Along with a cadre of Louisville’s digerati and web pioneers, later this week I will test the outer limits of information overload while attending SXSWi in Austin, TX. I’ll be there with many friends including: Brendan Jackson, Dave Durand, Jason Falls, Kevin Frey, Matt Winn, Rob May, Shawn Morton, Todd Earwood, Chris Claxton, and Michelle Jones, and I plan to network socially with a many more that recently hit my radar (Paul Sizemore, Bill Johnston, Greg Matthews…)  Isn’t it interesting that we have to travel a few hundred miles to get everyone in the same place at the same time?

I also hope to interact with others that are as passionate as I am about entrepreneurship, digital strategy and the future of all things interwebs such as Peter Kim, Scott Monty, Charlie O’Donnell, Bryan Jones, Aaron Strout, Adam Cohen, Len Kendall.

Yes, there will be a lot of continued discussions about web 2.0, social media and the like, but this year I’m really focused on immersing myself in conversations that deal more with the intersection of all these shiny objects with real-world applications in technology (especially mobile, retail POS), marketing (augmenting customer and brand experiences) and business objectives (show me the money).  I like to ‘think outside the browser’ so my goal is to encounter others who do the same when it comes to interactive.

With a stack of new contacts and business ideas, I’ll return refreshed and energized.  Also, I revel in the prospects of sampling some quality BBQ, [breakfast] burritos, and Shiner Bock as well.  I’m looking forward to a memorable long weekend of friends, fun, and frontal lobe fecundity.  Austin, here we come!