I’ve always been fascinated by the phrase “leaving to pursue other interests.”
When included in a corporate announcement of a change at the top, it usually indicates some sort of palace intrigue leading to a coup. When included in an online posting by an under-50 entrepreneur, it could mean “I’m bored and I’m off to the next big thing” or “I’ve made so much money, I’m declaring it party time.”
So when I tell you I’ve resigned as editor of the Business Press to “pursue other interests,” I feel I owe an explanation.
First, there’s no palace intrigue.
Second, I’m not declaring party time and please don’t call this a retirement. I’ve tried retirement twice and failed both times.
For a little more than a decade, my wife and I have operated a small mom-and-pop content services business. When we came to Las Vegas three years ago, it was with the idea of providing content to media without resident staff in Las Vegas. If a newspaper in Wisconsin, for example, needed coverage of a trade show where a local business person was making news, we’d be glad to do the work.
We’ve done a fair amount of that work, but our largest client remains a California PR/media relations/crisis communications firm. I’ve done white papers and internal communications work, strategy and crisis planning — all for clients outside Nevada.
A while back, the firm approached me with a major project, working on rebranding some hospitals that are trying to adapt to the changing landscape caused by the Affordable Care Act. Sounds like fun.
So this summer, I’m going to duck the Vegas heat and spend time in cooler parts of California.
Come fall, who knows? I’m not leaving Las Vegas. We’ll see what comes. I can always go back to work for myself.
Here at the Business Press, Publisher Debbie Donaldson is back from her medical leave, so I’m confident the operation is in capable hands.
When we set out two years ago to relaunch the Business Press, there was a recognition that the business community had grown both in size and sophistication. It needed and deserved its own news source. We’ve come a good way down that path, but there’s more to be done.
I’ll be here till July 15. No announcement on a successor quite yet. Stay tuned.
And thanks for your support.