Because your business is directly dependent on the technology used to create products and operate and market online, technological change is both your best friend and your most bitter rival.
- New social media services appear (and sometimes disappear or fall out of favor).
- New online services become available that didn’t exist before.
- Hardware gets faster and has more storage for the same dollar as last year’s.
- Mobile apps, hardware and services is evolving at a frightening pace.
Staying on top of this stuff can seem like a full-time job.
It can be enough to make you want to curl up into a ball and suck your thumb.
But you have to be able to deal with it: your entire business is made possible by this rapidly evolving technology, so you can’t exactly spit in its face or refuse to keep informed.
- Your website pretty much is your entire “business.” It’s your base of operations.
- Most of your marketing and communications is done online (I don’t even hardly use a phone, I use Skype).
- If you sell information, you’re creating information products using desktop and/or online software.
- You need a constellation of online services to operate your business: payment processing, invoicing, email list management, advertising, etc.
The main lens through which I deal with all this is blogging and internet marketing, of course. And because blogging, social media and email are your main marketing channels, too, this is also a lens looking at your experience.
- The evolution of WordPress and other blogging platforms.
- New WordPress plugins.
- The rapid changes in commenting as it crossbreeds with social networks.
- The advent of theme frameworks, and in particular the advances in my favorite one, Headway.
- Changes in social networks and new networks (hello, Google+).
- New marketing possibilities through mobile apps.
How do I stay on top it all without going crazy? How do I decide what to do and not do? Here’s how:
Technology Provides the Tools, You Have to Get the Tool Catalog
Are you still using an ax while others are using chainsaws? Did you even know chainsaws were available? There’s generally three kinds of change to keep track of:
- Hardware.
- Software.
- What people are doing with hardware and software.
If you wanted to, the third one could be sub-divided into “in general” and “for your industry.”
You don’t need to follow a million sources of information for this. For general tech, only a few:
- TechCrunch – the NYT of tech.
- Gizmodo – Gadgetry, general life-hackery and what people doing with this stuff.
- Dvice – Actually owned by SyFy science fiction network, I find this site a useful hodgepodge of “news from the near future” in many different categories besides just computers.
- Web Worker Daily – Because you work online.
No doubt there are other sites you may feel belong on this list, but since overload is what we’re trying to avoid here, try to keep your own personal list small and populated only with powerhouses or the most useful info.
What to Look for in the Firehose Stream
In order to stay on top of things without going bonkers, here’s my personal list of “filters” or criteria I apply to any headline or piece of news I see:
- Does this matter to me right now? If not, how soon will it matter? If it matters now, I learn more. If it won’t matter until later, I may only make a mental note of it and let it go.
- Innovation in usage: I look for people using things in new or unconventional ways. Whether those things are new or old, doesn’t matter. For example, using an old inkjet printer to print out human organs or the marketing power of a good old-fashioned hand-written note.
- Does this make communication between people easier? If so, it’s probably a winner. If not, it’s gonna stumble at least and at most fizzle out.
- What is being disrupted here, if anything? When it seems entire industries are practically put to the sword (newspapers and soon television and real estate) you need to pay attention. Why? Because not only will your own life change as a result, but depending on your business, there may be opportunities for you in it.
- Who is profiting from this, and how? Follow the money trail, right? For example, the advance of big box stores (disruption) appears to be killing off mom-and-pop stores everywhere, until you start looking at small shops that are responding in creative ways and thriving. There are probably lessons for you in what those business owners are doing.
- What will happen to those who struggle to adapt? There may be opportunity in that, too: pain points which serve to drive new services. For example, as large legal firms fire lawyers at an ever-faster rate, more lawyers will go solo. That’s a huge opportunity for the right people. What about newspaper reporters? Real estate agents? Shop owners? Administrative assistants? Factory workers?
Technological Change Creates Chaos, but Chaos Creates Opportunity
Technology is disrupting all manner of industry and business, and out of that chaos comes opportunity. This is probably the biggest reason why I do not fear or struggle with technological change. As human beings, we’re wired to desire stasis and we often don’t like rapid changes. However, we’re also wired to look out for ways to survive and advance. Survival and advancement are now tied to computer, software and internet technologies and services. When it’s to your obvious and clear advantage, you can change your mind about anything.
