Business-Building Ideas from Terry Brock
Are we better off with or without technology? Does the always-there mode of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Smartphones, Tablets and more generate a better quality life or not?
Often we hear these types of questions. Was life better when we had horses roaming the streets, leaving disease-ridden waste behind? Well, no, Terry, you might say. That part wasn’t so good. Well, was it better in the time of America, say, circa 1200 or 1300? Many would say it was better then since we had no pollution, no shopping malls, no crime in the streets, etc.
Well, it is t
rue that people in North America in those times didn’t have the ailments of our modern society. Yet, they had their own problems. You were subject to the wiles of nature’s fury. There was precious little cover from extreme heat or cold. Wild animals were hunting for food and, had you been around, YOU would be potential lunch for them! The average person lived to the ripe old age of 30. And if you still think that life back then was just dandy, I have one word for you — DENTISTRY!
Enough said!
I submit that the argument about the proper role of technology today is often not framed properly. When someone wants to “get away from all technology” for a break, I get it. I can understand they want something other than a persistent, always-ringing mobile phone, a never-ending stream of email and they want some silence from those infernal beeps and noises which emanate from our digital devices.
Yet, do you really want to “get away from technology?” Are you going to get rid of being in a car or truck? Are you going to have no phones at all? What about an emergency? Are you going without electricity? Worst yet, are you going to go without indoor plumbing? What if a medical emergency occurs? Are you going to “come back to the world” then?
Ok, you get the point. We need to be very selective about which technologies we use and when we use them. I regularly get away from all that when I’m swimming in our outdoor pool. I love swimming laps and getting in some great exercise. And no, I don’t have my cell phone with me when swimming! I also find it mentally and physically recharging to have daily times of quiet meditation. Phones and other devices are off during that momentary “escape from technology.” I might use a timer to count down the number of minutes I want, but I “leave the planet” during those times for some much-needed refreshing rejuvenation and recharging.
What about social media? We know we have to use it, but it can be a nasty time-waster. How do you handle it? Well, many are finding that you need a guide to do the right activities in the right way. Many are embracing Klout and using it as a guide to know what to do and what to avoid. Klout, through its scoring mechanisms provides a way to measure your effectiveness on social media.
It comes down to what many time management experts have been telling us for years. Know your purpose, have a plan and work that plan. Yes, we need technology. It saves lives. We have a better quality life today than ever — and refrigerators keep our beer cold! What more can you ask for in life?
Honor people and use technology to make your life, and those important to you, better. Find the right tools and use them. Stay away from time-wasters and technologies that drain you. If you’re having “too much” then think about stepping back. My cellphone-deprived swimming and meditation times help me on a regular basis. For more protracted periods of time, I like leaving the planet to do many constructive activities in a completely non-technical style.
So, what do you think? I’m interested in your perspective on the whole “I want to get away from technology” issue. Leave a message here in the comments and let’s find out how we can help each other.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Terry
Terry Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE
www.TerryBrock.com
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