Technology makes alot of things happen in my life – and I bet that’s true for you too.
So, on a good day, I want more of it. But on a day when it feels a bit more like “garbage in – garbage out” I often feel like I want to be able to walk up to the TV and just change a channel – or pick up the phone without pressing any buttons.
Technology – Love It or Leave It?
So – how do you feel about the technology in your life? Do you want more of it? What sorts of things have you found help you the most? Which frustrate you the most? I’m on a continual quest to fall in love (or at least be at peace) with the technology in my life – so I need help from all angles.
And are there other areas of your life that you want to manifest more in? What are they? Ya gotta name it to claim - so take this opportunity to name it! I’ll send some positive energy – or whatever else might be helpful that I’ve got in my tool chest.
How do I feel about the technology in my life? I can’t live without it.
As an online entrepreneur, technology is my lifeline. Without my laptop and a connection to the internet, I have no business and no income. So, if my website goes down, everything stops. Yikes! That’s the downside. But the upside is that I can work from anywhere in the world if I have those 2 things.
So, the goal for me in 2012 is not only to build up my online business, but also to invest some of those online profits into an offline business. Since I have a background in real estate, I’m thinking real estate rental for offline passive income. Gotta have a backup plan, right?
I’m totally with you on having a laptop and internet connection! And you’re also right on with having a back-up plan. I’ve always said that the storage rental business and the parking lot business would be good – not alot of employee management and if people abandon their storage units – it’s off to Ebay or Storage Wars!
OMG, “Storage Wars” is my guilty pleasure! I actually thought about getting into the storage auction business at one time. “Yuuup!”, another one of my many business ideas that didn’t pan out (my homage to Dave Hester
).
YUUUPPP – that cracks me up!
Sit down. Brace yourself. You may need to pour yourself a stiff drink. Get ready for my dark confession. Don’t tell a soul.
I don’t have a cellphone.
Well, not quite true. I carried one for years and still have my latest one in a drawer somewhere. It’s not even on contract. When I go out of town, I buy 20 bucks worth of minutes that I never use.
Why? I work from home, and my laptop is always running. So you can catch me on Skype, land line phone, IM, email – if you want me you can find me. But I rebel against 24/7 availability.
Technology, stay out of my life; I’ll call you when I need you on my . . . now where is that cellphone?
As much time as I spend in front of a computer, I *could* give up my smartphone like Jack. But just having one around gives me less anxiety than not having one. Of course, now that my online business involves mobile apps, I actually have an excuse to carry one around
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Denise,
It’s a love/hate relationship. Obviously I love the freedom technology allows but I hate the loss of “flow” that happens when you have to configure something, set something up, or something breaks.
I’m looking forward to focusing on a few areas of technology deeply but cutting back on the number of apps, tools and platforms that I use…
Tom – I like your idea about focusing deeply on a few areas – I just have to wonder if I would know which ones to choose – it’s such a wide open field.
Ya know Jack, I can absolutely see your point about your availability and keeping the cell phone in the drawer. I know someone who has a cell – but only answers it when he wants to. So, just you’re calling doesn’t mean he’s answering. I think it’s his way to not be a 24/7 techie slave (or TS as they say these days!)
Denise –
I love technology, just ask my wife! As she will tell you, I spent “way too” much time on the computer, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, etc. I’m a “techie” at heart and I love learning how to make software programs sing.
I started as an engineer and used design software for analysis and to create drawings. Although I’m no longer working as an engineer, I’m still fascinated by software programs and technology gadgets.
Social media marketing is my current “hobby” – understanding the tools, listening, sharing, and studying the behavior of consumers. Next, I want to turn my hobby into a income generating business.
That’s awesome Dick – techies like you make life easier for people like me who require discipline, patience and the “removal” of fear when it comes to embracing technology on an hourly basis. I seem to have a quota of just how much I can take before I must bolt from the computer and talk with some people.
I make a living based on the love/hate relationship that people have with computers. I’m right there with them most of the time too. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make a software problem easier to solve and understand for my students (software trainer for adults is my niche).
