There’s a handful of people that have influenced my online adventures, including, George Nemeth, Guy Kawasaki, Anita Campbell, and Jim Kukral…. …

Thanks for your comment, too!

We just have to put it out there. If we're doing the right things to begin with, this “transparency” thing works out just fine.

Joel Libava

Starting a few years ago when “transparency” gained more common usage it also gained some skepticism. Some people in business would proclaim they were transparent then proceed to keep hiding skeletons in the closet. This only served to enhance doubt. Other companies worry that being transparent means they have to share everything, including trade secrets.

But your disclosure is really what it's about. One just has to share the background information that is relevant to whatever you are communicating. For example on my blog's “About this Blog” page I disclose that I'm an Amazon affiliate and may include affiliate links in my posts. I also explain that I began the blog while working at Case Western Reserve and moved it when I went out on my own. Basically I'm just sharing the information people may need to evaluate my position on what I'm writing or sharing. This let's them decide whether or not bias is involved but also gives them a sense of my perspective, how I may have come to think the way I do.

Disclosure: I'm a friend of the author and worked with him on the design of this site. But I read and commented on the article because I saw the link on Twitter and found it interesting.