn't realise it at the time, but now, 15 years and a major business merge later, I can look back and apply some perspective.

And now, as Portal Partnership (where I am Business Development Director) enters a challenging fourth quarter selling IBM software and related services, I can sense that something like that event in 1994 is just around the corner once again. And what is it that's going to be the game changer this time around? Well, I think it's Lotus Connections. It's been a looooooong time since I've felt this excited by a Lotus branded offering (indeed, at my age it's pretty tough to get excited about much in the industry), but I really do think that this is a new wave.

Now those who know me well are aware that my major interest in IT is how to make money out of it. I want to make money for my customers, by helping them to have top quality stuff that they can use to improve efficiency, or support users, or develop new opportunities, or just do things better. I want to make money for Portal Partnership, so that I continue to get paid, and we grow as a business and generally prosper. And I really think that Connections is a great new way to do this.

So, I'm going to start sharing my thoughts with anyone who might be interested. I've been a "consumer" of other people's blogs, Tweets and what have you for a long time now, but I've not felt compelled to become a contributor until now. After all, I doubt whether the world is really all that interested in what I said to my mates down at the pub last night, or how last sunday's round of golf went. Hopefully however, some of you will have some interes in my thoughts and ideas around how Social Collabotation tools in general, and Connections in particular, can help drive improved organisational efficiencies.

There will of course be diversions along the route - no doubt I'll want to share the hassle of planning for Lotusphere, the good (and the less good) of partnering with IBM, and a whole lot of other stuff as well.

So - er - watch this space!