Remember What Doesn’t Change
Even though it may feel like the ground is unsteady beneath your feet, there is much that will never change and you’d do well to remember:
- There will always be rich and poor.
- People will always want to improve their lot.
- There is never a shortage of money in the economy.
- Opportunity comes for those prepared to receive it.
- People love to–need to–talk to each other, and technology enables this.
- Why people buy and how they are persuaded never changes, and technology never changes this.
- People need to have alone time occasionally (probably the most unmet need of all in this connected age).
That last point is more important than you think. One sure way to feel overwhelmed by something is to never get a break from it. Pull the plug, turn shit off, and go for a walk. Or just sit in silence. Meditate or take a nap. It’s important to not lose your perspective.
What are your tips for handling technological change? What works for you?
Truly you ARE a remarkable blogger!
So much to learn and you have a way with words that makes it easy to sift through the techno gizmo bs
think you are quite awesome, nice work!
Thanks, glad you find it helpful.
I think I had an eloquent comment to make, but I started laughing so hard at the guys comment below, or more pertinently his name that I forgot what it was.
Now he’s the guy above you.
This is exactly what I was fretting about just yesterday! Those of us who are not from a generation that grew up with computers but who would still like to stay on top enough to compete thank you for this, Michael!
You need to know what you need to know. For example, I don’t need to know as much as a mechanic about my car, but I know the basics of how engines work and how to maintain my car.
You need to know enough to run and market and sell. You need to know enough to hire the right people. And that’s about it, really. It’s plenty for most people to handle!
PS – your website address is already linked to your name when you comment. Next time I see it in the comment message I will delete your comment instead of taking the time to edit it. Thanks for understanding.
Your stuff is always useful, Michael, but this one’s a real winner. Have to ask, though — somebody is using an old inkjet printer to “print out human organs”??? Explain, pls.
Check this out: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1603783&page=1
You’re truly a great blogger, very informative! Keep it up!
Michael,
As you know, my relationship with technology is….how can we put this politely?……..ah yes, challenging!!! As a result I have a tendency to ignore it hoping it will go away but the damn thing doesn’t! Technology and I have married and divorced so many times it is beyond a joke. However, I have made a resolve to finally work out a healthy relationship with it starting when I return from my sabbatical in September. Watch out world, I am about find my inner technical goddess!!! So, this post of yours couldn’t be better timing. Thanks.
Well, color me impressed! I know you’ll do fine (funny how determined people have a habit of doing well). I’m glad this was good timing for you. The old saying “it’s easy once you know how” applies to technology as it applies to everything. You’ll look back someday and wonder how you came so far.
Well put. Indeed it is a mus that we go with the flow; this is a basic requirement for our online survival. But that doesn’t mean that we need to embrace every tidly-bitly technology. Keeping ourselves informed is essential; but I would prefer to be much simple as possible.
I recently wrote a post on my blog about the simplistic approach where I addressed the issue of too much. That’s distraction and complication most of the times.
BTW: I was looking for a button to +1 your post!
I think it can be summed up as “be aware” and “beware.” Especially beware “shiny object syndrome” and chasing after something just because it’s the latest.
Well put. Indeed it is a mus that we go with the flow; this is a basic requirement for our online survival. But that doesn’t mean that we need to embrace every tidly-bitly technology. Keeping ourselves informed is essential; but I would prefer to be much simple as possible.
I recently wrote a post on my blog about the simplistic approach where I addressed the issue of too much. That’s distraction and complication most of the times.
BTW: I was looking for a button to +1 your post!
This is exactly what I was fretting about just yesterday! Those of us
who are not from a generation that grew up with computers but who would
still like to stay on top enough to compete thank you for this, Michael!
Don’t let the stereotypes get to you. There are plenty of awesome computer-savvy folks out there who were not born into it.
It’s nothing more than a matter of learning and application, like anything.
Great information…I will have to keep an eye open for new posts!
Thank you!
It’s quite funny that having an Evernote or Sprinboard account has nothing to do with one’s mental capacity to manage technological change.