Having said that I’m completely, deeply, and pathetically in love with my iPad. I got it for a perfectly valid work reason but it’s a toy 85% of the time. A little advice… never, ever play a game called Fruit Ninja. It’s really dumb and a huge time waster because of how addicting it is.
Oh now – I’ve played Fruit Ninja on my niece’s Ipad – she loves it – I can take it or leave it. Maybe if I had my own Ipad…..
Love your niche’- I’m currently very challenged with getting an adult sales team to embrace using the tools of social media to do business development. They seem to have tremendous fear around the technology and I’m not sure how to get rid of those fears for them. Any suggestions?
I was at a Dave & Buster’s not too long ago and they had Fruit Ninja on a 46” multi-touch arcade machine! That was my introduction to the game. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so addicting
Wow! I don’t think Lilli (my niece) knowsb about that option – we’re going to have to hunt down a Dave & Busters and see what kind of trouble we can get into!
Yes- I can see that. I find the Social Media stuff can get overwhelming pretty easily. My really simple advice would be…
1) Talk to the people you WANT to talk to. You don’t need to engage with everyone all the time. Find the people you want to hear from and connect with them.
Example: I started using Twitter and connected to the people I had been recommending to my students as great resources for years. Twitter is really a cocktail party. Lots, and lots of chatter – some good, some not. Wander. Listen
2) Pace yourself. You’re meeting new people and learning new things. Give yourself months – not weeks or days to be moving smoothly thru your tools of choice.
my .05 cents
Thanks Kirsten – those are really good suggestions – your five cents is worth every dime
Social Media and technology in general can become overwhelming. That is why I think it’s important to take things slower at your own pace. You don’t need to have a profile on every social network day 1. Get used to one platform then move on to the next one… Get good at that platform and move to the next…
Thanks for the great article!!
Ryan H.
I am a self-proclaimed and friend re-enforced tech junkie. I love it. I try to keep up with the latest news and information. Keep connected with mobile devices and social networks. I am “plugged in.” I’m very connected and tech savvy.
What I find, however, that it’s almost to much. Over saturated?
Connections are significant, but not manageable. Shallow.
I love technology, but sometimes wish I didn’t. Today is a love it day. We’ll see about tomorrow.
I hear what you’re saying about “shallow” versus deep – but when you are able to merge those online relationships with some additional form of communication -phone, networking event, cup of coffee or mug of beer – the depth really increases and makes the online aspect so much more fun!
I think the most important aspect of new technology and social media is taking your time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed if you try to jump into everything all at once.
Try conquering one piece of technology or one social platform at a time. That might help take away the stress.
Great Article,
Ryan H.
My entire life revolves around the internet. Without it, I would spend my days in a totally different manner. But I like the speed of it all. Would not miss it for the world.
Hi Denise, I agree with Dick, Jeanne and Alan. I am a techno junkie and find it really hard to imagine a life without any sort of techno gadgets around me. I blame my Indian heritage and a father who was the quintessential early adopter but I certainly would never want to change.
Of course sometimes I do end up spending more time resolving the problem using techie means when simply stepping up to the T.v and turning it off at the powerpoint would have worked just as well, but hey everyone’s got to have a hobby!
I have been a technologist all my life but interestingly I didn’t own an iPhone (Smart phone) until the 4 came out almost two years ago. I thought I had left my tech geek behind but as I was recently telling a friend once you use the phone you will never go back. It’s just too amazing to live a live of augmented reality. The ability to know anything at anytime is amazing and leaves the brain free to think about things in a dynamic way. When you don’t have to memorize phone numbers, email addresses, etc. you are free to use your brain in more dynamic ways. I freely take breaks from technology on occasion and I think we all should but the ability to know what you need when you need it by having technology available is simply magnificent.
What an interesting perspective Kevin. I had no conscious awareness that I actually think like that – but I do. Thanks for the shift – I love when that happens.