My new banner shows me stupidly downing a pitcher of beer using an innovative tool called the beer bong . It also shows my friends (who are IT professionals - perhaps the best in the country) cheering me on.

I believe a person should try to use a beer bong at least once in his life. The experience is both inspiring and humbling.

It is inspiring because you hear your friends egging you on for what seems to be a super-human (not to mention jackass) task. It is also humbling because, as you finish it all up, you realize that you are only human. You feel like throwing-up and collapsing. Again, your friends are there to cheer you on and to support you.

This cycle continues until every "self-respecting" person has his turn - camaraderie at its best. You wake-up the following afternoon oblivious to what happened the night before. It's clean-up time. It sure is a big hassle, but a week later, you want to do it again. This is passion in its purest form.

Now, does this scandalous banner lessen my credibility? Perhaps... to superficial people. My point is, I don't want to take myself too seriously. What's important is that I take my work seriously and passionately. I believe that the right way to command respect and credibility is through results and genuine concern for your team, NOT an over-sized ego.