The conundrum of technology
Technology is a conundrum; a confusing and difficult problem or question, indeed! It is the double-edged sword that simultaneously arms you with the powers of productivity and the perils of procrastination. It gives you the WORLD in the palm of our hand yet may prevent you from listening to the person standing right next to you. Technology is a gift that can sometimes feel like a curse. It is becoming more simple and easy to use, yet with increasing complexity and capability. Such is the irony that is technology.
Don’t get me wrong because I love technology! Perhaps even a little too much. It is difficult to fathom what my life would look like without the technologies I am accustomed to using on a daily basis. Yet the relationship I have with technology is…well, complicated. Perhaps it is for you as well.
There is hardware to buy, storage to manage, accounts to setup, passwords to store, accessories to buy, data to synchronize, apps to update, emails to read (or not), receipts to save, alerts to acknowledge, more accessories to buy, software to upgrade, documents to scan, to dosto do and of course calls to take, voice messages to listen to, texts to read and AGBeat articles to clip and share. There is no end to what you can do (and not get done) when you use and interact with the latest and greatest technologies available to you.
Real Estate & Technology
When it comes to real estate practitioners and technology, I’m of the opinion that it will ultimately be an ‘Adopt, Adapt or Die’ scenario within the next 10-15 years, if not much sooner. Regardless of age, background, upbringing and love (or lack thereof) for technology, those who call themselves real estate professionals must be willing to do what it takes to adopt relevant technologies and adapt to using them effectively or be prepared to see business significantly dwindle as a result.
Agents and brokers don’t necessarily need to become 100% paperless, but should decide in what areas a paperless approach may make sense. Then take the steps necessary to put a paperless process into place.
There will always be those that have no desire to adopt and adapt to technology innovations. They may seem to know everyone or simply have enough sheer social grit to keep their business going and growing, even without using all the latest technologies available to them. While power agents that are technology-averse may see little to no change in their business in the near term, they could be out of business within the next decade. When we limit the value we provide to our clients, we limit our results. Ultimately our results will be in direct proportion to the services we render; the value we create in the market.
We live in an age where we are becoming hard-wired to be wireless. Sure, you can opt-out of technology, but in so doing you would also opt-out of the challenges and opportunities technology brings us. We need to be able to have an open mind, be flexible and recognize thatchange is the only constant in our lives. We need to release negativity and let go of any mental blocks or self-limiting beliefs which tell us we can’t do something, learn something or use something…just because we don’t understand it.
I believe my future success in real estate will, in large part, be directly correlated with my willingness and ability to adopt and adapt to technology innovation. Keep in mind that even the sharpest techno-gurus out there have their moments of difficulty, frustration and even fear. They just work through those emotions and keep learning; keep getting better. You and I can do that, too! Here’s how…
Be An Early Adopter of Relevant Technologies
While you don’t want the influence of technology to overrun your life, you need to be able to embrace it to the extent that it can benefit you personally and professionally; to the extent that it can help you to do what you do more effectively and efficiently.
One way to do that, starting today, is to become an early adopter. An early adopter is simply anyone who learns about a new technology that seems like it could be of value, and jumps right in to test it out to see how well it works.
A word of caution though – beware of the never-ending rabbit-hole of NEW. Just because a device or application or gadget is NEW or popular it doesn’t mean it is for you. In fact, when discussing technology it is particularly useful to keep in mind that less is more. Having an overwhelming number of devices, accessories, applications and programs will likely tend to unnecessarily complicate your life rather than simplify it.
Leonardo da Vinci’s wise words from a past era are still applicable today: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”
Keep It Simple… Without Getting Left Behind
Frequent interaction with technology (hardware, software, applications, cloud computing) throughout each day is not just the norm, it is often a necessity. An inability to understand and effectively utilize and embrace both old and new technologies can disqualify you from being able to work within certain industries and professions.
I have been implementing and testing the following methods and mindsets for keeping it simple when it comes to technology. Through some experimentation you too can determine the approach that will work best for you.
- Eliminate unnecessary alerts and distractions: If technology ends up distracting you more than it focuses you, then it is not to your benefit. It owns you rather than you owningit. I choose to turn off all audible and vibration alerts on my computer and mobile devices with the exception of phone calls, text messages and certain work emails. I often close unused programs and windows when not in use to remain focused on the task at hand. I work best when my desk or work area is clear of clutter and visual distractions.
- Remember that multi-tasking is a myth: This statement alone may possibly launch a wave of controversy so I will devote a future article solely to this subject. Yet it is true. Computers can multi-task; people cannot. You and I can switch tasks, but can’t do two things effectively at the same time. Obviously you can do certain things simultaneously, and we all do, but when it comes to using the mind, focusing and being productivity, don’t kid yourself into thinking that you are being productive when you bounce from one thing to the next in a flurry of busy-ness. Being busy and being productive are two entirely different things. They are not synonymous, unfortunately. Set your priority and focus on it until complete. Then set your sights on the next one. I think we all inherently know this is the surest path to productivity, yet it is difficult to consistently do it. We live in the age of distraction after all.
- It Only Takes Half a Dozen of…Whatever: Jim Rohn certainly knew what he was talking about when he said that it only takes about half a dozen things to make the difference in our lives. If we look closely at what really matters, what really produces results, it would be about half a dozen things! And since the subject is technology, I’m here to tell you there are probably about half a dozen apps and/or software programs that are essential for your business success. The take away? Start deleting some apps, removing some programs and freeing up some space in your life.
- Use It Or Lose It Baby: This statement is so true in all facets of life, isn’t it? If you consistently workout, you get stronger; you have more energy! Find ways to consistently use technology. By creating daily habits related to technology that serve you well you can find creative ways for making your life more simple, productive and fun. Enjoy the process of learning and growing with all the advances in technology. If you are overwhelmed by it all, just devote 10-15 minutes a day to practicing and working with whatever it is that happens to intimidate you. You could also take a local class or online course to gain a better understanding and increase your confidence with technology.
- Implement Your Social Media Strategy: Social media platforms can be a huge time suck if left unchecked; though they can also be a great way to meet people and to provide value for others. You need to be strategic and mindful with the way you approach social media to ensure you are not just wasting time. There is a lot to it so keep it simple and if you need to, work with one program at a time until you are comfortable enough with it to add others into the mix. I still consider myself somewhat of a social media novice, but my current approach is based on using content that I’ve published in various blog formats to then be pushed out through the social media networks that I have accounts with. That gives me a chance to share something of value and to hopefully create some dialogue with others related to the topics that I have written about.
The ultimate take-away I would hope you remember from all of this is that you own your technology; it does not own you. You can setup and configure your devices and applications to either work for you or against you. You can let technology drive you crazy, or you can utilize it efficiently to help drive you towards your goals with greater speed and precision. The power lies in your hands.
