Keeping Up With the Techies
I’m amazed at what some people think is keeping up with the latest technology. They’ve all got to have the latest phone, the latest handheld device, and they’ve got to be a member of the latest social media website. Rachelle Gardner recently suggested that staying current on these things would help stave off dementia or help you maintain marketable skills. That’s a nice thought, but really, do you think knowing how to use Facebook, or Twitter, or now Pinterest is going to do all of that?
Other than the fact that there are some people who are convinced that the latest technology is too hard to try, many of the things that people think are new technology are old technology with new packaging. The social media networks are driven by fads. But given the number of people who are using them, you can be sure that it’s okay to skip the latest thing. You don’t have to sign up for the latest social media website. You don’t have to have the latest handheld device. If at some point you see a reason to use it, it won’t take you very long to figure it out.
What many people see as the latest technology is more like the latest book or video game. People who read books don’t read every book that hits the market. Instead, they make a determination of whether it is a book they feel is important to them. If it isn’t, they pass and wait for a book that is. The same is true of gamers, and music enthusiasts. Just because there is a new game or a new song doesn’t mean they have to buy it.
Imagine if you were to try to read every book that was published. Forget that. Imagine if you were to try to read every book that came out on the New York Times bestseller list. Maybe just the top one or two in each category. You would be well read, but you wouldn’t have time to do anything else. The same is true of trying to keep up with the latest, whatever. Sure, you’d be able to use all of the latest buzzwords, but you wouldn’t have time to do anything real. So stop worrying about it. Use the stuff you actually need or enjoy and pass on the rest.
Other than the fact that there are some people who are convinced that the latest technology is too hard to try, many of the things that people think are new technology are old technology with new packaging. The social media networks are driven by fads. But given the number of people who are using them, you can be sure that it’s okay to skip the latest thing. You don’t have to sign up for the latest social media website. You don’t have to have the latest handheld device. If at some point you see a reason to use it, it won’t take you very long to figure it out.
What many people see as the latest technology is more like the latest book or video game. People who read books don’t read every book that hits the market. Instead, they make a determination of whether it is a book they feel is important to them. If it isn’t, they pass and wait for a book that is. The same is true of gamers, and music enthusiasts. Just because there is a new game or a new song doesn’t mean they have to buy it.
Imagine if you were to try to read every book that was published. Forget that. Imagine if you were to try to read every book that came out on the New York Times bestseller list. Maybe just the top one or two in each category. You would be well read, but you wouldn’t have time to do anything else. The same is true of trying to keep up with the latest, whatever. Sure, you’d be able to use all of the latest buzzwords, but you wouldn’t have time to do anything real. So stop worrying about it. Use the stuff you actually need or enjoy and pass on the rest.
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